Abstract
The study examines the advantages of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) educational approach, including improved academic performance, increased motivation, and heightened interest among students, as well as the development of higher-order thinking skills. These benefits significantly rely on teachers' self-efficacy, their innovative teaching methods, and their positive attitudes towards integrating STEM into their curriculum. By examining 163 teachers familiar with STEM, the research utilized an attitude questionnaire to assess their views on STEM implementation, analyzing variables such as teaching experience and grade level through descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA. Findings revealed no significant differences based on teaching experience or grade level; however, a statistically significant correlation was found between independent variables, such as self-efficacy and creative teaching skills, and teachers' attitudes towards STEM integration. The study aimed to develop a predictive model for teachers' attitudes regarding STEM implementation, highlighting the influence of self-efficacy and innovative teaching practices. Limitations include a small sample size, which raises concerns about the generalizability of the results, and a narrow focus on specific predictive factors without considering broader influences. Consequently, the study offers valuable insights for educators and policymakers on shaping positive attitudes towards STEM in education.
Keywords
Creative Teaching Skills, Skills, Self-Efficacy, STEM Approach, Teachers’ Perspectives, STEM Education,Metrics
References
- Abu Khurma, O., Al Darayseh, A., Alramamneh, Y. (2023). A Framework for Incorporating the “Learning How to Learn” Approach in Teaching STEM Education. In Education Sciences, 13(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13010001
- Aguilera, D., Ortiz-Revilla, J. (2021). Stem vs. Steam education and student creativity: A systematic literature review. Education Sciences, 11(7), 331. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11070331
- Al Salami, M.K., Makela, C.J., de Miranda, M.A. (2017). Assessing changes in teachers’ attitudes toward interdisciplinary STEM teaching. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 27(1), 63–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-015-9341-0
- Ammar, M., Al-Thani, N. J., Ahmad, Z. (2024). Role of pedagogical approaches in fostering innovation among K-12 students in STEM education. Social Sciences and Humanities Open, 9, 100839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.100839
- Andere, E. (2015). São os docentes cruciais para o desempenho acadêmico? O sucesso educativo da finlândia em perspectiva comparada. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 23. https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v23.1752
- Anisimova, T.I., Sabirova, F.M., Shatunova, O.V. (2020). Formation of design and research competencies in future teachers in the framework of STEAM education. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 15(2), 204–217. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i02.11537
- Baker, M.A., Robinson, J.S. (2016). The Effects of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model on Successful Intelligence in Secondary Agriculture Students. Journal of Agricultural Education, 57(3), 129–144. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2016.03129
- Bandura, A. (2007). Much ado over a faulty conception of perceived self-efficacy grounded in faulty experimentation. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26(6). https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2007.26.6.641
- Bandura, A., O'Leary, A., Taylor, C. B., Gauthier, J., Gossard, D. (1987). Perceived self-efficacy and pain control: opioid and nonopioid mechanisms. Journal of personality and social psychology, 53(3), 563.
- Barni, D., Danioni, F., Benevene, P. (2019). Teachers’ self-efficacy: The role of personal values and motivations for teaching. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01645
- Chamo, N., Broza, O. (2025). Bridging Disciplines: Exploring Interdisciplinary Curriculum Development in STEM Teacher Education. Education Sciences, 15(8), 1064. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15081064
- Cheng, Y. yao. (2020). Academic self-efficacy and assessment. Educational Psychology, 40(4), 389–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2020.1755501
- Chiu, M.S. (2009). Approaches to the teaching of creative and non-creative mathematical problems. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 7(1), 55–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-007-9112-9
- Conradty, C., Bogner, F.X. (2020). STEAM teaching professional development works: effects on students’ creativity and motivation. Smart Learning Environments, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-020-00132-9
- Emiru, E.K., Gedefaw, M.T. (2024). The effect of teacher self-efficacy on learning engagement of secondary school students. Cogent Education, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2308432
- Ergül, N.R., Kargın, E.K. (2014). The Effect of Project based Learning on Students’ Science Success. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 136, 537–541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.05.371
- Fırat, E.A. (2020). Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Integration: Science Teachers’ Perceptions and Beliefs. Science Education International, 31(1), 104–116. https://doi.org/10.33828/sei.v31.i1.11
- Flores, J.G. (2016). Variables asociadas a la autoeficacia percibida por el profesorado de ciencias en educación secundaria. Revista de educación, (373), 85-108.
- Gleason, N.W. (2018). Higher Education in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Higher Education in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 1–229. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0194-0
- Gonzalez, H.B., J.Kuenzi, J. (2012). Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education: A primer. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, Washington.
