Elementary Pre-service Teachers and In-service Teachers' Perceptions and Demands on STEAM Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out about the awareness and demands of pre-service and in-service elementary school teachers on STEAM education. For the purpose of this study, researcher administered survey questionnaires were conducted for 160 pre-service teachers and 191 in-service teachers who were sampled by convenience sampling method. The results were as follows. On the awareness and demand for knowledge and necessity on STEAM, first, on the understanding related knowledge, most respondents have heard of STEAM education(97.7%), and well aware of STEAM(91.4%) thro ugh the teacher training course(80.3%). Second, on the necessity, 60.4% respondents were located in " very nece ssary " and " necessary " entry. On the awareness and demand for applying STEAM, first, on the reasons of applying STEAM was to help the cognitive and affective development. Also 67.3% respondents would like to apply STEAM on their science class. The reason was necessity on STEAM, and the most suitable subject for blending with science of applying to STEAM was technology, on the other hand the most difficult subject was art. Second, on the effect of STEA M, most respondents had positive awareness on the all categories. Third, on the purpose of science education, also had positive awareness on the all categories of the purpose of science education. On the awareness and demand for blending ways of STEAM and improvements, first, on the blending ways of STEAM, topic centered blending related to real life had a majority. Second, on the improvements, to improv e the STEAM education, many respondents pointed out the development of teaching and learning STEAM prog ram and dissemination of related resources.