Investigation of model eliciting activities-based STEM approach applications in primary school 4th grade mathematics lesson

In this study, it was aimed to examine how model eliciting activities-based STEM approach applications were applied by pre-service classroom teachers in primary school 4th grade mathematics lessons and the views of practitioner-observer classroom teacher candidates and primary school students regarding the application process. One-group pre-test post-test from quasi-experimental designs and basic qualitative research design were used within the scope of mixed method. In the first stage of the research, in the spring term of 2018-2019 academic year, 3rd year students studying in the classroom teaching undergraduate program of a state university were given training on model eliciting activities-based STEM approach. At the end of the training, it was determined that the MEA and STEM theoretical knowledge of the teacher candidates improved statistically. After the training was given, 8 participants (4 of them practitioner and the others' observer) among the pre-service teachers were voluntarily included in the second phase of the research. The second phase was carried out in a public primary school in a province in the Aegean region within the scope of Teaching Practice I course in the fall semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. 4 of the 8 participants took part in the research as event practitioners and the other 4 as observers. Activity practitioner participants designed and implemented a total of 3 model eliciting activities-based STEM approach applications. During the process, both the practitioner and the observer participants kept a diary and the lessons were recorded with video. At the end of the process, the video recordings of the lectures were observed by the researcher and the activity implementation process was analyzed. Semi-structured interviews were held with the participants who implemented the activity, and with the observer participants, and written opinions were obtained from primary school 4th grade students through structured forms. As a result of the analysis of the observations and interviews, it was concluded that the participants completed the model eliciting activities-based STEM approach applications in 6 stages, each stage has a flexible structure that can be switched between each other, they have the motivation to implement the activities despite their lack of experience, and in general, each participant completed the process despite certain deficiencies. As a result of the analysis of only the opinions of the participants, it was concluded that despite the difficulties they experienced, they were willing to apply the model eliciting activities-based STEM approach in their professional lives and that the interest and motivation of the students increased, and that, apart from some other skills, the students gained the skills of cooperation, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.