Abstract

The education given in the schools provides to learn students where and how can get the knowledge, how to evaluate it, and how the use it for solving the problem. Problem-based learning approach is highly effective to acquire these skills. In this study, the effect of problem-based learning approach on pre-service teachers’ creative thinking level was evaluated. The research was carried out at Gazi Educational Faculty in 2002-2003 school years. In the research was used experimental design with treatment and control groups. It was examined whether there are any meaningful differences between their sex and their type of graduated school after and before the research. Results of the research showed that there is a progress on creative thinking level of pre-service teachers’ in the experimental group than pre-service teachers’ in control group. This result showed that problem based learning is more effective than traditional methods in developing creative thinking skills.

Key words: Problem-based learning, science teaching, creative thinking