Gamified-integrated STEM: Exploring 8th grade students'problem-solving skill perceptions and critical thinking dispositions about global climate change

Gamified-integrated STEM is one of the techniques that combines integrated STEM stages with gamification elements and can engage individuals in climate change communication (Rajanen & Rajanen, 2019). The main purpose of this study is to investigate gamified-integrated STEM-based instruction on global climate change causes a significant change in 8th-grade students' perceptions of problem-solving skills, critical thinking dispositions, and climate change views. In this quasi-experimental study, the sample consisted of sixty-nine 8th grade students from a public school in Turkey. Three classes of twenty-three participants each were named as the traditional group, experimental group 1 (integrated STEM group), and experimental group 2 (gamified-integrated STEM group). The data was collected in the 2022-2023 academic year. Problem-solving skill perceptions scale, critical thinking disposition instrument, and interviews were used to examine the research questions. According to the findings of the study, statistically significant differences were found between the pre & post-test scores of both scales in the lessons taught with gamified-integrated STEM instructional design compared to the other groups. When all groups were compared, the highest difference was found between the gamified-integrated STEM group and the control group. In addition, when taking the students' views on global climate change, it was found that the students in the gamified-integrated STEM group had higher levels of hope about global climate change and a desire to take action. The results revealed that gamified-integrated STEM activities on global climate change could be used, especially in subjects considered difficult to learn. It is expected that the results obtained from this research will create an opportunity for improving global climate change education within the scope of gamified-integrated STEM education.