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Journal of STEM Teacher Education

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Investigating An Instructional Model For Integrated Stem In Teacher Education, Laurie O. Campbell, Nicole Damico Oct 2023

Investigating An Instructional Model For Integrated Stem In Teacher Education, Laurie O. Campbell, Nicole Damico

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Active learning experiences that incorporate technology, design, and making combine to form an important and necessary pedagogical approach that supports the 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, digital literacies, and computational thinking as a problem-solving framework. Active learning experiences in teacher preparation serve as a model for future educators to follow, while building the educators' efficacy to conduct future implementations with their own students. In this study, a multidisciplinary Pop-Up Makerspaces activity was conducted as an active hands-on approach to interdisciplinary STEM education. The intersectionality of English language arts with integrated STEM through design and making included: (a) enriching …

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Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Understanding Of Science And Engineering Practices, Engineering Design Process, And Scientific Method, Frackson Mumba, Alexis Rutt, Paul Asunda, Reid Bailey Oct 2023

Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Understanding Of Science And Engineering Practices, Engineering Design Process, And Scientific Method, Frackson Mumba, Alexis Rutt, Paul Asunda, Reid Bailey

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

This study examined secondary pre-service science teachers’ understanding of science and engineering practices, the engineering design process, and the scientific method before and after an intervention. Participants were ten pre-service science teachers. Data were collected through a survey and semi-structured interviews. Results show that after the intervention pre- service science teachers developed understanding of science and engineering practices and used more engineering-specific language when describing them. They also developed an understanding that both engineering design process and scientific method are cyclical and iterative and that the two processes share many practices, but the biggest difference between them is in their …

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Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Experienced Introductory Stem Instructors’ Teaching Practices, Sarah Boesdorfer Oct 2023

Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Experienced Introductory Stem Instructors’ Teaching Practices, Sarah Boesdorfer

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Professional development for STEM instructors and facilitating change in their instruction requires understanding current practices along with what motivates or causes them to change their teaching practice. Teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic caused a lot of change in how courses were delivered in-person or online, but it also provided opportunities for instructors to change the teaching method used in the courses, potentially shifting towards more student-centered practices. Some commonly cited barriers to faculty changes were removed or lowered during this time and instructors had to think about their teaching due to the nature of the pandemic. Opportunity for change was …

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Designing A Program To Develop Computer Science Master Teachers For An Underserved Rural Area, Susie Morrissey, Thomas Koballa, Robert Allen, Judy Godfrey, Michael Dias, Shawn Utley, Deannia Clements Oct 2023

Designing A Program To Develop Computer Science Master Teachers For An Underserved Rural Area, Susie Morrissey, Thomas Koballa, Robert Allen, Judy Godfrey, Michael Dias, Shawn Utley, Deannia Clements

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Due to a shortage of rural computer science teachers, researchers used a three-phase method to design a computer science endorsement, which will be coupled with an instructional coaching endorsement within an Educational Specialist degree program. The team conducted interviews of teachers as well as school and district level administrators in rural areas to determine needs and resources available to develop computer science master teachers. Interviewers also investigated recruitment, preparation and support processes pertinent to the program. Findings included that, although infrastructure for wireless access is lacking, school and district administrators are very interested in supporting teachers to become computer science …

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Teachers’ Perceptions On Women In Stem: Breaking The Stereotypes, Lili Zhou, Alankrita Chhikara, Stephanie Oudghiri, Araba A. Z. Osei-Tutu, Razak Kwame Dwomoh Oct 2023

Teachers’ Perceptions On Women In Stem: Breaking The Stereotypes, Lili Zhou, Alankrita Chhikara, Stephanie Oudghiri, Araba A. Z. Osei-Tutu, Razak Kwame Dwomoh

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Drawing on an online professional development modular course that addressed critical approaches to the issues of race, immigration, English Language Learners (ELLs)/Emerging Bilinguals (EBs), and gender and sexual orientation, this paper reports teachers’ perceptions on gender stereotypes in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. In particular, building on the course readings, we discuss teachers’ emergent approaches to address gender stereotypes in teaching practice that improve girls' participation in STEM fields. Data is collected from a pre-course survey and teachers’ discussions during the course. Centering on the course readings from theoretical and empirical research that address gender issues, discussion prompts …

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An Exploration Of Communities Of Practice In The Stem Teacher Context: What Predicts Ties Of Retention?, Brandon Ofem, Michael Beeth, Jessica Doering, Kathleen Fink, Rebecca Konz, Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder, Samuel J. Polizzi, Gillian Roehrig, Gregory T. Rushton, Keith Sheppard Sep 2022

