Investigation of classroom teachers' STEM approach awareness, efficacy and attitudes

The aim of this study is to determine classroom teachers' awareness, competencies and attitudes towards STEM approach in terms of different variables. The methodological approach taken in this study is survey reseach design, which is one of the quantitative research methods. The population of the study consists of classroom teachers working in public schools of the Ministry of National Education in Izmir. The sample was selected through convenience sampling method in order to collect data and 292 classroom teachers were reached. "STEM Awareness Scale" and "The Elementary T-STEM Survey" were used as data collection tools. The data obtained from the implementation of the scales were statistically analyzed by using SPSS 24.0 programme. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean and standard deviation), t-test, ANOVA and correlation analysis were performed to analyze the data. It was found that the awareness, competence and attitude levels of classroom teachers towards STEM approach did not differ significantly according to the variables of professional seniority, graduate university, age and gender. When the sub-dimensions of the scales were examined; it was revealed that there was no significant difference in the sub-dimensions according to the level of class and age. However, it was concluded that professional seniority and gender variables had a significant difference in the factor of teachers' negative points of view regarding STEM awareness and teachers' learning attitudes of 21st century. On the other hand, it was found that the variables of graduate university and professional seniority had significant differences on teachers' self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectations for mathematics teaching. As a result of this research, it was found out that the relationship between teachers' awareness of STEM approach and their competencies and attitudes was significant and weak. Key Words: STEM Education, STEM Awareness, STEM Self-Efficacy and Attitude Elementary School Teacher