THE VIEWS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS ON STEM/ STEAM/STREAM CONCEPT IN EDUCATION

Abstract

The STEM concept is an educational model that integrates science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and more recently arts (STEAM) and reading skills (STREAM). It is a widespread belief that STEM and its derivates encourage creativity, critical thinking, and innovation. Considering their great importance and popularity worldwide, this paper aims to determine knowledge levels, application practices, and teacher’s perceptions of STEM/STEAM/STREAM in Serbia. A questionnaire with open- and closed-ended questions was used as the instrument of this survey. The respondents are foreign language teachers in primary and secondary schools in Jagodina. The data obtained through this survey were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The former was carried out with descriptive statistics. Striving to provide guidelines for further education of teaching staff, the paper has a practical value. In addition, it has significant theoretical implications in that the STEM/ STEAM/ STREAM concept is clearly defined and delimited from related concepts in teaching.