Interest levels towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas of pre-service science teachers

The aim of this study was to determine the level of orientation of science teacher candidates towards the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in accordance with the determined variables and to determine the relationship level between the disciplines that make up STEM. The study was conducted by adopting a relational screening model. The sample of the study consisted of 73 science teacher candidates, 47 of whom are 3rd grade students and 26 of them are 4th grade students in a state university in the Western Black Sea Region in 2018-2019 academic year. The data of the study was developed by Kier, Blanchard, Osborne and Albert (2013) and adapted to Turkish by Koyunlu Ünlü, Bulk and Ünlü (2016). Data analysis was performed by applying t-test with SPSS program and calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. The pre-service teachers' level of orientation towards STEM areas was examined on the basis of the relationship between gender, grade level, STEM experience, and the Science-Technology-Engineering and Mathematics dimensions that make up STEM. It has been concluded that prospective teachers in the third grade have higher level of interest in STEM. In terms of STEM experience status, it was determined that the pre-service teachers' level of orientation towards STEM areas was higher. It was concluded that there was no significant difference in gender variable dimension. The pre-service teachers' level of interest in the disciplines constituting STEM was examined and it was concluded that the highest level of interest was in science and the lowest level was in engineering. As a result, it is revealed that there is a positive relationship when the pre-service teachers' orientations towards Science-Technology, Science-Engineering, Science-STEM, Mathematics-Technology, Mathematics-STEM, Technology-Engineering, Technology-STEM and Engineering-STEM fields are taken into consideration.