The Development and Implementation of a Model for Teaching Astronomy to Deaf Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop and assess a model aimed at teaching astronomy to deaf students. Thus, a 7 day-long project of indoor and outdoor activities was developed. Since the purpose of our study was to teach astronomy to deaf students, our sample was determined by using purposeful sampling technique. The sample of this study includes 30 deaf students studying in the city of Samsun in the Black Sea region of Turkey. A teaching model for deaf students, which was considered to be a deficiency in literature, was developed in the study. The pre-implementation preparation stage of the model consists of 7 steps. In addition, the activities in the model were included in the study so that other researchers can use these activities. This study was designed as a single group (no control) post-test experimental research design. The data of the study were collected from the interviews with students during the experimental studies and post-tests which were conducted 20 days after the studies ended. At the end of the study, it was seen that a great majority of the students learned more than 10 words and were able to order the astronomy related celestial bodies based on their sizes. In addition, it was concluded that they began to develop scientific ideas about the seasons, a subject they had no knowledge about before the study, and they were able to explain the effects of Earth’s axial tilt on daily life correctly. In line with these results, it was suggested that in order to teach a subject to deaf students, first of all sign language about that subject should be developed and conceptual learning and teaching sign language should be simultaneous.