The Effect of STEM Education on the Pre-school Pre-service Teachers’ Lifelong Learning Tendencies

The research aims to explore the effect of STEM education on pre-service teachers' lifelong learning tendencies. 22 pre-service teachers studying in the 4th grade participated in the research. The research was carried out within the scope of the STEM education elective course given in the pre-school teaching department in the faculty of education. A methods approach was employed in the research. In the research, in which the explanatory mixed design was applied, the quantitative data were collected with the Lifelong Learning Tendency Scale. Qualitative data were obtained with a semi-structured interview form. At the end of the study, it was determined that STEM education had a positive effect on the pre-service teachers' lifelong learning tendencies and developed their lifelong learning skills. It was found, with STEM education, that producing machines, robots, and vehicles with simple materials contributed to their seeing the materials around them with different eyes and their desires to learn and produce new things. It was also stated that they contributed to self-directed learning, increased their willingness to explore and research, and activated their learning by doing and experiencing skills. It was concluded that they enjoyed doing the activities, which made the information permanent and created their desire to use these activities in their lessons in order to create fun and permanent learning environments in the future.