The effects of robotic activities on STEM awarenesses, self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching and attitudes towards STEM of pre-service teachers

STEM education is a learning approach that eliminates traditional obstacles that separate science, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Especially today, robotic coding has become an integral part of the education process with an increasing trend as an application field of STEM education. In this study, the effects of robotic coding education on pre-service teachers' STEM awareness, attitudes towards STEM, and self-efficacy of science education were investigated. In the research, explanatory mixed method pattern was used within the scope of both quantitative and qualitative research designs. While using single group experimental design within the scope of quantitative research, a qualitative case study was used. The universe of the study consists of 25 pre-service teachers studying at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Faculty of Education, Primary School Teaching and Science Teaching departments. In the qualitative dimension of the study, the study group consists of students who are in the experimental group by using homologous sampling method, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods. STEM Awareness Scale, Self-Efficacy Belief Scale in Science Education, Attitude Scale for STEM, and Robotic Coding Education Semi-Structured Interview Form were used in this research. In the quantitative data analysis process, frequency (f), percent (%), mean (x ̅) and standard deviation values as well as dependent t test and MANOVA test were used. In the quantitative data analysis process, frequency analysis, one of the content analysis types, was used. The results showed that especially robotic coding education was effective on pre-service teachers' awareness of STEM, STEM attitudes and competence beliefs. STEM awareness, STEM attitude and science education belief levels do not change according to gender, department and grade level variables, which are considered as independent variables within the scope of the research. Key words: STEM education, robotic coding, pre-service teachers.