Investigation of the effect of STEM education activities on the levels of relating the subjects to daily life, the scientific process skills and the professional and career choice of students in disadvantaged regions

The aim of this research is to effectively use STEM education in every region and increase its usability in daily life. Exploratory sequential mixed method was used in the research. Research data were collected with introductory information and professional interest form, course topics associating with daily life scale, scientific process skill test, and semi-structured interview form. Data analysis was done using Independent Samples t Test and qualitative analysis. The sample of the research is 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students studying at a public school in a disadvantaged region within the borders of Adana province. Pre-test and post-test were applied in the research. As a result of the study, it was seen that the traditional learning method did not provide permanent learning to the individual. Statistically significant differences were determined in the attitudes of the students to whom STEM activity was applied, towards science course method techniques, their attitude towards associating the science course with daily life, their opinions about the content of the science course, associating the course subjects with daily life, and the results of the scientific process achievement test. Keywords: STEM education, career, science