The effect of the courses based upon STEM education model on 3rd and 4th grade students' attitudes towards STEM

In this study, the effects of science courses conducted in line with the STEM education model on 3rd and 4th grade students' interests and attitudes towards STEM were examined. Quantitative data were used in the research. The research was conducted with a total of 177 students, 81 from the 3rd grade and 96 from the 4th grade, studying at the STEM education centre. Based on the lesson plans prepared according to the STEM mentality, the lessons were taught for four weeks in the 3rd and 4th grades. The study used the STEM Attitude Scale developed by the researcher as a pre-test and post-test. The obtained data were analyzed through frequency, percentage, average, and standard deviation values, which are descriptive statistics techniques. Independent groups t-test was used to analyse whether the study groups demographically differed in the pre-test and post-test. From the findings, it was concluded that the use of activities prepared in line with the STEM model in science education has a positive effect on science education; the 3rd and 4th grade STEM education develops students' perspectives on STEM and has positive effects on students' awareness of their future lives, especially about career choice, and when analyzed in terms of gender, male students developed more positive attitudes than female students, and when examined in terms of grade level, 4th grade students developed better attitudes than 3rd grade students.