Investigation of Educational Environments in Secondary Schools in Terms of Thinking Friendly Classroom Characteristics

Abstract

This study aims to examine the level of thinking friendly educational environment in secondary schools in accordance with the opinion of students. The study is designed as a descriptive survey model research. Participants of the study were students of 5, 6, 7, and 8th grade in six secondary schools located in Adana central districts; 943 students participated to the study. The data was obtained by Thinking Friendly Classroom Scale (TFCS). In the analysis of the data independent samples t test and one-way analysis of variance have been used. One of the findings of this research is that the students perceive the level of thinking friendly environment in their classroom over average, as positively. According to the results when the grade level goes up, Thinking Friendly Class Scale scores go down. It has been seen that female students perceive their classes more thinking friendly than male students. Based on the results of the study, it is emphasized that thinking friendly classrooms could be formed only by forming thinking friendly schools. It is recommended that school managers, teachers, students, and parents altogether have an active role for creating thinking culture in the school as a whole and, having educational activities to create this culture.