THE CONTRIBUTION OF MUSEUMS TO GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION: THE MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HISTORYv

Education and training activities with today's developing information technology; shows the need for different learning techniques, different educational tools and different learning environments in the lessons. In the modern societies, agricultural areas, historical and cultural areas and museums are also used as an out-of-school education environment. The museums, which are defined as the space where carefully collected pieces of cultural values created by civilizations that lived in different geographies and times are exhibited together, have an important place in understanding the past of today's societies In this respect, the Museum of Islamic Science and Technology History, which was established with the efforts of Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin, one of the important scientists who grew up in the Republic period, is an important building in terms of introducing Islamic Science History studies to young generations. The museum, which was opened in 2008, consists of two floors and includes departments related to Astronomy, Clock Technology, Maritime, War Technology, Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics-Geometry, Urbanism, Architecture, Optics and Geography. The question of "How is the contribution of museums to geography education?" constitutes of the basis of the study. In this study, which was prepared to see the effect of the Islamic Science and Technology History Museum on secondary school students' understanding of geography science and history, the students were asked questions with a semi-structured interview form consisting of eight questions that were created by taking expert opinion. The answers given in the interview were categorized and interpreted. The names of the students participating in the study were kept confidential and more sincere answers were tried to be obtained. According to the answers given, it was concluded that there are enlightening works and information shedding light on geography and geography education from the past to the present in the Islamic Science and Technology History Museum, that students at secondary education level have positively changed their view of the history of geography and contribute to the promote of national, spiritual and cultural values related to geography. Keywords: Geography education, out-of-school education, useum, Museum of Islamic Science and Technology History, Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin