Investigation of the effects of STEM education approach on the perceptions of classroom teaching candidates about engineering design processes and about engineering and technology

In this study, it is aimed to determine the effect of the lesson plans prepared within STEM Education on the ability of clasroom teaching candidates to use engineering design process steps and on their perceptions about engineering and technology. The research was carried out in the spring of 2016-2017 academic year. Mixed research method is used. An engineering perception scale has been developed in this study. In the qualitative dimension of the mixed research method, teacher candidates were observed while working on the engineering design process cycle in the STEM applications. Documents were collected from the teacher candidates during this process and the process was recorded through a voice recorder. In the quantitative dimension, engineering and technology perception scales were used. In this process, teacher candidates were observed during six STEM applications, at the beginning, at the middle and at the end of the period. The results obtained in the study show that the clasroom teaching candidates have developed in the process of using the engineering design process steps. In this proces, it is also seen that teacher candidates have developed most of their life skills which are called as the 21st century skills. It has been concluded from the quantitative part of the findings that classroom teaching candidates have developed their engineering and technology perceptions positively when they have spent time with the STEM applications and engineering design process. Keywords:, Engineering Perception, Engineering Design Process, 21st Century Skills, Mixed Research Method STEM Education, Technology Perception