Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) announced the results of the 2019/1 Call for TUBITAK 4004 Nature Education and Science Schools Support Programme and TUBITAK 4005 Innovative Educational Practices Support Programme. A total of five projects from Pamukkale University (PAU) were deemed worthy of support.
A total of 92 projects from universities and different public institutions were entitled to receive support in the 2019/1 call of the TÜBİTAK 4004 Nature Education and Science Schools Support Programme, which was prepared by TÜBİTAK with the aim of bringing together and disseminating knowledge with the society, visualising the knowledge as much as possible and providing it in an understandable way with interactive applications. Pamukkale University faculty members; Prof. Dr. Asuman Duatepe Paksu, Prof. Dr. Süleyman İnan, Assoc. Dr. Serkan Bertan and Assoc. Dr. Barış Semiz's projects were among the projects entitled to be supported within the scope of TÜBİTAK 4004 Nature Education and Science Schools Support Programme, 2019/1 Call.
In the 2019/1 Call Period of TUBITAK 4005 Innovative Education Practices Support Programme, which aims to provide teachers and academicians with innovative approaches, strategies, methods and techniques specific to their own branches and the teaching profession in general, 25 projects in total were entitled to receive support. PAU Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Necla Köksal's project 'Drama Based Thinking Skills Training Integrated with Curricula' was among the projects deemed worthy of support.
With the 'Mathematics Everywhere Project', Grade 7 students will learn mathematics outside of school
Asuman Duatepe Paksu, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Science Education at the Faculty of Education, was one of the projects entitled to be supported with her project named 'Everywhere Mathematics'. Prof. Dr. Paksu said the following about her project: The starting point of the project named 'Mathematics Everywhere' is the 'Out-of-School Learning Environments' project within the framework of the '2023 Vision' of the Ministry of National Education and the 'Mathematics Everywhere' theme determined by UNESCO for 2020. These two projects unite in the idea that mathematics, which is everywhere in life, can be learned not only within the school walls but also outside the school. Based on this starting point, the aim of the "Mathematics Everywhere" project is to make 7th grade students aware of mathematics in out-of-school environments, to arouse their curiosity about learning mathematics, and to trigger their desire to research, question and learn. We will carry out mathematics learning activities with participating students in out-of-school environments such as PAU and Merkezefendi libraries, carpet-rug workshop, park and recreation area. During the activity process, it will be ensured that the students get to know the local characteristics and vegetation of Denizli, spend time in the libraries of the city, and on the other hand, notice and learn mathematics in these environments. On behalf of the project team, we would like to thank Pamukkale University Rectorate, Pamukkale University Faculty of Education Dean's Office, Pamukkale University Library and Documentation Department, Denizli National Education Directorate, Merkezefendi Municipality Library Directorate for their support in the project implementation. The date of the event will be determined in accordance with the calendar regarding the measures and regulations taken regarding the Coronavirus (Covid 19) outbreak. We will announce issues such as the event calendar and the application form for the event on the project web page, Pamukkale University, PAU Faculty of Education, Denizli Provincial Directorate of National Education web pages and social media accounts."
Future Scientists Will Meet Science with 'KÜBİY Project'
The 'Small Scientists Growing Up Project (KÜBİY), Orientation to Science and Career Awareness Programme', which was carried out by Prof. Süleyman İnan, Faculty of Education, Turkish and Social Sciences Education Faculty Member, was among the supported projects. Prof. Dr. İnan stated the following about the purpose and content of the project that was entitled to be supported: "With the project, the target audience of which is 7th grade students, we aim to enable the students participating in the project to turn towards science at an early age and to realise which science fields they can develop a career in while doing so. The aim of the project is not to limit science only to the fields of science-medicine-engineering, but to take a holistic view by including social-humanities and art. The programme's main focus is to show at an early age that each branch can be a science, to support scientific thinking skills and to guide the talents that emerge in this direction. In addition, a profile of each student's orientation towards science and career development will be drawn up at the large evaluation meeting where the project team will come together on the last day with practical workshops. The first tangible benefit of the KÜBİY project is that it meets the need of families, as a community unit, to be able to recognise at an early stage the future and career orientations of their children, especially in which branch of science (and/or art) they may be oriented. One of the unique tasks of this project is the reporting for both children and families through psychological observations and evaluations in accordance with the programme. The psychological counsellor attends each activity in person, collects personal notes, conducts purposeful interviews and evaluates the forms of each instructor. All this is finally communicated to the students in the form of an encouraging 'certificate of participation' and to the parents in the form of 'family letters' giving hints about career and future orientation".
