ERIC Number: EJ1258419
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2148-225X
EISSN: N/A
Examining Project-Based STEM Training in a Primary School
International Online Journal of Education and Teaching, v7 n3 p811-825 2020
This research primarily aims to examine project-based STEM training implemented in a state primary school in Turkey regarding teachers' and students' views. The phenomenological design, which is one of the qualitative research designs, was exclusively adopted in the study. The research sampling consisted of 18 students and 2 teachers working at a state primary school located in an Anatolian province during the 2017-2018 academic year. The research data were collected through interviews some of which were voice-recorded and analyzed through content analysis. Research findings revealed that successful implementation of STEM practices necessitates a systematic working plan consisting of preparation, implementation and evaluation stages. Besides, it was revealed that STEM training practices facilitate unearthing students' talents and developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well as manual dexterity. The research findings also suggested that these practices increase cooperation among students, help them develop a positive attitude towards the lesson and behave more carefully during the classes. Nonetheless, various problems such as inadequate space, teaching materials and group-work driven problems were observed during STEM practices. Based on the research findings, it is suggested that STEM training should be separately implemented without being included in a single discipline.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, STEM Education, Student Projects, Elementary School Teachers, Elementary School Students, Program Effectiveness, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Cooperative Learning, Barriers, Classroom Environment, Instructional Materials, Group Activities, Teaching Methods, Learning Activities, Program Development, Program Implementation, Program Evaluation, Teacher Attitudes, Student Attitudes
Informascope. 3251 Cadde Kozlu Evler 2/49 Yasamkent, 06800, Turkey. e-mail: iojetmail@gmail.com; Web site: https://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Turkey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A