LEARNING SKILLS ACQUIRED AT SCHOOL FOR STEM STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY

Abstract

In order to acquire science, it is necessary to perform hands-on activities, make experiments and scientific inquiry with the obtained data, to be able to evaluate critically and understand the scientific concepts, as well as to collaborate and communicate. STEM learning promotes inquiring minds, logical reasoning, and communication and collaboration skills. Studying science at the university, students need both hard – cognitive and subject specific skills and soft – interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. The aim of the study was to clarify the appropriateness/usefulness of the learning skills acquired at school for STEM studies at the university. The study consisted of two parts: a systematic review of Web of Science and SCOPUS databases and surveys of 242 first-year science students of the University of Latvia about the learning skills acquired at school performed in 2018–2020. The qualitative data processing program AQUAD was used for processing data obtained from students’ survey. Data coding was performed according to the code system developed specifically for this purpose. The qualitative data was transferred into a quantitative format, based on relations between students’ statements, and linkages among codes were created. The study allowed concluding that cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills acquired at school are intrinsic learning skills during the first study year in higher education. There are no principal differences in the evaluation of hard and soft skills in the systematic review and students’ responses that proves the appropriateness/usefulness of the 21st-century learning skills acquired at school for science studies at the university. Keywords: learning skills, STEM education, first-year university students