Work place: School of Foreing Languages, Afyon Kocatepe University, Turkey
E-mail: umitunsalkaya@gmail.com
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7662-8089
Research Interests:
Biography
Ümit Ünsal Kaya, Ph.D., graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language Teaching from Middle East Technical University in 2002. He began his academic career as a lecturer at Afyon Kocatepe University School of Foreign Languages, where he also completed his master’s degree in Elementary Education. Dr. Kaya is currently a visiting lecturer at Afyon Kocatepe University Faculty of Education, Department of Basic Education, Early Childhood Education Program. His research interests include early academic skills, developmental assessment, creativity, STEAM education, child mental health, and child neglect and abuse.
By Ozgun Uyanik Aktulun Umit Unsal Kaya Ali Ibrahim Can Gozum Michail Kalogiannakis Stamatios Papadakis
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5815/ijmecs.2024.05.01, Pub. Date: 8 Oct. 2024
The "Igniting Curiosity: A STEAM Journey for Young Minds" (IC-SJYM) program integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) into early childhood education to enhance linguistic and scientific engagement among 5 to 6-year-olds. This study uses a mixed-methods design to evaluate the program's effectiveness, utilizing the Kaufman Survey of Early Academic and Language Skills (K-SEALS) and the Teacher Rating Scale of Children's Motivation for Science (TRS-CMS), alongside qualitative feedback from educators. Results show that the experimental group, following the IC-SJYM program, demonstrated significant improvements in academic performance and motivation towards science compared to a control group with a traditional curriculum. Additionally, qualitative analyses highlight the program's positive impact on expressive language skills, innovative thinking, and a sustained interest in scientific inquiry. These findings suggest that an integrative STEAM curriculum can significantly enhance early learning experiences, advocating for its broader adoption. The IC-SJYM program's success in fostering intellectual curiosity and academic excellence underscores the critical role of STEAM in early childhood education and calls for further research into its potential to revolutionize educational paradigms for young learners.
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