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The present study seeks to identify teachers' perceptions regarding STEM teaching professional development and to identify the factors that facilitate or hinder the success of teachers' professional development. The participants of the study were 35 teachers. A qualitative approach was used for data collection by conducting semistructured interviews with 11 teachers out of 35. All the participants were involved in the three focus group sessions. The findings of the study revealed that teachers have various perceptions toward the STEM professional development based on their experience, knowledge, and skills. Moreover, the study revealed different factors influencing STEM professional development among teachers including personal characteristics and internal factors including attitudes and beliefs toward STEM professional development activities, and teachers' capacity. Also, external factors such as design of the training program, availability of training material, and timing of training. The findings of the study could benefit the decision‐makers to be aware about these factors that influence professional development and the teachers' needs.

Field training is valuable for improving pre-service teachers' teaching skills. It bridges the gap between theory and practice in real classroom environment. This study uses phenomenological qualitative approach to investigate the influence of field training courses on social skills in teaching. The study was carried out in the first semester of the 2019-2020 academic year with a total of six pre-service teachers participating in a field course for 10 weeks. The pre-service teachers came from two different colleges of teachers' training. We used purposive sampling to choose the students. After interviewing the participants and videoing their lessons, we transcribed the interviews and observations. We used thematic analysis to code, categorize and find patterns related to the development of social skills for teaching. The research results showed that pre-service teachers who practiced teaching during field training have improved their social skills in teaching as a result of three conditions (1) classroom management, (2) teaching strategies and (3) supervisor's assessment. Pedagogic supervisors need to focus on these three issues in order to provide a fruitful environment for pre-service teachers' professional development.

The impact of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) on pupils’ learning has been increasingly highlighted recently. This study aims to shed light on the effect of STEAM activities based on experiential learning on ninth graders’ mental motivation and learning. The present research adopted a mixed methodology (quantitative and qualitative). The study sample consisted of 90 students divided into three groups. The tools utilized in conducting the study included California Measurement Mental Motivation, and semi-structured interviews with (10) participants. The tools’ validity and reliability were verified. After data were analyzed, the findings showed statically significant differences between students’ post average scores regarding mental motivation due to teaching method, and in favor of the experimental groups (face-to-face STEAM activities, online STEAM activities). This provides tangible proof for the need to include STEAM activities in school curricula to enhance learners’ curiosity, problem-solving skills and self-confidence through learning, as well as their task accomplishment ability.

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