Skills used by gifted and talented students in integrated STEM activities based on engineering design

In this research, it was aimed to determine the STEM skills that were used by gifted and talented students in integrated STEM activities based on the engineering design. Additionally, it was aimed to find out students' views about STEM and STEM education. In the study, simple-case holistic design, a type of qualitative research, was used. The purpose of sampling required that the participants should be gifted and talented 7th grade students enrolled in Science-Art Center. Hence, seven 7th graders who got supportive instruction in SAC participated in the study. During implementation process, ten-week STEM activities were conducted with the students. Group interviews, observations and documents (STEM activity manual, dairies etc.) were used as data collection tools to determine skills performed by the students in the STEM activities. For this purpose, the activity process and interviews was video- and audio-recorded. To reveal the students' views about STEM and STEM education, individual interviews were conducted before and after the STEM activities. The study showed that talented and gifted students, who participated in the integrated STEM activities based on engineering design, used reasoning, problem solving, making connection, engineering, innovation, creativity, communication and collaboration, life and career skills. When the participants' views about STEM and STEM education were examined before and after the STEM education, it was concluded that STEM education was effective in defining STEM disciplines and providing motivation. It was also revealed that throughout the STEM activities, implementation environment and the activity contents were effective in revelation and development of STEM skills.