Science Teachers’ Views about the Science Fair at Primary Education Level

Abstract

Science fair is an environment where students present their scientific research projects. Opinions of science teachers who participated as a mentor in science fair are important for determining of the science fair quality and its contribution of science education. The aim of study was to determine science teachers’ views about the science fair at primary education level in Turkey. In this qualitative study, seven science teachers who worked in A city in Turkey were interviewed regarding a national science fair called “This is My Work Science and Mathematics Project Study for Elementary School Students”. According to the interviews, the science teachers reported that students and their parents were indifferent to science fair; that they had difficulties developing a project idea; that students do not prepare the projects themselves but their parents or teachers do; and that science fair was important for developing certain skills of students. In developing countries, certain arrangements should be made in science programs as well as in science fair organizations to avoid transforming science fairs into a harmful tool