Page 130 - e-Kongre Bildiriler Kitabı

THEORETICAL FRAME

A New Vision in Science Education: Environmental STEM Education

The use of raw material resources with industry 4.0 is increasing quickly. Also, in times of

pandemic, equipment and materials especially protective equipment and cleaning products are consumed
excessively. After using them, they will harm nature and environment as a waste. For this reason, the

knowledge and skills of students should be developed both in the field of STEM for conservation of

nature and natural resources. Therefore, the concept of the environment should be integrated into the
disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the education of the

present and future generations. The purpose of environmental STEM education, which is one of the

specific field of STEM education, is to increase environment-conscious behaviors and protect existing
natural resources by integrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is aimed to

produce innovative thoughts and materials without ignoring the living beings of nature and nature during
interdisciplinary studies taking place in the field of the STEM. For example, while students develop

innovative products within environmental STEM education, they should aim to use existing natural in
an environment-conscious way, without neglecting the environment. It is also expected that after

completing the lifetime of the innovative products, they should be designed to be recycled.

The Importance of Environmental STEM Education in the Times of COVID-19

Nowadays, it is observed that in the global sense, international studies and projects on both the
development of the industry 4.0 and the protection of nature have increased. In fact, within a production

process emerging with industry 4.0, raw materials are needed raw material before production, and energy
is needed during production. Then, natural resources and habitats are used for the disposal of waste

materials after completing the lifetime of materials. Therefore, while the industry 4.0 and the protection

of nature influence each other, the present and future generations should be well-educated for not only
meeting the needs of industry 4.0 but also preserving the nature. This might be achieved through

environmental STEM education. In addition, environmental STEM education aims to help young people
to find out and develop more effective solutions to environmental problems by integrating different

disciplines. Both developing the theoretical framework and transferring into practice are crucial issues

for effective teaching in environmental STEM education. Therefore, researchers/ educators/ teachers
should take over more responsibility.

STEM education offers the opportunity to integrate four disciplines into a coherent teaching and
learning paradigm, as well as providing students with the best opportunities to make sense of the world

holistically (Lantz, 2009). In addition, the interdisciplinary approach of STEM studies allows students
to realize their own potentials, to improve their self-efficacy, and to support them through their social

and academic integration (Elster, 2014). Quality of STEM education is crucial for the future achievement
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