scholarly journals Measurement in Primary School Mathematics and Science Textbooks

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (17) ◽  
pp. 2127
Author(s):  
Ana B. Montoro ◽  
Carmen Gloria Aguayo-Arriagada ◽  
Pablo Flores

The STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) approach to education has acquired considerable prominence among teachers in recent years. Putting forward integrated proposals is nonetheless complex and many educators opt to implement the ones set out in textbooks. We consequently deemed it worthwhile to analyse how content common to mathematics and science is addressed in primary school textbooks with a view to determining whether the approaches adopted complement one another and are compatible with STEM education. More specifically, in light of the importance of measurement in both areas of learning and in everyday life, we describe the meaning of mass and volume found, in two publishers’ textbooks. Based on the components of the meaning of measurement and deploying content analysis techniques, we analysed the explanations and tasks set out in these mathematics and science books to identify the similarities and differences in the handling of those magnitudes in the two subjects. Our findings showed the proposals for teaching mass to pursue similar objectives in the earliest grades, addressing matters that could be included in STEM proposals. On the contrary, inconsistencies were detected in the distribution of volume measurement-related content, as well as in the strategies, units and tools used in the two areas.

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (19) ◽  
pp. 2496
Author(s):  
Genaro de Gamboa ◽  
Edelmira Badillo ◽  
Digna Couso ◽  
Conxita Márquez

In this research, we explored the potential of using a research-based teaching and learning sequence to promote pupils’ engagement in practices that are coherent with those of real world mathematical and scientific activity. This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematis) sequence was designed and implemented by pre-service teachers and science and mathematics education researchers with the aim of modeling the growth of a real population of rabbits. Results show explicit evidence of pupils’ engagement in relevant mathematical and scientific practices, as well as detailed descriptions of mathematical connections that emerged from those practices. We discuss how these practices and connections allowed the progressive construction of models, and the implications that this proposal may have for STEM task design and for the analysis of extra-mathematical connections.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Bakırcı ◽  
Dilek Karışan

Today’s life requires individuals to be prepared for complex world environment, to make complex decisions, and to have critical thinking skills related to everyday life issues at hand. STEM education is thought to be the glorious solution to thrive in a global knowledge driven world. Teachers are key elements for successful STEM education. Present study aims to investigate the preservice primary school, mathematics and science teachers STEM awareness. Quantitative research methodology guided the present study. Cross-sectional survey type which collects information from a sample that has been selected from a predetermined population was used. Stem Awareness Scale, a five point Likert type instrument developed by Buyruk and Korkmaz (2016), was used to measure preservice teachers STEM awareness. Data was collected from 558 (371 female, 187 male) preservice teachers enrolled in three different teacher preparation programs. The results of this research demonstrates that there is no significant interaction effect for gender and department variables however there is significant difference among different department students STEM awareness preservice science teachers’ and preservice primary school teachers STEM awareness scores have similar mean values and also outnumbers the preservice mathematics teachers’ STEM awareness.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Petar Juric ◽  
Marija Brkic Bakaric ◽  
Maja Matetic

STEM education forms a basis for an innovation-based society, and Mathematics is, besides being an integral part of STEM, also a prerequisite for success in mastering remaining STEM constituents. With the aim of early detection of gifted students, who would be able to follow advanced forms of teaching and be successful in STEM, this paper analyses cognitive predispositions of students gifted for Mathematics and the differences in their ways of solving problem tasks in the computer game for learning primary school Mathematics. Additionally, the paper analyses success related to finishing different levels of the game.


Author(s):  
Kathryn Strong Hansen

AbstractGreater emphasis on ethical issues is needed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The fiction for specific purposes (FSP) approach, using optimistic science fiction texts, offers a way to focus on ethical reflection that capitalizes on role models rather than negative examples. This article discusses the benefits of using FSP in STEM education more broadly, and then explains how using optimistic fictions in particular encourages students to think in ethically constructive ways. Using examples of science fiction texts with hopeful perspectives, example discussion questions are given to model how to help keep students focused on the ethical issues in a text. Sample writing prompts to elicit ethical reflection are also provided as models of how to guide students to contemplate and analyze ethical issues that are important in their field of study. The article concludes that the use of optimistic fictions, framed through the lens of professional ethics guidelines and reinforced through ethical reflection, can help students to have beneficial ethical models.


