The effect of project-based stem activities on STEM career interest, 21st century skills and academic success in middle school students

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of project-based STEM activities on middle school students' STEM career interests, 21st century learning innovation skills (4c) and skill-based academic achievement. In the 2021-2022 academic year, a 16-week application was carried out with 53 students studying in the 6th grade in a public secondary school affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Karatay district of Konya province. The study was conducted with a nested design, one of the mixed method research designs, in order to use the advantages of both quantitative and qualitative data together. The experimental and control groups were randomly assigned. While project-based STEM activities were carried out in the experimental group, lessons were taught in the control group according to the Ministry of National Education curriculum. In the study, quantitative data were collected using the 21st Century Learning and Innovation Skills scale developed by the researcher and STEM career interest and Skill-based academic achievement test pre-test post-test. For qualitative data, personal opinion forms were taken from the experimental group after the application. In the analysis of the quantitative data obtained, ANCOVA analysis was performed to examine whether there was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test mean scores of the groups, while descriptive content analysis was performed with qualitative data. In line with the findings obtained, it was observed that 21st century learning and innovation skills, STEM career interests and skill-based academic achievement test increased significantly in the experimental group where project-based STEM activities were applied. In the qualitative dimension of the research, it was observed that the students in the experimental group used expressions that their interest in STEM professions increased and their individual and group skills increased. Suggestions were made in line with the results obtained.