Development of a mathematics-based STEM module and assessment of opinions provided on the module

Due to the importance of the STEM education approach, necessary steps are taken for its implementation and development. For this reason, it is very important for educators to prepare qualified programs for the STEM education approach. Although there are a limited number of STEM modules in the field for the application of a qualified STEM education, the existing modules are mostly developed for teaching science subjects and mathematics is used as a tool in these modules. The aim of this study is to develop a mathematics-based STEM module for teaching middle school ratio-proportion, area measurement and matter-heat subjects and to create a STEM evaluation form that will evaluate the quality of this module and the modules to be developed in the future in the field of mathematics education. The reliability and validity of the developed mathematics- based STEM module and STEM evaluation form were investigated by taking expert opinions. Design-based research method was used in developing this study. According to the expert opinions, the Croanbach's alpha value of the STEM evaluation form was calculated as 0,91 that indicated that a high level of validity and reliability. While the agreement between the experts for the developed mathematics-based STEM module was determined as 94%, the Croanbach's alpha value was calculated as 0,80 according to the expert opinions on the module, indicating that a high level of validity and reliability was achieved. The mathematics- based STEM module developed in this study will contribute to eliminating the lack of STEM teaching materials, in which mathematics is at the forefront, that can be used both in professional development programs designed for teachers and in the education of seventh grade students. In addition, the STEM evaluation form developed in this study will contribute to the field as an evaluation tool for the evaluation of STEM modules to be developed in the future.