Author(s):  
Yeping Li ◽  
Alan H. Schoenfeld

AbstractMathematics is fundamental for many professions, especially science, technology, and engineering. Yet, mathematics is often perceived as difficult and many students leave disciplines in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as a result, closing doors to scientific, engineering, and technological careers. In this editorial, we argue that how mathematics is traditionally viewed as “given” or “fixed” for students’ expected acquisition alienates many students and needs to be problematized. We propose an alternative approach to changes in mathematics education and show how the alternative also applies to STEM education.


Author(s):  
Mariam Adepeju Abdulraheem-Mustapha

Laws and policies have important roles to play in advancing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) research in Nigeria. STEM education and knowledge brings about development by converging scholars across the world with recent research discoveries. In order for Nigeria to reap the maximum benefits from the 4IR, its legal system must come in line with the principles advanced by the 4IR. It is important to state that the laws which have been enacted before the contemporary era are inadequate and obsolete. Education (STEM education inclusive) which will benefit the most from thenewrevolution would demand new legal instrumentsthat are adequate and effective to cater for the legal and policy demands of the 4IR by bringing forth a more current and inclusive legal protection for all the relevant beneficiaries. Using doctrinal methodology, thispaperexamines4IR and right to education in Nigeria with a view to establishing the relationship between the legal instruments and STEM education with the objective of advancing the agenda of the relevance of all fields of education for the next generation.The paper is divided into six sections and the findings show that, education (STEM education inclusive) is bedeviled with many challenges andthe extant laws are inadequate to solve them.Thus, making the goal of 4IR unachievable in Nigeria. To reach the greatest dexterities in all works of life, the paper concludes by bringing the significance of laws and policies that wouldaccommodate free STEM education in secondary and tertiary school levels in order to answer the call for 4IR. It recommends research collaboration across STEM fields for integrated curriculum and an amendment of the Constitution. It also advocates for gender equality and investing more in STEM education for having a transformative shift in Nigeria for the purpose of achieving 4IR.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatimah Ahmad ◽  
Heather Greenhalgh-Spencer

This paper argues for a more complex literature around gender and math performance. In order to argue for this complexity, we present a small portion of data from a case study examining the performance of Kuwaiti students on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study and on Kuwait national math tests. Westernized discourses suggest that girls have a harder time in math classes; these discourses frame and are reified by prominent literature and practices within the field of math education research that suggest that women and girls need help in order to reach their potential in math. These Westernized discourses stand in contrast to the discourses in Kuwait that normalize women and girls as outperforming boys in all subjects – including all science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. As our study shows, the reality is more complex. And, while the reality is more complex, we yet lack the discourses to understand this complexity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-58
Author(s):  
Teruni Lamberg ◽  
Nicole Trzynadlowski

STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education has been gaining increasing nationwide attention. While the STEM movement has ambitious goals for k-12 education, a lack of shared understanding exists of what STEM is as well as how to implement STEM in the elementary classroom. This study investigates how seven elementary teachers in three STEM academy schools conceptualize and implement STEM in their classrooms. Teacher interviews were conducted. The findings reveal that the majority of teachers believe that STEM education involves integrating STEM subject areas. STEM activities consisted of student-led research and reading activities on STEM topics. Two teachers described STEM as involving “hands-on” science activities. Teachers at each STEM academy school conceptualized and implemented STEM differently. How STEM was implemented at each school was based on how teachers interpreted STEM and the resources they had access to. The STEM coaches played a central role in supporting the elementary teachers to plan and implement lessons. Teachers relied on them for ideas to plan and teach STEM lessons. The results of this study indicate that as more schools embrace the STEM movement, a unified understanding and resources are needed to support teachers.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002205742110445
Author(s):  
Burcu Alan ◽  
Fikriye K. Zengin ◽  
Gonca Kececi

This study investigated the effects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) applications carried out with the purpose of supporting the integrated knowledge of prospective science teachers on the scientific process skills and STEM education orientation skills of prospective teachers. According to the results, the STEM application was effective on the scientific process skills of the prospective teachers in the experiment group in comparison to those in the control group; however, it was not effective on their levels of orientation towards STEM education. The prospective teachers stated that Algodoo is a good tool for integration of STEM disciplines.


Author(s):  
Ellen Hamilton-Ford ◽  
Jeffrey D. Herron

The objective of this chapter is to provide an overview of research in the convergence of environmental education and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (E-STEM) education models through a values-based framework for nature. An argument for the interconnectedness of environmental education and STEM programs is presented. A further argument presented that nature-based learning environments engage children in E-STEM. Lastly, an exploration of research suggests how various pedagogical practices incorporate and facilitate the E-STEM paradigm to prepare young children for 21st century workforce that can solve large, complex problems in an information and service-based economy.


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