Effectiveness of a program based on stem in developing critical thinking skills in mathematics among eleventh grade scientific students in Gaza

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a program based on STEM approach in developing critical thinking skills in Mathematics for the students in GAZA. To achieve the study objectives, the researchers adopted the experimental approach. A program based on STEM, teacher guide has been prepared. To verify the effectiveness of the program, the study tool was a critical thinking skills test. This test has undergone pre and post application on a sample consisted of a group of (86) female students selected from Al-Zahraa Secondary School. The study results revealed that there were statistically significant differences at the level of (α = 0.01) between the mean scores of experimental group students and control group students in the post application of critical thinking skills test in Mathematics. Also, the program based on STEM has a significant impact (ƞ² = 0.828), and has an effectiveness in developing critical thinking skills in Mathematics with Black modified earning coefficient (1.328). The study recommended that the STEM approach should be included in the appropriate educational units in mathematics, science and technology subjects and holding informational seminars on the STEM approach.