Learning Through Animation: A Qualitative Study of Engagement and Retention in Social Studies Lessons

This qualitative action research study investigates the effects of animation-enhanced pedagogy on seventh-grade social studies classes, with particular emphasis on the perspectives of both students and teachers. Conducted during the 2022–2023 academic year at a middle school in southern Turkey, the study encompassed 38 seventh-grade students and two social studies teachers. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and were subjected to descriptive analysis. The findings indicate that students perceive animation-based learning as engaging and effective, contributing to improved comprehension and retention. Teachers observed that animations heightened students’ interest, reinforced instructional materials, and facilitated the concretization of abstract concepts. This study underscores the advantages of incorporating animations into social studies instruction to augment students engagement and understanding.