DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF STEM EDUCATION APPROACH ON CAREER CHOICES OF GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS

Abstract

This study proposed to determine the effect of STEM practices on the choices of gifted and talented students for future profession. The research was carried out in a Science and Arts Centre (SAC) affiliated to Ankara Provincial Directorate of National Education during 2016-2017 academic year. The study group composed of 17 gifted and talented students. The research was designed according to the case study design that is one of the qualitative research methods. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview form generated by the researchers. Content analysis technique was conducted to analyse the qualitative data collected during the research. As a result of the analysis of the data, it was revealed that the STEM practices enabled the students to recognize the profession they wanted to choose, that the STEM education improved the professional thoughts of the students, and that the STEM practices had a positive effect on STEM professions.