الملخص الإنجليزي
This study aimed to investigate the effect of teaching using the graphic organizers on the development of visual thinking skills and science achievement of the ninth grade students at Atekha Bint Zaid basic education (6-10) in Muscat Governorate. The study was divided into two groups: an experimental group consisting of (26) students who were taught using graphic organizers, and the controlled group consisting of (26) students who were taught following the usual way. The study has lasted for eight weeks during the second
semester of the year 2017/2018. To achieve the goal of the study, a teaching guide which is built based on the use of graphic organizers was prepared for the teachers of the first group and its sincerity was verified by presenting it to a group of arbitrators. The instrument of the study consisted of two tests The first was testing-the skills of visual thinking, and it included (30) items. Its validity was verified by presenting it to a group of arbitrators: The internal consistency was calculated using alpha Cronbach coefficient and its value reached (r.84). Whereas, the second test was constructed on science achievement, including (30) items. Its validity has been verified by a group of arbitrators, and the calculation of stability was based on Pearson correlation coefficient, Its value reached (r.83).
The results of the study have indicated that there were statistically significant differences at the level of significance of (a=0.05) between the mean scores of the experimental group and the control group in the test of visual thinking skills, in favor of the experimental group. The results have also indicated that there were statistically significant differences at the level of (a= 0.05) between the mean scores of the experimental group and the control group in the post- science achievement test for the experimental group.
Based on the results, the present study recommendsed encouraging teachers to use graphic organizers for teaching in order to develop visual thinking skills and the achievement in science. The study also recommended conducting more studies on the impact of the use of graphic organizers on other variables. Further studies on the effectiveness of different teaching approaches aiming at developing visual thinking skills were also recommended.
