The Effect of STEM Education on Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Perceptions of 21st Century Skills and Competences and Problem Solving Skills

Abstract

In the globalizing world, individuals should be educated well-qualified to be effective citizens and workers by adapting the information society of the 21st century. At this point, STEM education is considered to promote the construction and improvement of 21st century skills and competences needed for individuals’ living in today’s world. In light of this consideration, the purpose of the current research is to examine the effect of STEM education on pre-service science teachers’ (PSTs) perceptions of 21st century skills and competences and problem solving skills. In this research, a one group pre- and post-test design was conducted. The participants of the current study were 26 PSTs at a public university. The data of the study were collected with “21st Century Skills and Competences Scale” and “Problem Solving Inventory”. In the data analysis, the paired sample t test was used. Findings revealed that there is a statistically significant difference among pre- and post-test total and sub-factors scores of PSTs’ perceptions of both 21st century skills and competences and problem solving skills in favor of the post-test scores. These results suggest that STEM education have a potential to improve PSTs’ perceptions of 21st century skills and competences and problem solving skills.