Abstract:

The aim of the study is to develop educational games on domestic waste and recycling for 7th grade students pursuant to this regard. Primarily, studies on the education of domestic waste and recycling at school were examined in the literature, and scientific data on this issue were collected. Then, the information to be included in the games and the limits of this information are determined. Provided that they can be used in the classroom and are portable, games have been planned and developed. The games designed were evaluated in a pilot scheme with 8th grade students and their opinions about the games were obtained. In line with the opinions received at the end of the pilot scheme, some arrangements were made and four educational games that can be played in groups titled ‘Who Won the Cup? (Kupa Kimin?)’, ‘I Got It! (Bende Kimde?)’, ‘Reflection (Yansıma)’ and ‘Ring! (Zili Çal)’ were developed. In the games, the concepts of waste, domestic solid and liquid waste, recycling, waste control and reuse are included. It is put forth that the educational games within the scope of the study will help students to distinguish domestic waste, learn about waste control, learn their roles in waste control, understand the importance of recycling and reuse, and develop positive behaviors on these issues. Educational games are educational instruments that enable children to develop multifaceted, to learn while having fun, to acquire values such as sensitivity, responsibility, and to raise awareness. Therefore, educational games can serve as an instrument for the development of the perspective that natural resources are limited, that future generations will not be able to benefit from these resources unless they are used consciously, and the importance of recycling of waste for effective use of resources. In addition, the games can be played both in the lesson and independently. In addition, games can be used in different subjects and converted to a computer game.

Note: This study is produced from the PhD thesis that the first author has been working on at the Graduate Education Institute of Ondokuz Mayıs University under the supervision of the second author.

Keywords:

Science education, domestic waste, recycling, educational games, secondary school students.