Abstract
This research aims know (the effectiveness of using class activities in acquiring and sustaining geographical concepts by the students of the first- year intermediate schools).
To achieve this aim, the researcher has constructed tow nil hypotheses:
1.Statistically there is no significant relation at(0,05) level between the average marks of the experimental group taught by using class activities and of the controlled group taught by traditional method in the test of acquiring geographical concepts.
2. There is not such a significant relation also between the two group in the test of sustaining geographic concepts.
The research has been conducted on the first- year intermediate and secondary morning schools for girls, belonging to the general directory of education in Karbala.
The sample, which was chosen from the first- year students of summaye intermediate school, randomly consists of (68) students, (34) students for each group. The equivalence of the two groups was considered within a number of variables(marks got in geography in (2010-2011) age counted by menthes, intelligence test, and school attainment for fathers as well as for mother.
The material to be tested was the first four chapters from the textbook of geography, principles of general geography for the first- year intermediate schools (20) geographical concepts were identified, and (112) behavioral goals for those four chapters were constructed by the researcher, in addition to (22) daily plans to teach the material for each group.
The test of acquiring geographical concepts consists of (60) items of multiple- choice type in agreement with the three processes of measuring the acquiring of concepts(defining the concept- recognizing the concept- applying the concept) the test was assured for its validity, reliability and psychometric features.
The experiment was applied in the first course of (2011-2012) and lasted for (11) weeks two lectures per week were taught by the researcher for each group then, the data were analyses by using(t-test) the results showed that the experimental group which was taught by using class activities has surpassed the second group taught by traditional method in both tests acquiring geographical concepts test, and sustaining geographical concepts test.
In the light of the findings obtained, the researcher put forward the following recommendations:
1.Concentrating on class activities as a fundamental component of lesson planning.
2.Having booklets or leaflets to explain the goals of educational class activities for all stages to help teachers of social sciences when teaching these subjects.
3.Constructing training courses for teachers of geography to be aware of the importance and use of these educational class activities.
4.Including the educational class activities in the syllabus of geography for the intermediate stage.
5.Modernizing and varying the activities to match students inclinations to be of benefit in their practical life whether inside or outside school.
6.Motivating teachers of geography to teach concepts within the content of the teaching material of geography instead of memorization and instruction.
The researcher suggests that the following studies should be carried out: –
1.Conducting a similar study for other different stages and other variables such as creative thinking and problem solving.
2. Conducting a similar study for other subjects.
