The Effect of Inquiry Based Learning Environment in Science and Technology Course on the Students’ Academic Achievements*

Especially, it has been investigated how to upgrade the retention level for academic achievement and science concepts and how to improve positive attitudes towards science. Quasi-experimental design has been used in the study. In order to seek the effect of inquiry based learning approach, two of the classes constituted by the school management, except for random distribution, have been defined as experiment and control group. 72 students, studying at a state school in the city of Aydın, have formed the working group of the research. In the study, “Academic Achievement Test” prepared by the researcher, has been used to determine the developments in the academic achievements of the students. According to the findings of the study; the academic achievements of the students towards science and technology, who have been in the experiment group studying in inquiry based learning environment has displayed a difference in a significant way compared to those in control group studying in the environment to which 2005 Science and Technology curriculum has been applied. As a result of interpreting the findings obtained from the research, it has been considered that using of the technics practiced in inquiry based learning environment in science and technology can be profitable for the academic achievements of the students towards the course.