Investigation of Eighth Grade Students’ Renewable Energy Resources Perceptions by Science Cartoons

In this study, which aims to reveal the perceptions of eighth grade students about renewable energy sources by science cartoons, phenomenology is used. Participants are 20 students totally, who are studying in a secondary school in Kayseri in the second semester of the academic year of 2014-2015, determined by criterion sampling, and 12 female and 8 male at the eighth grade level. Process of the study lasted 4 weeks. Science cartoons drawn by the students and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection tools in the study. The data were analyzed by content analysis. As a result of the research it was seen that the participants could not define the energy and make sufficient explanations about the energy conversion and some students had incorrect information. In addition, the research data also show that the examples given by the participants on renewable energy sources and non-renewable energy sources are correct and inadequate. This situation can be achieved with trainings which will increase the level of awareness of the students about energy problems, renewable energy sources, non-renewable energy sources and energy saving. Also, it seems essential to make the concepts concrete and associate them with daily life and to realize permanent learning