Improving Primary School Students' Awareness of Science Careers through STEM Education Practices: An Action Research

Hicran Özkul; Muhammet Özden

Makale detayları

Improving Primary School Students' Awareness of Science Careers through STEM Education Practices: An Action Research

Yazarlar:

Hicran Özkul | Muhammet Özden

Yayıncı:

Pamukkale University

Ana Başlıklar:

STEM Eğitimi

Dergi:

Pamukkale Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 64, pp.51-91

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001341669

pISSN:

1301-0085

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This action research aimed to explain how integrated STEM practices can be implemented in a fourth-grade science curriculum and how students awareness of science careers can be improved. The research was carried out with fourth-year primary school students studying at a primary school located on a university campus in the Aegean Region of Turkey in the 2018-2019 academic year. The action research method was utilized to gather quantitative data using the STEM Professions Interest Scale, while qualitative data were obtained through personal information forms, video and photo recordings, semi-structured interviews, a researcher diary, student diaries, and audio recordings of validity committee meetings. The quantitative data were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, and qualitative data analysis was employed using thematic analysis. As a result of the research, it was indicated that integrated STEM practices in primary schools can be implemented with an engineering-based approach that includes the stages of identify the problem, generate ideas, select and implement, test and reflect, and recreate. It was observed that the most difficult component of the mentioned steps for students was drawing prototypes. Results showed that students recognized the duties of professions in science fields, their interest in these professions increased, and students included these professions in their career plans. The quantitative results of the study also support these results. Specifically, the results indicated that students interest in STEM professions showed a statistically significant difference in favor of the post-test after the implementation. Analysis of qualitative and quantitative research results revealed that students awareness of science careers improved.

 This action research aimed to explain how integrated STEM practices can be implemented in a fourth-grade science curriculum and how students awareness of science careers can be improved. The research was carried out with fourth-year primary school students studying at a primary school located on a university campus in the Aegean Region of Turkey in the 2018-2019 academic year. The action research method was utilized to gather quantitative data using the STEM Professions Interest Scale, while qualitative data were obtained through personal information forms, video and photo recordings, semi-structured interviews, a researcher diary, student diaries, and audio recordings of validity committee meetings. The quantitative data were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, and qualitative data analysis was employed using thematic analysis. As a result of the research, it was indicated that integrated STEM practices in primary schools can be implemented with an engineering-based approach that includes the stages of identify the problem, generate ideas, select and implement, test and reflect, and recreate. It was observed that the most difficult component of the mentioned steps for students was drawing prototypes. Results showed that students recognized the duties of professions in science fields, their interest in these professions increased, and students included these professions in their career plans. The quantitative results of the study also support these results. Specifically, the results indicated that students interest in STEM professions showed a statistically significant difference in favor of the post-test after the implementation. Analysis of qualitative and quantitative research results revealed that students awareness of science careers improved.

 This action research aimed to explain how integrated STEM practices can be implemented in a fourth-grade science curriculum and how students awareness of science careers can be improved. The research was carried out with fourth-year primary school students studying at a primary school located on a university campus in the Aegean Region of Turkey in the 2018-2019 academic year. The action research method was utilized to gather quantitative data using the STEM Professions Interest Scale, while qualitative data were obtained through personal information forms, video and photo recordings, semi-structured interviews, a researcher diary, student diaries, and audio recordings of validity committee meetings. The quantitative data were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, and qualitative data analysis was employed using thematic analysis. As a result of the research, it was indicated that integrated STEM practices in primary schools can be implemented with an engineering-based approach that includes the stages of identify the problem, generate ideas, select and implement, test and reflect, and recreate. It was observed that the most difficult component of the mentioned steps for students was drawing prototypes. Results showed that students recognized the duties of professions in science fields, their interest in these professions increased, and students included these professions in their career plans. The quantitative results of the study also support these results. Specifically, the results indicated that students interest in STEM professions showed a statistically significant difference in favor of the post-test after the implementation. Analysis of qualitative and quantitative research results revealed that students awareness of science careers improved.

 İlkokul dördüncü sınıf fen bilimleri dersi öğretim programı kapsamında bütünleştirilmiş STEM eğitiminin nasıl uygulanabileceğini ve öğrencilerin fen kariyer bilinçlerinin nasıl geliştirilebileceğini açıklamayı hedefleyen bu araştırmada eylem araştırması kullanılmıştır. Araştırma 2018-2019 akademik yılında Ege Bölgesindeki bir üniversitenin kampüsündeki ilkokulda öğrenim gören dördüncü sınıf öğrencileri ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın nicel verileri STEM Mesleklerine İlgi Ölçeği ile nitel verileri ise kişisel bilgi formları, video ve fotoğraf kayıtları, yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler, araştırmacı günlüğü, öğrenci günlükleri ve geçerlik komitesi ses kayıtları ile toplanmıştır. Nicel verilerin analizi Wilcoxon İşaretli Sıralar Testi, nitel verilerin analizi ise tematik analiz kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda ilkokulda bütünleştirilmiş STEM eğitiminin problemi yapılandır, düşünce üret, seç ve yap test et ve düşünce yansıt ve yeniden oluştur aşamalarını içeren mühendislik temelli bir anlayışla uygulanabileceği belirlenmiştir. Belirtilen aşamalardan öğrencilerin en zorlandıkları bileşenin prototipleri çizme konusu olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Öğrencilerin fen alanındaki mesleklerin görevlerini tanıdıkları ve bu mesleklere yönelik ilgilerinin artarak bu meslekleri kariyer planlarına dahil ettikleri tespit edilmiştir. Araştırmanın nicel bulguları da bu sonucu desteklemektedir. Araştırmada öğrencilerin STEM mesleklerine yönelik ilgilerinin uygulama sonunda son test lehine istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık gösterdiği ortaya çıkmıştır. Araştırmanın hem nitel hem de nicel bulgularının analizleri sonucunda öğrencilerin fen kariyer bilinçlerinin geliştiği saptanmıştır.

Makale detayları

Improving Primary School Students' Awareness of Science Careers through STEM Education Practices: An Action Research

Yazarlar:

Hicran Özkul | Muhammet Özden

Yayıncı:

Pamukkale University

Ana Başlıklar:

STEM Eğitimi

Dergi:

Pamukkale Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 64, pp.51-91

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001341669

pISSN:

1301-0085

STEM education

Integrated STEM education

Engineering-oriented integrated STEM education

Engineering education

Action research

Primary school studentsSTEM eğitimi

Bütünleştirilmiş STEM eğitimi

Mühendislik odaklı bütünleştirilmiş STEM eğitimi

Mühendislik eğitimi

Eylem araştırması

İlkokul öğrencileri

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Hicran Özkul | Muhammet Özden

Yayıncı: Pamukkale University

Ana Başlıklar: STEM Eğitimi

Dergi: Pamukkale Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 64, pp.51-91

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 5/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001341669

pISSN: 1301-0085

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Hicran Özkul | Muhammet Özden

Yayıncı:

Pamukkale University

Ana Başlıklar:

STEM Eğitimi

Dergi:

Pamukkale Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 64, pp.51-91

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001341669

pISSN:

1301-0085