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Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 21, Issue 1, Article 6 (Dec., 2021) |
Unveiling science teachers’ attitudes, readiness and views about STEM education
Fatma COŞTU1,*, Rukiye BEKTAŞ2and Bayram COŞTU3
1Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Istanbul, TURKEY
2Turkcell Academy Learning Development and Leadership Program Manager, Istanbul, TURKEY
3Yildiz Technical University Faculty of Education, 34165 Istanbul, TURKEY
*Corresponding Author's E-mail: fatma.costu@izu.edu.tr
Received 30 Sep., 2020
Revised 26 Dec., 2021
The aim of this study was to reveal science teachers’ attitudes, readiness and views for STEM education. Parallel to this aim, the study was conducted in two parts. In the first part, to examine attitudes and readiness of the science teachers, T-STEM survey which consists of nine sub-parts, was implemented on the participants. In the second part, semi-structured interviews which consist of six questions were utilized to reveal science teachers’ views. The study was conducted with 80 volunteer science teachers (average 2-5 years of teaching experience was especially selected because of recent science curriculum developments) who work in public or private schools. Some of the teachers have prior experience on teaching STEM. To analyze first part of the data different parametric tests were used. For the second part of the data, thematic analysis based on interviews transcript was used by the researchers. The results indicated that although experience in promoting STEM education beforehand, most of the science teachers have positive attitude towards STEM education according to their hearings about STEM. The teachers believed that this approach would increase success of the students. Also, the teachers experienced about STEM education used it in their classes. However, they stated that physical circumstances of the schools, readiness of the science teachers is not enough to apply STEM education yet. Besides, the teachers who did not have STEM education stated that they do not know how to teach with STEM so that they do not feel confident enough to lead students to follow STEM related career paths. As a result of these, the teachers stated that there is need of content knowledge, practice guideline, opportunity for professional experience and suitable physical conditions to teach with using STEM. The results proposed that the quantity and quality of STEM education in our country should be increased.
Keywords: STEM education, science teachers, readiness, attitudes, views
