The effect of STEM applications on attitudes towards science and technology, skills of scientific process and problem solving of 4th grade students

In this study, the effect of STEM applications, which were administrated with 4th grade students, on attitudes towards science and technology, skills of scientific process and problem solving was investigated. This study was conducted within the scope of convergent parallel design which is one of the mixed research methods. The study was carried out with totally 42 primary school students, 21 one of them were in experimental group and 21 one of them were in control group, studying in the 4th grade of Dumlupınar Primary School of Elazığ province in 2017-2018 academic year. STEM practices were performed with the students in experimental group in the study which lasted for 10 weeks. Current curriculum was administrated in the control group without executing STEM applications. The quantitative data of the study were collected with Scientific Process Assessment Test, Problem Solving Inventory for the Students in the Level of Primary School, Attitude Scale for Science and Technology Course. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews conducted with the students of experimental group and the diaries written by the students throughout the administration. SPSS 22 package program was used in the analysis of quantitative data. ANCOVA analysis was performed to test the hypotheses of the study. While interviews were assessed with content analysis, student diaries were assessed with descriptive analysis. According to ANCOVA results,it was seen that conducted STEM applications were effective on attitudes towards science and technology, skills of scientific process and problem solving of 4th grade students in the experimental group compared to ones in the control group in which practices were not carried out. As to the qualitative data of the study, students stated that their skills of experimentation, observation, deducing and assessment of scientific process skills; skills of problem solving, creativity, communication and cooperationof 21st century skills developed. It was also detected that students faced various problems in the process and they developed solutionoffers for these problems. Students expressed that they felt themselves sometimes like scientist, inventor; and sometimes like the professional for various STEM areas such as engineer, architect. The students also indicated that the use of application of STEM activities in the lessons is entertaining, they learned more lasting and easier, and they asked the lessons should continue in this way.