Improving Sensitivity to Cultural Heritage through Out-of-School Learning Activities

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the change and awareness that out-of-school learning activities carried out within the scope of social studies courses create on students' sensitivity to cultural heritage. The study was conducted with 24 fifth-grade students in a public school in Istanbul. The study, which was planned in line with the qualitative research principles, was designed as action research, and the study was carried out in accordance with the action plans prepared in this regard. Depending on the action plan prepared, 5 different out-of-school learning activities were planned within 8 weeks, and in this con text, visits were made to Istanbul Archeology Museum, Atatürk Arboretum, Bursa (Grand Mosque of Bursa, Green Tomb), Ebru Workshop, Eminönü Square. In the out-of-school learning-based social studies teaching process, activities such as search-and-find activities and orienteering were implemented in the environments visited. The main data that source the results of the study consist of student opinions about the process, external observer notes, and photographs taken during the activities. At the end of the study, it was concluded that students' knowledge of cultural heritage elements diversified with the visits made during the social studies lessons carried out based on out-of-school learning, and that obtaining concrete experiences related to cultural heritage elements positively affected their sensitivity. In line with the results obtained, recommendations were presented regarding the use of out-of-school learning-based activities more frequently in teaching processes, making out-of-school learning guidebooks functional, and textbooks in the context of developing the value of sensitivity to cultural heritage.