THE EFFECT OF CLUSTER TEACHING WITH WORKSHEETS ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN DISTANCE EDUCATION

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of teaching with worksheets prepared for the 6th grade

clusters in distance education on the academic achievement of students. The research was conducted with

39 students studying in a public secondary school in eastern Turkiye in the first semester of the 2020-2021

academic year. In the study, a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest control group was practiced

to collect data. In the experimental group, the subject of cluster was taught with worksheets prepared in

accordance with the constructivist teaching, and in the control group, with general teaching methods. After

the practice, the “Clusters Achievement Test” was applied to the experimental and control group students

as pre-test and post-test. The academic achievement of the experimental and control groups were compared

and it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in favor of the experimental group.

Data analyzes showed that the worksheets prepared for the subject of clusters in distance education increased

the academic achievement of the students. At the end of the practice carried out within the scope of the

study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 students in the experimental group who fully

participated in the studies and activities. The findings obtained from the interviews showed that the students

adopted the lessons taught with the worksheets. In addition, it was determined from the statements of the

students that they were satisfied with the teaching of the lessons using worksheets in the distance education

process, they participated more actively in the online lessons, and they made extra efforts in using materials

and completing the activities.