- Hafni, R.N., Herman, T., Nurlaelah, E., Mustikasari, L. (2020). The importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education to enhance students’ critical thinking skill in facing the industry 4.0. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1521(4), 7. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1521/4/042040
- John, M., Bettye, S., Ezra, T., Robert, W. (2016). A formative evaluation of a Southeast High School Integrative science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academy. Technology in Society, 45, 34–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2016.02.001
- Kartal, B., Taşdemir, A. (2021). Pre-Service Teachers’ Attitudes towards STEM: Differences Based on Multiple Variables and the Relationship with Academic Achievement. International Journal of Technology in Education, 4(2), 200–228. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijte.58
- Kraft, M.A., Simon, N.S., Lyon, M.A. (2021). Sustaining a Sense of Success: The Protective Role of Teacher Working Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 14(4), 727–769. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2021.1938314
- Le Pichon, E., Naji, M., Hassan, M., Wattar, D. (2025). The potential of intersectional and reciprocal approaches in the education of newcomer students. International Multilingual Research Journal, 19(2), 136–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/19313152.2024.2411882
- May, B.K., Wendt, J.L., Barthlow, M.J. (2022). A comparison of students’ interest in STEM across science standard types. Social Sciences and Humanities Open, 6(1), 100287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2022.100287
- Morrison, J. (2006). TIES STEM education monograph series, attributes of STEM education. Baltimore, MD: TIES, 3.
- Newcombe, N.S. (2016). Thinking spatially in the science classroom. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 10, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2016.04.010
- Nguyen, T.P.L., Nguyen, T.H., Tran, T.K. (2020). STEM education in secondary schools: Teachers’ perspective towards sustainable development. Sustainability, 12(21), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218865
- Nur Basyir, R., Rahayu, W., Yatima, D. (2018). Influence of Learning Model Based on Project and Inquiry is Leading to Skin Literature Ability Based on Learning Learning in Basic School (Experimental Study by Applying STEM-based Learning). American Journal of Educational Research, 6(7), 1029–1032. https://doi.org/10.12691/education-6-7-21
- Obied A., Hijazi J. (2025) Building a Skilled Workforce: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Palestine’s Vocational and Technical Education System. ISSN: 2435-9467 – The Barcelona Conference on Education 2024: Official Conference Proceedings, 73-85. https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-9467.2024.8
- Obied, A., Alajmi, A. (2024). The professional competence of faculty members from the students’ perspective at Kuwait University and Palestine Technical University Kadoorie. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 42(4), 1755–1769. https://doi.org/10.1108/AGJSR-05-2023-0208
- Procaccini, J. (2012). Professional Capital: Transforming Teaching in Every School by Andy Hargreaves and Michael Fullan. Journal of School Choice, 6(4), 515–517. https://doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2012.733288
- Pumptow, M., & Brahm, T. (2021). Students’ Digital Media Self-Efficacy and Its Importance for Higher Education Institutions: Development and Validation of a Survey Instrument. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 26(3), 555–575. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-020-09463-5
- Rachmadtullah, R., Syofyan, H., Rasmitadila. (2020). The role of civic education teachers in implementing multicultural education in elementary school students. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(2), 540–546. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.080225
- Rahman, M.M. (2019). 21st century skill'problem solving': Defining the concept. Rahman, MM (2019). 21st Century Skill “Problem Solving”: Defining the Concept. Asian Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 2(1), 64-74. https://doi.org/10.34256/ajir1917
- Rankin, J., Brown, V. (2016). Creative teaching method as a learning strategy for student midwives: A qualitative study. In Nurse Education Today, 38, 93-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2015.12.009
- Saldívar-Almorejo, M.M., Flores-Herrera, L.A., Rivera-Blas, R., Niño-Suárez, P.A., Rivera-Blas, E.Z., Rodríguez-Contreras, N. (2024). e-Learning Challenges in STEM Education. Education Sciences, 14(12), 1370. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14121370
- Sanders, M. (2008). STEM, STEM Education, STEMmania. e Technology Teacher, 20–26.
- Sanjar, U., Doston, H. (2022). Creativitiy in Improving Profesional and Pedagogical Skills of Physical Education Teachers. International Journal of Research in Commerce, IT, Engineering, and Social Sciences, 16(10), 2349–7793.
- Santangelo, J., Hobbie, L., Lee, J., Pullin, M., Villa-Cuesta, E., Hyslop, A. (2021). The (STEM) 2 Network: a multi-institution, multidisciplinary approach to transforming undergraduate STEM education. International Journal of STEM Education, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00262-z
- Seyranian, V., Madva, A., Duong, N., Abramzon, N., Tibbetts, Y., Harackiewicz, J.M. (2018). The longitudinal effects of STEM identity and gender on flourishing and achievement in college physics. International Journal of STEM Education, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-018-0137-0
- Smith-Mutegi, D., Mamo, Y., Kim, J., Crompton, H., & McConnell, M. (2025). Perceptions of STEM education and artificial intelligence: a Twitter (X) sentiment analysis. International Journal of STEM Education, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-025-00527-5
- Song, M. (2020). Integrated STEM teaching competencies and performances as perceived by secondary teachers in South Korea. International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, 22(2), 131–146. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCED-02-2019-0016
- Tekmen-Araci, Y. (2024). Teaching creativity in engineering schools: A review of the literature. I International Journal of Engineering Education, 40(1), 126-143.
- Thibaut, L., Knipprath, H., Dehaene, W., Depaepe, F. (2018). The influence of teachers’ attitudes and school context on instructional practices in integrated STEM education. Teaching and Teacher Education, 71, 190–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.12.014
- Yang, J., Zhao, X. (2021). The effect of creative thinking on academic performance: Mechanisms, heterogeneity, and implication. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 40, 100831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2021.100831
Articles

