Out-of-the-school learning environments in values education: science centres and museums

Abstract

This study focuses on the importance of using out-of the school learning environments in values education. A case study, one of the qualitative research designs, was employed in this study. A group of 55 students was formed with the second and third year students of the Faculty of Education, and science centres (Feza Gursey Science Centre) and museums (Rahmi Koc Science Museum, Ataturk's Mausoleum-historical museum) were chosen for application as out-of-the-school learning environments in the application process. Categorical analysis was performed in the analyses of the data. The research results demonstrated that definition category was used most in the value of aesthetics; results category was used most in sensitivity to cultural heritage, and examples category was used most in patriotism category. Besides, scientific, solidarity and aesthetic values were further explained through examples after the application. Following the application, it was observed from students' answers that definitioins were usually replaced by results and examples. This showed that out-of-the-school learning environments contributed to the process of students' concretizing their knowledge.(C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu