The effect of STEM approach-based mathematical modeling activities on mathematical modeling skills and math literacy of secondary school students

The aim of the STEM education approach, which develops 21st century skills, is to raise individuals who can meet the needs of the new age, who research, think, question, and aim to transform the knowledge they have gained from different disciplines into practice, new inventions and products. STEM education aims to see the knowledge gained from all these disciplines as complementary to the whole. It is also an important educational approach to increase student success in international exams. Mathematical modeling is also considered to be an important part of the concept of mathematical literacy. Therefore, considering that mathematical literacy is among the skills of the 21st century, the competencies gained by STEM activities and mathematical modeling problems are also the competencies expected from students with high mathematical literacy success. For this reason, the development of mathematical modeling competencies in the context of STEM also improves mathematical literacy. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of mathematical modeling activities based on STEM approach on mathematical modeling skills and mathematical literacy of secondary school students in the context of STEM, their interest in stem education and their views on mathematical modeling problems in the context of STEM. Mixed research method was used in the study. The qualitative findings obtained by performing the quasi-experimental process with mathematical modeling activities based on the STEM approach and taking the opinions of the students in the process support the quantitative findings. The study group of the research consists of 66 eighth grade students studying at a public school in the Iskenderun district of Hatay province in the 2020/2021 academic year. The sample group of the study was determined by the criterion sampling method. As quantitative data in the research; STEM Interest Scale, Mathematics literacy self-efficacy scale, 'Mathematics Literacy Achievement Test', Mathematical Modeling Activities in the Context of STEM, 'Mathematical Modeling Activity based on STEM Education approach' to be used in the teaching practice process, 'Evaluation Rubric' to determine the proficiency levels of students' mathematical modeling activities ' used. "Semi-structured Interview Form" was used as qualitative data. According to the findings obtained from the study, it was seen that after the practical training, the scores of the mathematical literacy self-efficacy scale, the levels of mathematical literacy achievement, and the mathematical modeling skills in the STEM context improved positively, but there was no difference between the STEM interest scale scores. In the context of STEM, a high positive correlation was found between mathematical modeling skills and mathematical literacy achievement levels. When the students' opinions were examined, they stated that the problems were difficult to understand in general, that more than one discipline area should be mastered, that it was fun, useful and gave different perspectives, and that their interest in engineering and technology increased. Keywords: STEM Education, Mathematical Modeling, Mathematical Literacy, Mathematical Modeling in the Context of STEM, Eighth Grade Students, STEM Interest Scale, Mathematical Modeling Activities Based on STEM Approach