The Effect of Online Prediction -Explanation-Observation-Explanation Method on Fifth Grade Students’ Conceptual Understanding of Frictional Force in the Classroom

The ability of students to comprehend concepts is dependent on their capacity to think deeply, understand the relationships between concepts, and make connections. Various factors, such as logical thinking ability, attitude, physical environment, needs, and teaching approach, can affect students' ability to learn concepts. The study focused on fifth-grade students and examined the impact of the online Predict-Explain-Observe- Explain (PEOE) method on their conceptual understanding of friction force. The study employed a pre-test post-test experimental design, which is considered a weak experimental design. The sample of the study consists of 16 fifth grade students of a secondary school in Bursa province. The experimental application of the research was conducted online in the 2021-2022 academic year, which coincided with the pandemic period. A measurement tool called the Friction Force Conceptual Understanding Test was used as a data collection tool to determine conceptual understanding. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, one of the non-parametric statistical methods, was used to compare the pre-test and post-test data. As a result of the study, it was determined that the PEOE method applied in the online education environment was effective in improving students' conceptual understanding of friction force. These findings highlight the importance of interactive and participatory learning approaches applied in an online environment for students' conceptual understanding processes. This study can be an important reference point for the development of distance education applications.