Abstract:

The purpose of this research is to determine the metaphoric perceptions of the candidates for science knowledge teachers regarding the STEM training. In the study, a visual scan model was used. The research study group consists of 69 third-class students, who continue to the Science Information Teaching Program of a state university in the Egean region during the spring period of the 2016-2017 academic year. Participants were asked to complete the phrase by giving a written form "When the characteristics that the STEM training has, the STEM training is similar to ...." In the analysis of data, the content analysis technique is used. As a result of the analysis of the data obtained, the participants produced 50 valid metaphors. These metaphors are gathered in six conceptual categories in terms of common characteristics. When the teaching candidates are studied the metaphors and reasons they produce, they have positive opinions about the STEM training, they are perceived as an interdisciplinary approach aimed at educating individuals that produce solutions to problems, which enables the STEM training to learn by living through the process of creating new products. However, the study found that teachers candidates did not have a negative perception of STEM training.

Abstract:

The aim of this research was to determine the metaphoric perceptions of science course teacher candidates of STEM education. Descriptive survey model was used in the research. The study group of the research was consisted of 69 third year students who were receiving education a state university’s Science Teaching Program in the spring semester of 2016-2017 academic year. The participants were given a form and asked to complete the following sentence: “When we think about the characteristics of STEM education, STEM education resembles -------------- because --------------------.” For the analysis of data, the content analysis technique was used. As a result of the analysis of data, the participants produced 50 valid metaphors. These metaphors were placed in 6 conceptual categories in terms of their common characteristics. When the metaphors produced by the teacher candidates and their reasons were analyzed, it was seen that they have positive thoughts about STEM education and view STEM education as an interdisciplinary approach which allows students to learn through doing things and experiencing them in the process of producing new things and targets educating individuals who can produce solutions for problems. In addition, it was concluded in the research that teacher candidates do not have a negative perception of STEM education. 

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