Cypriot Journal of Educational
Sciences
Volume 13, Issue 1, (2018) 94-107
http://sproc.org/ojs/index.php/cjes/
The impact of integrated STEM education on academic
achievement, reflective thinking skills towards problem solving and
permanence in learning in science education
Gulcan Sarican, Teacher, Ministry of Education, Istanbul, Turkey.
Devrim Akgunduz
*
, Computer Education and Instructional Technologies Department, Istanbul Aydin
University, Turkey.
Suggested Citation:
Sarican, G. & Akgunduz, D. (2018). The impact of integrated STEM education on academic achievement,
reflective thinking skills towards problem solving and permanence in learning in science
education. 13(1), 94-107.
Received date October 02, 2017; revised date November 15, 2017; accepted date December 02, 2017.
Selection and peer review under responsibility of Prof Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu, Near East University.
©
2018 SciencePark Research, Organization & Counseling. All rights reserved.
Abstract
This research has been conducted to evaluate the effects of Integrated STEM education on academic achievement, reflective
thinking skills towards problem solving, and permanence in learning in science education. This study, which used pre-test-
post-test and semi-experimental model with permanence test, control group as a research model, was conducted with 44
students attending to the 6th grade of a public school in 2015-2016 academic year in the "force and motion", "light and
sound", "matter and heat" and "electrical conduction" units. Working groups of the study consisted of the Control group with
constructivist teaching and the experimental group with integrated STEM education. Academic achievement test, reflective
thinking scale towards problem solving were applied to determine the students' academic achievement, reflective thinking
skills towards problem solving and their effects on permanence of integrated STEM education. In SPSS 24 package program,
analysis of quantitative data was performed t-Test and Mann Whitney U test. In conclusion, it has been seen that integrated
STEM education does not significantly increase success, reflective thinking skills towards problem solving and their effects on
permanence according to constructivist teaching. However, it has become clear that integrated STEM education provides
positive contributions to academic achievement.
Keywords: Integrated STEM education, science education, academic achievement, problem solving, reflective thinking skills
*
* ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Devrim, Akgunduz*, Istanbul Aydin University, Faculty of Education, Istanbul 34295, Turkey.
E-mail address: devrimakgunduz@aydin.edu.tr / Tel.: +90 444 1 428