The effect of STEM education practices on creativity and critical thinking skills in preschool period

In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of STEM education applications prepared for the preschool period on the creativity and critical thinking skills of children in the 5 year-old group attending preschool. The study group of the study, which was designed in an experimental design with a pretest posttest control group, consisted of 31 children, 12 of whom were control and 19 of whom were experimental, continuing their pre-school education. The study group of the research was determined by convenient sampling method and the study was carried out in an independent state-run kindergarten located in Alanya district of Antalya province. Experimental research model is the best method to measure the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable. The STEM education program, which is the independent variable of the research, was applied to the experimental group for 8 weeks. In the control group, the MEB pre- school education curriculum continued. Critical thinking and creativity scales were used as data collection tools in the research. "Assessment of Critical Thinking" scale was used to measure critical thinking skills and "Hybrid Creativity Test" was used to determine creativity levels. It was concluded that the STEM education applied to the children in the research experimental group had a positive effect on their critical thinking and creativity skills.