The effect of song maps created by using graphs, symbols and images on the success of teaching

Abstract

In recent years, various teaching strategies based on creativity and effective learning have been developed within the scope of the Turkish Elementary Education Programs. These strategies are reinforced with visual materials to establish an active learning environment. In doing so, the aim is to ensure active participation of students in courses by means of using concept and mind maps in different fields of education. Visual materials are known to play an important role in achieving more effective teaching by means of materializing knowledge, increasing memorability and making courses attractive for the students. It is believed that visual materials must be used to symbolize while teaching the fourth grade students knowledge, and even songs, taking account of their cognitive development. This study aims to find out to what extent the song maps developed by the author are affective in teaching students school songs and to determine the practicability of these maps for teachers and students as a another song teaching approach. In line with this purpose, we performed an experiment throughout a period of 6 weeks with experimental (N=25) and control groups (N=23) comprising of fourth grade students from an elementary school in the Niltifer District of Bursa in the school year 2015/16. 6 songs were chosen in line with the Fourth Grade Music Course Curriculum and these songs were mapped by the author. Before and after the experiment, the scale for measuring the success of learning school songs prepared by the author was used in the pre-test and post-test. Besides, another scale measuring students' opinions on song maps was prepared by the author and administered on the students in the experimental group in the final course to determine their opinions. A Mixed ANOVA was carried out for data analysis using the SPSS 23 package program. The findings of the study showed that the success levels of the experimental group in learning the songs were higher than those of the control group. Moreover, song maps were found to increase memorability and to have positive impact on the students.