scholarly journals Understanding coherence and integration in integrated STEM curriculum

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian H. Roehrig ◽  
Emily A. Dare ◽  
Elizabeth Ring-Whalen ◽  
Jeanna R. Wieselmann
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Science Content ◽  
Science Standards ◽  
Conceptual Integration ◽  
Integrated Stem ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Engineering Practices

Abstract Background Few tools or rubrics exist to assess the quality of integrated STEM curricula, and existing tools focus on checklists of characteristics of integrated STEM. While such instruments provide important information about the presence and quality of certain curricular components, they do not assess the level and nature of integration of the curriculum as a whole. Thus, this study explores the development of a process focused to understand the nature of integration within a STEM curriculum unit. Findings A conceptual flow graphic (CFG) was constructed for 50 integrated STEM curriculum units. Patterns in the nature of the interdisciplinary connections were used to categorize and understand the nature of integration and curricular coherence within each unit. The units formed four broad types of integrated STEM curricula: (i) coherent science unit with loosely connected engineering design challenge (EDC), (ii) engineering design-focused unit with limited connections to science content, (iii) engineering design unit with science content as context, and (iv) integrated and coherent STEM units. All physical science units were in the integrated and coherent category with strong conceptual integration between the main science concepts and the EDC. Curricula based in the Earth and life sciences generally lacked conceptual integration between the science content and the EDC and relied on the engineering design process to provide a coherent storyline for the unit. Conclusions Our study shows that engineering practices can serve as a contextual integrator within a STEM unit. The utilization of an EDC also provides the potential for conceptual integration because engineering is grounded in the application of science and mathematics. Integrated STEM curricula that purposefully include science and mathematics concepts necessary to develop solutions to the EDC engage students in authentic engineering experiences and provide conceptual integration between the disciplines. However, the alignment of grade-level science standards with the EDC can be problematic, particularly in life science and Earth science. The CFG process provides a tool for determining the nature of integration between science and mathematics content and an EDC. These connections can be conceptual and/or contextual, as both forms of integration are appropriate depending on the instructional goals.

scholarly journals Designing a Solution to the Global Problem of Overfishing Using the Engineering Design Process

2019 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 340-350
Author(s):  
Courtney Goode
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Science Standards ◽  
Student Collaboration ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Global Problem ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Science And Engineering Practices ◽  
Engineering Practices ◽  
Fishing Practices

Given that science and engineering practices are a large focus in the Next Generation Science Standards, biology teachers need to find ways to incorporate the engineering design process into their curriculum. To address this need, I present a lesson that allows for student collaboration in designing and developing a solution to a global problem resulting from overfishing and our use of unsustainable fishing practices. This lesson also demonstrates to students that larger, global issues that seem insurmountable to solve can be broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces. My approach involves having students research a problem related to sustainable fishing practices and design a physical model of a solution to combat their specific issue. Peer review is then used in order to help students revise and edit their models during the lesson in response to the peer feedback received. The lesson will culminate in a presentation to the class about the biological, social, and economic ramifications of both their assigned problem and a potential solution.

The influence of a design-based elective STEM course on pre-service chemistry teachers’ content knowledge, STEM conceptions, and engineering views

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 954-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sevgi Aydin-Gunbatar ◽  
Aysegul Tarkin-Celikkiran ◽  
Elif Selcan Kutucu ◽  
Betul Ekiz-Kiran
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Chemistry Teachers ◽  
Integrated Stem ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Pre Service Teacher ◽  
Similar Development

In this study, we sought to examine the influence of a 12 week design-based elective Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) course on pre-service chemistry teachers’ content knowledge, STEM conceptions, and engineering and engineering design views. To attain the goals determined, we utilized five STEM activities starting with a daily-life problem and an iterative engineering design process to solve the problem. A chemistry test with 11 two-tier items, and interviews focusing on STEM and engineering conceptions were administered at the beginning and at the end of the course. Moreover, a reflection paper was collected after each activity. Eight junior pre-service chemistry teachers participated in the study voluntarily. Deductive and inductive data analyses were used to investigate the influence of the course on participants’ content knowledge, STEM conceptions, and engineering and engineering design views. The results revealed that the design-based STEM course helped pre-service teachers deepen their content knowledge. Additionally, most of the participants defined integrated STEM education as an acronym (n= 6) and very few mentioned the interdisciplinary dimension of STEM education superficially at the beginning (n= 3). At the end, they mentioned interdisciplinary nature as connecting at least two dimensions of STEM, and they emphasized engaging in real-world problems, designing a product or process and inquiry-based and/or problem-based learning. Regarding engineering and engineering design views, a similar development was observed. Although their views were undeveloped or underdeveloped at the beginning, they enriched their views and mentioned defining criteria, creativity and integration to science and mathematics that are characteristics of engineering and design processes. Implications for including STEM courses in pre-service teacher education programs were provided.

