Araştırma Makalesi

Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students

Cilt: 55 Sayı: 1 30 Nisan 2026
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Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students

Öz

This research investigates the impact of STEM education activities developed within the cooperative learning framework on fourth-grade primary school students' motivation towards science, critical thinking skills, and academic achievement. The swift advancements in technology have given rise to instructional approaches grounded in technological integration, with STEM education gaining prominence in the early years due to its capacity to develop students’ analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. The study contrasts the effectiveness of STEM activities implemented through the cooperative learning model with those based on the widely adopted 5E instructional approach. The aim is to determine which method more effectively enhances students’ motivation, achievement, and critical thinking skills. Utilising a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control groups, the study was conducted with 71 fourth-grade students from two public schools located in Turkey’s Mediterranean region during the 2021–2022 academic year. Data were obtained through the Science Motivation Scale, a Critical Thinking Skills Scale, and an Academic Achievement Test. Analyses were carried out using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, MANOVA, and MANCOVA. The findings demonstrated that both instructional strategies positively affected students’ motivation, critical thinking skills, and academic achievement. Nevertheless, MANCOVA results indicated that STEM activities enriched with cooperative learning components had a significantly greater impact compared to the 5E instructional model. These findings underscore the pedagogical value of collaborative learning in STEM education and highlight the potential of such approaches to enhance primary school students’ educational outcomes. It is therefore recommended that educators integrate cooperative learning strategies into STEM-based instruction to promote higher levels of engagement, reasoning skills, and academic performance.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Destekleyen Kurum

Destekleyen herhangi bir kurum bulunmamaktadır.

Teşekkür

Araştırmama katılan ilkokul öğrencilerine ve destek veren okul idarecilerine ve öğretmenlerine teşekkür ederim.

Kaynakça

  1. Akbulut, Y. (2011). SPSS applications in social sciences. İdeal Publishing.
  2. Akgündüz, D. (2018). Theoretical framework and historical development of STEM education. In D. Akgündüz (Eds), STEM education in theory and practice from preschool to university (p.19–49) (1st Ed.). Anı Publishing.
  3. Aydın, E., & Yel, S. (2024). STEM eğitimi ile ilgili ilkokul düzeyinde yazılan tezlerin incelenmesi. Çağdaş Yönetim Bilimleri Dergisi, 11(2), 131–148.
  4. Bachman, L. F. (2004). Statistical analyses for the language assessment book (1st Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University
  5. Bahçeci, Ö. (2020). The effect of cooperative learning method supported by dialogue and group questioning strategies on the critical thinking tendencies and mathematics attitudes of 6th-grade students [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Fırat University.
  6. Barkatsas, T., Carr, N., & Cooper, G. (2018). Introduction: STEM education: An emerging field of inquiry. In T. Barkatsas, N. Carr, & G. Cooper (Eds.), STEM education: An emerging field of inquiry (pp. 1–8). Brill.
  7. Bassachs, M., Cañabate, D., Nogué, L., Serra, T., Bubnys, R., & Colomer, J. (2020). Fostering critical reflection in primary education through STEAM approaches. Education Sciences, 10(12), 384–396. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/educsci10120384
  8. Bender, W. N. (2018). 20 strategies for STEM teaching. (S. Durmuş, A. S. İpek & B. Yıldız, Trans.). Nobel Academy Publishing.

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

Eğitimde Program Geliştirme

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yayımlanma Tarihi

30 Nisan 2026

Gönderilme Tarihi

7 Temmuz 2025

Kabul Tarihi

3 Mart 2026

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2026 Cilt: 55 Sayı: 1

Kaynak Göster

APA
Aslan, S. (2026). Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 55(1), 467-517. https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.1736673
AMA
1.Aslan S. Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;55(1):467-517. doi:10.14812/cuefd.1736673
Chicago
Aslan, Serkan. 2026. “Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 55 (1): 467-517. https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.1736673.
EndNote
Aslan S (01 Nisan 2026) Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 55 1 467–517.
IEEE
[1]S. Aslan, “Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students”, Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, c. 55, sy 1, ss. 467–517, Nis. 2026, doi: 10.14812/cuefd.1736673.
ISNAD
Aslan, Serkan. “Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 55/1 (01 Nisan 2026): 467-517. https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.1736673.
JAMA
1.Aslan S. Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;55:467–517.
MLA
Aslan, Serkan. “Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, c. 55, sy 1, Nisan 2026, ss. 467-1, doi:10.14812/cuefd.1736673.
Vancouver
1.Serkan Aslan. Enhancing Science Motivation, Critical Thinking, and Academic Achievement: The Impact of Cooperative Learning-Based STEM Activities on Primary School Students. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 01 Nisan 2026;55(1):467-51. doi:10.14812/cuefd.1736673

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