STEAM applications in the processing of socio-scientific issues

In this research, it is aimed to determine the effect of STEAM-based education applied in Science course on the attitudes of 3rd grade elementary school students towards science and to reveal the opinions of students about STEAM applications. In the study, pre-test posttest control group quasi-experimental design was used. The study group of the study is composed of third grade students studying in Afyonkarahisar Çobanlar Atatürk primary school in 2016-2017 academic year. In the quantitative dimension of the study, eye Attitude Scale towards Science "developed by Duran (2008) was developed by Padilla, Cronin and Twiest (1985) and adapted to Turkish by Aydoğdu and Karakuş (2015). Data obtained from "Draw A Scientist Check List (DAST-C)" scales developed by Finson, Beaver ve Cramond (1995) were used. Data were analyzed by using gain scores. Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews. Content analysis technique was used in the analysis of qualitative data. When the quantitative data were analyzed, a statistically significant difference was found between the pre-test and post-test results of science attitudes and basic scientific skills. When the qualitative data were analyzed, it was concluded that the participants were motivated about the lessons, they found the STEAM applications to be fun and they were motivated for the lesson.