The Seeing of Self and Society in Science

2019 ◽  
pp. 141-158
Author(s):  
Christine Anne Royce
Keyword(s):  
Language Arts ◽  
Nature Of Science ◽  
English Language ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Trade Books ◽  
Science Content ◽  
Science Standards ◽  
The People ◽  
Personal Connections ◽  
Engineering Practices

This chapter presents strategies for integrating selected practices from the English Language Arts Common Core Standards and the scientific and engineering practices from the Next Generation Science Standards through the use of historical narratives and biographies. The use of trade books as information sources provides avenues which allow students to make connections to the people and places of science. Through selected texts such as Chasing Space, Hidden Figures, and topics such as Typhoid Mary, students engage in examining science content, the lives of scientists, and the history and nature of science. Reading purposes, learning vocabulary in context, viewing narratives from different perspectives, and making personal connections are strategies discussed and modeled through current books. Teachers are provided with strategies to engage the reader, suggested activities for each area, and recommendations on how to utilize trade books within the classroom.

Investigating bridge design

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-260
Author(s):  
Lukas J. Hefty
Keyword(s):  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Bridge Design ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Integrated Stem ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Understanding Of Science ◽  
And Mathematics

Teachers making the transition to integrated, student-centered science instruction benefit from sharing resources, and this bridge design unit offers one example. The unit uses the engineering design process to give students time to develop critical thinking skills while helping teachers assess understanding of science and mathematics content. Each month, iSTEM (Integrating Science, Technology, and Engineering in Mathematics) authors share ideas and activities that stimulate student interest in integrated STEM fields in K–grade 6 classrooms.

scholarly journals STEM from the perspectives of engineering design and suggested tools and learning design

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-71
Author(s):  
Yu-Liang Ting
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Real World ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
School Science ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Real World Problem ◽  
Mathematics Knowledge ◽  
And Mathematics

STEM is an educational concept about which little consensus has been reached as to what it is, and how it can be taught in schools. This study provides a snap shot of prominent contemporary research results contributing to better understanding of STEM and its implementation in education. In addition, this study tries to tackle an issue that school science has traditionally been built around well defined problems for learning purpose. As most real-world problems are ill-defined, this study proposes to implement the notion of STEM to help students acquire real-world problem-solving skills by engaging them in an engineering design process, in which students use the technology tools of graphic-based programming. The proposed learning practice is experiential task-based learning, in which students are forced to apply and acquire related science and mathematics knowledge during their engineering design process. It is hoped that related rationales and discussions will stimulates researchers and educators to adopt or tailor their own learning designs for the current generation of youngsters and promote the quality of teaching and learning in STEM.

Using Engineering Design Challenges to Engage Elementary Students With Gifts and Talents Across Multiple Content Areas

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Dailey
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Instructional Strategy ◽  
Science Standards ◽  
Content Areas ◽  
Gifted Learners ◽  
Learning Content ◽  
Differentiating Instruction ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Approach To Teaching

With the release of the Next Generation Science Standards and the adoption of the standards by many states, teachers are encouraged to use the engineering design process (EDP) as an instructional approach to teaching science. However, teachers have limited time to teach science and will often neglect science in favor of mathematics and literacy instruction. To make this feasible for elementary classrooms, teachers should be encouraged to implement integrated units of study utilizing EDP to cohesively bind content areas and to increase active learning, critical thinking, and problem solving among all learners. An additional benefit of using EDP as an instructional strategy is the focus on problem solving and the avoidance of one size fits all learning. Students actively engage in learning content (science, mathematics, literacy, social studies) as they collaboratively work together to solve societal and environmental problems. Knowledge is built as students progress through the challenges and content is provided on a need to know basis, thereby differentiating instruction based on learner needs and challenging gifted learners. In this article, the author provides four sample engineering challenges that can be used to create an integrated unit of study using the EDP as an instructional strategy.

scholarly journals Designing a mobile makerspace: A strategy for increasing diversity by offering engineering outreach workshops to underrepresented youth

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Compeau
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Design Build ◽  
Underrepresented Youth ◽  
Engineering Outreach ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Physical Spaces

Makerspaces, physical spaces that provide access to fabrication tools, technologies, and resources, are potentially changing the way educators envision teaching and learning. The purpose of this poster is to illustrate how an engineering design process is being used to help guide Connections Engineering Outreach to design, build, implement, and evaluate a mobile makerspace. One of the objectives of the mobile makerspace is to provide outreach workshops to underrepresented and underserviced groups in an attempt to increasing the diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Since January 2018, the mobile makerspace has delivered workshops to approximately 2000 students in Grades 3-8. Preliminary results from an online survey indicate that the workshops provided high levels of student engagement and opportunities to learn about STEM. Interview results also suggest that the workshops are helping build the capacity of educators towards using makerspace technology. This project is yet to complete one full cycle of the engineering design process and will be conducting on-going program evaluation

scholarly journals Engineering practices and engineering education: prolegomena to the model of the future

2021 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 03026
Author(s):  
Nadezda Bagdasaryan ◽  
Raisa Petruneva ◽  
Valentina Vasilyeva ◽  
Olga Toporkova
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Education ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Social Engineering ◽  
Training Model ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Engineering Problems ◽  
The Future ◽  
Engineering Practices

A theoretical and methodological analysis of the content characteristics of engineering education correlated with the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) showed that trends of the third technological revolution dominate in the current university engineers' training model. One of the effective tools for the formation of a university model for training an engineer of the future could be the ideas of using educational social engineering problems based on elements of socio-humanitarian expertise of engineering design decisions. An optimally designed model of an engineer of the future will improve the quality of training and, ultimately, avoid the negative (fatal) consequences of insufficiently substantiated engineering design decisions.

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