Development and exploring the effectiveness of the revised version of basic disaster awareness training program in a non-formal science learning environment

Abstract

Two main objectives were set for this study. The first one was to develop the Revised Version of Basic Disaster Awareness Training Program (Rv-BDATP) offered to students by Disaster Preparedness Education Unit (DPEU) at Boğaziçi University, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KOERI). This program was developed to increase students’ learning outcomes regarding the nature of earthquakes and actions to be taken before, during and after the earthquake to minimize its possible damage. The second aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rv-BDATP with in an experimental research design. Seventy 8th grade private school students participated in this study. Learning outcomes of the students were mainly analyzed in two dimensions measured by Conceptual Understanding Questionnaire-Earthquake (CUQ-Earthquake) and Program Evaluation Questionnaires. The CUQ-Earthquake test was conducted as a pre-test, post-test and retention test. The other instruments were given as a post-test. The first dimension concerned with students’ conceptual understanding levels of identified concepts related to the “natural processes” unit of 8th grade science and technology curriculum and their capability to tell the difference between dangers and precautions related to earthquake. The second dimension was about students’ personal declarations and ideas about their learning experiences regarding the programs. Independent Sample t-Test, ANOVA and ANCOVA were conducted in order to test the hypothesis. The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the groups who took the revised version and the former version of the program. It was also found that students who attended the revised program showed significant increase in their conceptual understandings about earthquakes. The results indicated that there was not any difference among the students’ personal declarations and ideas about the programs.