The Effect of STEM Applications On Students’ Science-Engineering Perceptions

Year 2017, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 195 - 207, 01.06.2016

Fatma Taştan Akdağ , Tohit Güneş

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out the effects
of STEM applications on students’ perceptions of science and engineering. The
study was conducted with 26 7th graders in a secondary school in Samsun. One
group pre test, post test experimental design was used in the study. During the
process of STEM applications within the scope of the unit of electric energy, a
form consisting of 12 open ended questions was used, analyzed and evaluated.
When the data obtained were analyzed, it was found that as a result of STEM
education, students’ perceptions of engineering changed positively, they were
able to make more correct definitions of engineering and they were able to
state the basic objectives of engineering. As a result of the applications, it
was found that students were able to tell the elements of the engineering
design process and the stages engineers follow while designing products and in
addition they were able to express the importance of science for engineering
while presenting the spiral relationship between the concepts of
science-engineering-technology. Schools should allocate budget for STEM
applications which will give students experiences about forming a sense of
production, gaining skills related with hands, taking responsibilities and
sharing and both students and teachers should be encouraged about STEM
applications.

Keywords

STEM, Science, Engineering

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