Examining the STEM Awareness and Entrepreneurship Levels of Pre-Service Science Teachers

Abstract

The scientific and technological developments in today's world require countries to raise entrepreneurial, productive, critical, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial individuals. Therefore, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education has gained importance today. STEM education is defined as an approach that takes an interdisciplinary relationship and takes a holistic approach to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM education includes the activities that will increase the students' interest and orientations towards science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields using the skills that should be possessed today. The aim of this study was to examine the STEM awareness and entrepreneurship levels of pre-service science teachers. The sample of the study consisted of 93 female and 20 male students studying in the Science Education Department at Afyon Kocatepe University. As a quantitative research type, survey method was used in this study. "STEM Awareness Scale" (SAS) developed by Buyruk and Korkmaz (2016) and "Entrepreneurship Scale for Teacher Candidates" developed by Deveci and Cepni (2015) were used as data collection tools. As a result of analyses, it was seen that science teachers' attitudes towards STEM education were positive. Females' STEM awareness was significantly higher than males' in both positive and negative sub-factors. STEM awareness of the first grade students was significantly lower than the other classes in the positive sub-factor, and significant differences were found between the first grade and second grade, and the second grade and the fourth grade in the negative sub-factor. There were no significant differences of entrepreneurship levels in terms of gender. Also, the entrepreneurship characteristics of the second grade were significantly higher than the other grade levels.

Pengembangan Karakter Kewirausahaan Peserta Didik Sekolah Dasar Melalui Pendekatan Steams Berbasis Potensi Lokal

“…Hasil penelitian dari Gozales (2019) yang menjelaskan bahwa program pendidikan kewirausahaan melalui pendidikan STEAMS memiliki dampak positif pada persepsi peluang wirausaha individu, kesadaran lingkungan wirausaha, dan self-efficacy. Ergun (2019) menyebutkan bahwa untuk membentuk individu yang memiliki keterampilan wirausaha, lingkungan belajar harus diciptakan dan guru yang sebagai seorang pendidik harus memiliki keterampilan wirausaha. Dalam hal ini pendidikan STEAMS adalah pembelajaran yang dapat digunakan untuk membentuk lingkungan wirausaha baik untuk guru dan juga siswa.…”

Prospective Teachers’ STEM Awareness and Information Communication Technologies Usage Levels*

“…In the study of Çalışıcı and Özçakır Sümen (2018), it was concluded in the metaphors produced by prospective classroom teachers that most of the prospective teachers believe STEM fields complement each other and are a useful approach. It was determined in Ergün's (2019) study that prospective teachers have positive perspectives towards STEM. It was determined in the work of Boyraz and Bilican (2020) with the class teachers that the teachers could not clarify the concept of STEM but they had positive opinions about STEM teaching that they learned within the scope of the study.…”

“…In line with the results of this study, it has been determined that the STEM awareness levels of female prospective teachers (Yenilmez and Balbağ, 2019) and female university students (Hebebci and Usta, 2017) were significantly higher than males. Moreover, it has been determined that STEM perception of female prospective teachers was significantly more positive (Ergün, 2019) and significant differences were found in favour of women in studies related to STEM education intentions and sub-dimensions (Koçak, Aslan and Capellaro, 2019;Demir Başaran and Temircan, 2018;Hartuç and Sülün, 2017). In some studies that did not differ between men and women regarding STEM, the superiority of women was emphasized in terms of scores.…”

The Predictive Power of Turkish Middle School Students’ Entrepreneurial Competencies on STEM Attitudes

“…Although there are no studies on the relationship between STEM attitude and entrepreneurship competencies of middle school students, it is possible to see similar results on pre-service teachers. For example, Ergün (2019) determined in her research that there is a moderate level, positive correlation between the STEM awareness of pre-service science teachers and their entrepreneurial competencies. Similarly, Deveci (2018b) concluded that STEM awareness of pre-service science teachers significantly predicted both general entrepreneurship competencies and sub-dimension entrepreneurship competencies (risk-taking, innovativeness, self-confidence, finding opportunities and emotional intelligence).…”