Our Natural and Cultural Heritage will be Transferred to Future Generations through Teachers
The "Transfer of Natural and Cultural Heritage" project, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Bertan, Faculty of Tourism, Department of Tourism Management, was among the projects deemed worthy of support by TUBITAK. In the project prepared for classroom teachers, it is aimed to strengthen individuals' feelings of love and belonging to these values and to ensure that young people protect the natural and cultural heritage; Regarding the target audience of the project and the studies to be carried out, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bertan stated the following. "Classroom teachers play the main role in triggering students' curiosity, research, questioning and learning desires. In particular, the importance of natural and cultural heritage will be explained practically to classroom teachers working in village schools within the scope of this project. Thus, teachers, who constitute the target audience of the project, will provide future generations with the opportunity to learn natural and cultural heritage in a more understandable way, with concrete data and by doing-living. In the field work to be carried out within the scope of the project; practical trips will be organised to Pamukkale, Karahayıt, Hierapolis, Laodicea, Tripolis, Buldan, Akhan Caravanserai, Atatürk and Ethnography Museum, Kaklık Cave and Güney Waterfall within the scope of natural and cultural heritage. In addition, local food making and traditional handicrafts workshops in which our teachers will take an active role will be among the trainings to be given to the participants. On this occasion, I would like to thank our Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağ and the University Administration for supporting the project."
Teachers will get to know Earth Sciences on Site and Closer
The 'Earth Science Education in Çürüksu (Denizli) Basin-4' project, which was carried out by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Semiz, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geological Engineering, was among the projects supported by TÜBİTAK. About the project, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Semiz stated the following: "We will use the geological and natural resources in the Çürüksu (Denizli) basin, especially Pamukkale and Kula Geopark and its immediate surroundings for educational purposes. With the project, we aim to increase the interest of classroom, social studies, science and geography teachers working in schools in earth sciences and in this way, we aim to enable the participants to spread the experiences they will gain in earth science education to their own students and all the people they will reach in their environment. As a result of the studies to be carried out in this context, the equipment of our teachers will be increased, visual data and infrastructure will be created so that they can present their lessons in better quality. They will be able to see the rocks described in the lessons visually and practically in the field and in the laboratory, and they will be able to prepare permanent collections of materials for their own schools with the mineral and rock samples they collect."
Integration of Thinking Skills with Teachers' Own Curricula will be Ensured
Pamukkale University Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Necla Köksal said the following about the 'Drama-Based Thinking Skills Education Integrated with Curricula' project she is the executive director of: "With this project, we aimed to design field-specific integrated learning environments for critical thinking skills, to design field-specific integrated learning environments for problem solving and decision making thinking skills, and to realise the importance of integrated curriculum in meaningful learning of students. The target group of the project is 30 branch teachers working in secondary schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education. Secondary school branch teachers were determined because they are suitable for cooperation with teachers from different branches in order to achieve meaningful and holistic learning in students. The project will be held in Denizli between 6 - 11 July 2020. Within the scope of the project, thinking skills training will be given interactively through drama and teachers will be able to integrate thinking skills with their own curricula. By carrying out drama, theoretical sharing and lesson design activities together, the theory/practice balance of the project will be observed. At the end of these practices, we expect teachers to teach thinking skills to their students with innovative approaches in their own teaching processes. At the same time, enabling teachers participating in the project to reflect these gains to the learning processes of their students will contribute to the development of positive attitudes by arousing interest and curiosity in students. By developing thinking skills, meaningful and permanent learning, questioning, entrepreneurial and productive individuals can be raised and social development can be supported in this way."
Rector BAG "The fact that the projects carried out by our faculty members are appreciated nationally and internationally makes our entire University happy"
Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağ congratulated the faculty members and the working team involved in the projects for their success, which will be instrumental in the development of science and the introduction of future generations to science. Rector Prof. Dr. Bağ stated the following in his statement: "The fact that the projects carried out by our faculty members are appreciated nationally and internationally makes our entire University happy. These achievements are also a motivation for both us as the University Administration and our academicians who carry out research activities in different disciplines. On this occasion, I congratulate our faculty members who are entitled to receive TÜBİTAK 4004 and 4005 supports for their success, and I wish success to all our academicians and their teams involved in their projects who have signed projects that will be instrumental in the development of science in our country, introducing future generations to science and keeping our cultural heritage alive by carrying it to the future."
