THE EFFECT OF THE USE OF AUGMENTED REALITY APPLICATIONS ON THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND MOTIVATION OF 7TH GRADE STUDENTS

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine the effects of the Augmented Reality (AR)-supported teaching activities on the academic success, motivation of students towards science learning and attitudes of students towards AR application, in the scope of the seventh grade science course, "Solar System and Beyond" unit. For this purpose, "Solomon Four Group Model", which controls the internal and external validity, was used. Research was conducted with 120 students in two different schools and involved two experimental and two control groups established by random method. Experimental (1) and Control (1) groups received data collection tools as pre-test and post-test, while Experimental (2) and Control (2) groups received only post-test. During the six-week research, the students were taught in the experimental groups using the 'Star-Tracker, Spacecraft, iSolarsystem, Space-4D' mobile AR applications, while the control groups were taught with the activities envisaged in the curriculum. "Solar System and Beyond Success Test" and the "Students' Motivation to Science Learning" scale, were used as data collection tools. Findings from the research showed that teaching with AR applications significantly alters the success of students and motivation towards science learning. This showed that teaching with AR applications is effective. Keywords: augmented reality, academic success, solar system, Solomon four-group model, 7th grade students.