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Journals / Balıkesir Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 28 Sayı: 2

The effect of STEAM-based nature activities on gifted students' love of nature

STEAM temelli doğa etkinliklerinin özel yetenekli öğrencilerin doğa sevgisine etkisi

Çağlar Özkut(DOKUZ EYLÜL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-1419-4144
Kemal Yürümezoğlu(DOKUZ EYLÜL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-3288-9890
Pages
847–865
Publication Date
2026-07-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Quantitative analysis results indicated a statistically significant increase in the students' overall nature connectedness tendency scores and in the "behavioral frequency" sub-dimension.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Today, children are increasingly disconnected from nature due to the effects of digitalization and urbanization.
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Key Findings & Data:The study group consists of 26 gifted students aged 10-12 attending a Science and Art Center (BİLSEM) in a district of İzmir.
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Conclusion & Impact:Quantitative analysis results indicated a statistically significant increase in the students' overall nature connectedness tendency scores and in the "behavioral frequency" sub-dimension.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:STEAM EĞİTİMİ · DOĞA EĞİTİMİ · ÖZEL YETENEKLİ ÖĞRENCİLER

Abstract

Today, children are increasingly disconnected from nature due to the effects of digitalization and urbanization. Therefore, the use of new interdisciplinary and affect-oriented approaches in educational processes has become essential. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) based activities on the love of nature and nature connectedness tendencies of gifted students. A quantitatively dominant embedded mixed methods design was employed in the research. The study group consists of 26 gifted students aged 10-12 attending a Science and Art Center (BİLSEM) in a district of İzmir. The implementation process includes an approximately six-month STEAM program comprising six modules. Data were collected via the "Tendency to Connect with Nature Scale" and a creative writing form titled "The Adventure of the Seed". Quantitative analysis results indicated a statistically significant increase in the students' overall nature connectedness tendency scores and in the "behavioral frequency" sub-dimension. As a result of the content analysis of the qualitative data, 9 main themes were identified, primarily ecological awareness, environmental protection, social connection/empathy, and aesthetic awareness. The findings suggest that STEAM-based activities may serve as a promising pedagogical approach for fostering gifted students' love of nature.

Özet

Günümüzde çocuklar, dijitalleşme ve kentleşmenin etkisiyle doğadan uzaklaşmaktadır. Bu nedenle eğitim süreçlerinde disiplinlerarası ve duyuşsal odaklı yeni yaklaşımların kullanılması zorunlu hale gelmektedir. Bu araştırmanın amacı; STEAM (Fen, Teknoloji, Mühendislik, Sanat, Matematik) temelli etkinliklerin, özel yetenekli öğrencilerin doğa sevgisi ve doğaya bağlılık eğilimleri üzerindeki etkisini incelemektir. Araştırmada nicel baskın gömülü karma yöntem deseni kullanılmıştır. Çalışma grubunu, İzmir’in bir ilçesindeki Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi’nde (BİLSEM) öğrenim gören 10-12 yaş grubundaki 26 özel yetenekli öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Uygulama süreci, yaklaşık altı aylık ve altı modüllük bir STEAM programını içermektedir. Veriler, "Doğaya Bağlılık Eğilimi Ölçeği" ve "Tohumun Macerası" başlıklı yaratıcı yazma formu aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Nicel analiz sonuçları, öğrencilerin doğaya bağlılık eğilimi genel puanlarında ve Davranışsal Sıklık alt boyutunda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir artış olduğunu göstermiştir. Nitel verilerin içerik analizi sonucunda; ekolojik farkındalık, çevre koruma, sosyal bağ/empati ve estetik farkındalık başta olmak üzere 9 ana tema elde edilmiştir. Bulgular, STEAM temelli etkinliklerin özel yetenekli öğrencilerin doğa sevgilerini derinleştirmede olumlu yönde etkili olabileceğine işaret etmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Özkut, Ç., Yürümezoğlu, K. (2026). The effect of STEAM-based nature activities on gifted students' love of nature. Balıkesir Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi, Cilt: 28 Sayı: 2, 847–865. https://doi.org/10.25092/baunfbed.1903775

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