Investigation of the Relationship Between Elementary School Mathematics Teacher Candidates' Attitudes Towards STEM Education and Their Proficiency Perceptions of 21st Century Skills

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This study aimed to determine the relationship between elementary mathematics teacher candidates' attitudes towards STEM education and proficiency perceptions of 21st-century skills. The relational screening model, which is used to determine the relationship between two or more variables, was used from quantitative research methods. The sample of the study consists of 71 elementary mathematics teachers. The data were collected with two measurement tools, “STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) Education Attitude Scale” and “21st Century Skills and Competences Scale Directed at Teaching Candidates”. In the study, it was investigated whether there is a significant difference in the attitudes of elementary school mathematics teacher candidates towards STEM education according to grade level and gender, whether there is a significant difference in 21st-century skills proficiency perceptions according to grade level and gender, and whether there is a significant relationship between their attitudes towards STEM education and 21st-century skills. As a result of the analyses conducted, it has been determined that there is a significant difference in 21st-century skills proficiency perceptions according to grade levels. It was concluded that there is no significant relationship between their attitudes towards STEM education and their perceptions of 21st-century skills competence.