Raising Awareness in 7th Grade Students with Educational Games on Waste and Recycling

Abstract

This research was conducted to determine the effect of educational games developed on “Household Wastes and Recycling” on raising awareness of this issue. In the research, a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test control group was used. The study group consisted of ninety-six 7th-grade students in total from two secondary schools located in the province of Rize and the district of Çayeli of Rize province. In the province experimental and control group, 29 students were included while the district experimental and control group comprised of 19 students. In teaching the subject of Household Wastes and Recycling, instructional plays called “Who Won the Cup?”, “I Got it?”, “Reflection” and “Ring!” developed by the researcher were played with the experimental groups while instructional program activities of the science lessons were used with the control groups. The quantitative data of the research were collected with the "Household Wastes and Recycling Knowledge Test" administered to all groups as the pre-test and post-test, and the qualitative data were collected with the “Semi-structured Interview Form” administered to the experimental groups. Quantitative data were analyzed using parametric and non-parametric techniques, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. It was determined that the instructional plays used in teaching the subject of household waste and recycling are effective in enhancing the knowledge level and awareness of the students regarding household waste, recycling, the advantages of recycling, and what needs to be done for effective recycling and reuse. Instructional plays were determined to be evaluated as an effective tool in cognitive and affective aspects by students. In this regard, it was concluded that instructional plays facilitate learning, ensure effective learning, inform, raise awareness, develop affirmative emotions for the subject or lesson, hinder the boringness in the course of the lesson or subject, and help assure concentration.