Future Science Teachers' STEM Experiences: Challenges and Implications for STEM Teacher Preparation

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is an interdisciplinary approach aimed at enhancing students' understanding of these disciplines and fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This study investigates the experiences and perceptions of 20 third-year pre-service science teachers (PSSTs) participating in STEM practices at a Turkish public university. The research addresses three key questions: (1) What are the opinions of STEM teacher candidates? (2) What benefits and challenges did they encounter during STEM practices? (3) How do they perceive STEM education and its implications for students and teachers? A qualitative case study methodology was employed to gather in-depth insights from PSSTs. The sample was selected using criterion sampling to ensure relevance to the study's focus. Over a four-week period, PSSTs engaged in STEM activities designed to align with the science education curriculum. Data collection involved a "Views on STEM Education Questionnaire" developed by the researcher and reviewed by two experts in STEM education. Content analysis was used to analyze the collected data, ensuring reliability through inter-coder agreement assessment. The results indicated that STEM education encompasses not only the four core disciplines but also interdisciplinary interactions. Participants recognized its positive impact on cognitive and psychomotor skills, creative thinking, problem-solving abilities, and its real-world relevance. However, limitations in time, resources, and pedagogical technological content knowledge were noted as potential challenges. Effective STEM instructors were described as possessing strong communication skills, creativity, innovation, and a passion for research. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of STEM teacher candidates' perspectives, shedding light on the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and the qualities required for successful STEM educators. [This paper was published in: "EJER Congress 2023 International Eurasian Educational Research Congress Conference Proceedings," Ani Publishing, 2023, pp. 554-569.]