STEM EDUCATION AWARENESS OF PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS

This research aimed to determine pre-service science teachers’ STEM awareness in terms of different variables. Data were collected from 148 pre-service science teachers studying at a state university in Turkey who were chosen through the convenience sampling method. "STEM Awareness Scale (SAS)" developed by Buyruk and Korkmaz (2016) was employed as data collection tool, and the data were analyzed using IBM SPSS-21 statistical program. For data analysis, Mann-Whitney U-test, variance analysis (ANOVA) and Tukey significance test were used. No statistically significant difference in pre-service science teachers’ STEM awareness in terms of gender, academic achievement score, technology usage frequency, and family income level. While they significantly differ in their STEM awareness with regard to grade level

EXAMINATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE (TPACK) SELF-EFFICACY FOR PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS ON MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT

In this research the authors aimed at determining the TPACK self-efficacy for pre-service science teachers on material development, the relational screening model was used. The research was carried out with a total of 141 pre-service science teachers from Kahramanmaraş Sütcü Imam University in 2016-2017 fall academic years. The data were collected by using the "Technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) self-efficacy scale for pre-service science teachers on material development" developed by Balçın and Ergün (2016). Independent-t test, one way variance analysis (Anova) and Tukey analysis were used in the statistical evaluation of the obtained data. Also, data are evaluated on 0.05 level relevance and its percentage, frequency, average and standard deviation levels are calculated. According to the findings obtained in the research, it was determined that the variables of grade level and teaching technologies and material development courses were influenced by TPACK self-efficacy for pre-service science teachers on material development (p<0.05). However, it was determined that gender, level of academic achievement and intensity of technology use did not affect the TPACK self-efficacy for pre-service science teachers on material development.  Article visualizations

Effect of demographic features to middle school students’ attitude towards FeTeMM (STEM)

In this research, which is done in order to determine the demographical features on middle school students’  6th, 7th and 8th  grades towards FeTeMM (STEM), scanning design is used. It is performed with 581 middle school students, and data are collected through Middle School Students’ point of view to Stem (S-Stem) scale. The research is implemented during 2015-2016 spring period. For statistical evaluation of gathered data, independent t-test and one direction variance analysis (anova), one direction variance analysis Kruskal-Wallis are used. Also, data are evaluated on 0.05 level relevance and its percentage, frequency, average and standard deviation levels are calculated. According to findings gathered from the study, it is seen that opinion of students to FeTeMM (STEM), the mother education level and father education level have a great effect but gender and class level haven’t. On the other hand, applied sciences, like maths, engineering and 21st century skills, the effects of students’ gender, mom and father education level and grade level are expressed

TEACHER CANDIDATES’ ETHICAL APPROACHES RELATED TO ANIMAL EXPERIMENT

This research was carried out to determine about the preferences and point of view of teacher candidates ethical approaches related to animal experiment. Obesity disease, cancer disease, cosmetics industry, product tests created the sub subjects of scenarios with dilemmas. The research was carried out in 2015-2016 academic year with 322 teacher candidates. As a data collection tool, “Bioethical Value Inventory” and “Demographic Information Form” developed by the researcher were used. Preferences of teacher candidates on scenarios are examined by using research variables such as, family education level, grade level and family income level. As a result of analysis of the research, it was determined that general decisions and ethical preferences of teacher candidates can show differences according to class grade, family education levels and income levels. It became clear that only product tests themed scenarios did not show any difference.  Article visualizations

INVESTIGATION OF TEACHER SCIENCE DISCIPLINE SELF-CONFIDENCE ABOUT THEIR TECHNOLOGICAL PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE (TPACK)

The aim of this study is to determine about the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) self confidence level of physics, chemistry, biology and science teachers and to analyze if the level of self–confidence changes according to gender, joining to a technological education before, branch, education level, worked institution and service period. Scanning method is used for the research. Working group of this research consists of 87 teachers from different institutions and branches. For data collection, “Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Self–Confidence Scale (TPACKSC), which is adapted to Turkish from original scale by Graham, Burgoyne, Cantrell, Smith & Harris (2009) and tested for validity and reliability by Timur & Yasar (2011), is preferred. As a result of the study, it is stated that teachers’ TPACK level is very high. On the other hand, it is seen that self-confidence level of teachers joined to research does not have a statically logical (p>0.05) difference according to their sex, worked institution, joining to a technological education before and they have a statistical logical (p<0.05) difference related with the branch, service period and education level.  Article visualizations

