Determining The Mind Maps Of Middle School Students: “Earth And Universe” Learning Field
This study determined the 8th grade middle school students' mind maps for all secondary school basicconcepts in the “World and the Universe” learning area, by using the qualitative case study method. The studygroup was randomly selected using the 2013-2014 academic year, Turkey's interior area of a secondary school inthe province of random sampling consisted of 40 students.Word association test form was used as data collectiontool. The word association test was analyzed through the intersection point technique. As a result of the analyzes,it was found that the students' learning levels in the World and Universe learning area were low and the studentsdid not have a high level of mental level. As a result of the research, suggestions were made about theimplementation of practical trainings in which the students participated in the teaching of World and Universelearning area subjects, increasing the researches including the new concepts, and the formation of astronomyclasses in educational institutions.