Effect of STEM activities on science process skills of gifted students

In this study, the effect of STEM activities on the science process skills of gifted and talented students was examined. The research was designed according to the nested mixed design, which is one of the mixed research methods. The research was carried out with 60 students studying in the science and art center of Bursa province Nilüfer district in the 2021- 2022 academic year. The data used in the research were collected with "Personal Information Form", "Online Science Process Skills Test (OSPST)" and "Interview Form". SPSS package programs were used in the analysis of the quantitative data collected in the study. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data of the research. In the light of the research findings, it has been revealed that there is a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test total scores of STEM activities aimed at improving students' science process skills. A significant relationship was found in the development of the groups' skills in measuring, recording data, estimating, using data and creating models, interpreting data, establishing number-space relationships, determining variables and forming hypotheses, and experimenting (p< ,05). The opinions of gifted students on the effect of STEM activities on the development of science process skills were examined and they stated that they contributed to the development of their skills in determining STEM variables, making hypotheses and experiments, observing and predicting. Education of special talents has a critical importance in raising the development level of societies. It can be said that starting from primary education level, STEM-based education will contribute to the development of individuals' science process skills. In this context, STEM activities can be done with gifted students and related activities can be developed to contribute to the literature. Keywords: STEM, Gifted students, Science process skills