Abstract

According to the preschool education program that came into effect by Turkish Ministry of Education in Turkey in 2013, teaching should be offered not only in classrooms but also in places outside classrooms likely to boost learning. The program required utilizing learning techniques, and environments different from conventional ones. The aim of the present study was to raise awareness about history through a museum education program created as described by the Ministry in 2013, and offering information about cultural heritage of Turkey and other cultures, and to test effectiveness of the program. The study was conducted in Ä°zmir Tarih ve Sanat Müzesi (The History and Art Museum in Ä°zmir, Turkey). Data were collected at face to face interviews with a semi-structured interview form created to determine what children thought about museums. Obtained data was evaluated with content analysis. The analysis showed that the education program offered was effective.

Key words: Preschool education, museum education, and preschool education program.