Ethical Reasoning in STEM Disciplines

In this study, it was aimed to determine ethical reasoning of lecturers in STEM disciplines in terms of several independent variables (gender, working another institution, age, academic title, academic discipline, service period). This study was designed as a survey research. Lecturers in STEM disciplines in Kahramanmaras Sutçuimam University were selected as participants of the study. ‘‘Ethical Reasoning Instrument (ERI)’ which was developed by Titus, Zoltowski, Huyck, and Oakes (2011) was used in order to collect data by adapting into Turkish. Data were analyzed by the help of independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The findings indicated that for all independent variables there were no statistically significant difference (p>.05) in ethical reasoning of lecturers. As an interesting result, it was determined that lecturers in engineering discipline have less ethical awareness than lecturers in medicine and science disciplines. Keywords: STEM, STEM Disciplines, Ethics, Ethical Reasoning

Making Yogurt: A Practical Study to Develop an Understanding of Useful Bacteria

This study aims for students to comprehend the beneficial functions of bacteria with the traditional home yogurt leavening activity. Also, it aims to identify alternative concepts related to leavening and contribute to students' home yogurt consumption habits. The study is a case study. The study was conducted with 29 fifth-grade students studying at a public school in Istanbul in the 2019-2020 academic year and their parents. Questionnaire forms and student observation forms developed by the researchers were used as data collection tools. The obtained data were described by content analysis. Before the application, the participant students were given these three statements; microbes as a sample of microscopic creatures, yeast fungi caused yogurt formation, and yogurt is healthy because it was a dairy product. While after the application, participant students changed their statements to these three; the term microbe was not used as a sample of microscopic creatures, bacteria took part in the formation of yogurt, and yogurt is healthy because it contains microscopic creatures beneficial for the digestive system. The educational activities integrated into daily life contribute to students' conceptual learning

Analysis of Primary School Student’s Science Learning Anxiety According to Some Variables

On this research, it is analyzed if the science learning anxiety level shows difference according to variables which are gender, grade level, science lesson grade, mother education, father education level. Scanning Design is used for this study. Research working group is consisted of 294 primary school from 6th, 7th and 8th graders on 2015 – 2016 education year. For data collection, “Science Learning Anxiety Scale (SLAS)” is used. As a result of the research, it is mentioned that students’ science learning anxiety is on an average level. On the other hand, it is analyzed that on learners’ science learning anxiety, there is no effect of sex, but science lesson grades as well as mother and father education level variables (p<0.05) has got an effect on relevance level. Keywords: Science, Anxiety, Science Learning Anxiety, Science Lesson Grad

EXAMINATION OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS' ANXIETY LEVELS ABOUT TEACHING PROFESSION

In this research, it was aimed to determine the levels of occupational anxiety of pre-service teachers' who read science and primary school teacher programs according to various variables. The research was carried out by Köklükaya and Yıldırım (2016) and the validity and reliability analyzes were carried out. Anxiety Scale for Teaching Profession (ASTP) was used. The research was carried out with 266 prospective teachers who were educated at Kahramanmaras Sütcü Imam University in the academic year of 2015-2016. Independent t test, one way analysis of variance (anova), Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis analysis and Tukey significance test were used to determine the statistical significance of the obtained data in the research using relational screening model. According to research findings, it was determined that there was no significant difference (p <.05) in the level of vocational anxiety among the teacher candidates according to the degree of willingness to choose the department, grade level and academic achievement score. According to the gender variable, there was no significant difference in the pre-service teachers' who read in the department of primary school teachers', and it was found that the science teachers' professional anxiety levels had a significant difference according to the gender variable

DETERMINATION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS' VIEWS ABOUT STEM ACTIVITIES

In this research, it is aimed to determine the opinions of middle school students about STEM activities. The research, which used case study from qualitative research designs, was conducted in 2018-2019 academic year. The research working group is composed of 27 middle school students studying in a private school in Turkey. In the data collection, semi-structured interview forms prepared by the researchers were used. The data were analyzed in accordance with the content analysis steps. According to the findings of the research, it was determined that STEM activities were related to daily life problems, and that students' lessons, occupational preferences and communication skills were affected. In addition, lack of time and material and lack of information have been found to have problems in the realization of STEM activities