An Exploration Of Communities Of Practice In The Stem Teacher Context: What Predicts Ties Of Retention?, Brandon Ofem, Michael Beeth, Jessica Doering, Kathleen Fink, Rebecca Konz, Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder, Samuel J. Polizzi, Gillian Roehrig, Gregory T. Rushton, Keith Sheppard

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

The STEM teacher workforce in the United States has faced a host of pressing challenges, including teacher shortages, pervasive job dissatisfaction, and high turnover, problems largely attributable to working conditions within schools and districts. These problems have been exacerbated in high-needs districts with fewer resources and more students from low-income communities. Since social network research has shown that workplace relationships are vital for retention, this study investigates the demographic and relational antecedents to what we dub ties of retention. We explore how demographic and relational properties affect the likelihood that teachers have “retention-friendly” networks, characterized by connections important for …

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Exploring The Experiences And Perceptions Of 21st Century Leadership Academy Participants, Scott R. Bartholomew, Douglas Lecorchick, Mark Mahoney, Geoffrey Albert Wright Sep 2022

Exploring The Experiences And Perceptions Of 21st Century Leadership Academy Participants, Scott R. Bartholomew, Douglas Lecorchick, Mark Mahoney, Geoffrey Albert Wright

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

The 21st Century Leadership Academy grew out of an effort by the Council of Technology Teacher Education’s (CTTE) Leadership Development Committee to prepare future leaders for the field of Technology & Engineering Education (TEE). Efforts by Drs. Roger Hill (University of Georgia) and Bill Havice (Clemson University) led to the creation, and subsequent implementation, of this leadership academy with support from CTTE (later renamed the Council on Technology & Engineering Teacher Education [CTETE]) and the International Technology & Engineering Education Association (ITEEA). Initially, participation in the leadership academy was focused on early-career university faculty but recruitment was later expanded to …

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Teaching Elementary Mathematics With Educational Robotics, Yuling Zhuang, Jonathan K. Foster, Annamarie Conner, Barbara A. Crawford, Tim Foutz, Roger B. Hill Sep 2022

Teaching Elementary Mathematics With Educational Robotics, Yuling Zhuang, Jonathan K. Foster, Annamarie Conner, Barbara A. Crawford, Tim Foutz, Roger B. Hill

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Current education reforms call for engaging students in learning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in an integrative way. This critical case study of one fourth grade teacher investigated the use of educational robots (ER) not only for teaching coding, but as an instructional support in teaching mathematical concepts. To support teachers in teaching coding in an integrative and logical manner, our team developed the Collective Argumentation Learning and Coding (CALC) approach. The CALC approach consists of three elements: choice of task, coding content, and teacher support for argumentation. After a cohort of elementary teachers completed a professional development course, …

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Underrepresentation Of Minoritized Groups In Stem Education: A Metasynthesis Review, Kate Neally Sep 2022

Underrepresentation Of Minoritized Groups In Stem Education: A Metasynthesis Review, Kate Neally

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

This metasynthesis review analyzes the possible influences impacting the underrepresentation of People of Color (POC) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Underrepresented minoritized (URM) groups are defined in this article as Black and Latinx populations due to their low representation in STEM education professions (National Science Foundation, 2019). This review explores the possible influences at the high school and undergraduate levels in STEM and education. Previous research has explored the racism impacting the underrepresentation of POC in both STEM and education, but little research has examined the intersectionality of STEM education. The purpose of this metasynthesis review is …

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Online Interdisciplinary Stem Education: A Case Of Co-Teaching For Social Justice, Rebecca G. Gault, Stacey Britton Sep 2022

Online Interdisciplinary Stem Education: A Case Of Co-Teaching For Social Justice, Rebecca G. Gault, Stacey Britton

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

This paper presents the process two professors engaged in to develop a co-taught model for two online graduate courses taught concurrently as part of a justice-oriented STEM education curriculum. Students in the courses, who are k-12 teachers, contributed to the development of the courses across iterations through feedback and discussions with the professors. Our previous co-teaching experiences in face-to-face courses supported by literature on co-teaching in higher education online environments were instrumental in preparing for the initial semester and ongoing development of these two co-taught courses. Development of the courses also relied on extensive cogenerative dialogue that resulted in a …

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Exploring Elementary Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Stem And Cs Abilities, Scott R. Bartholomew, Vanessa Santana, Jessica Yauney Sep 2022

Exploring Elementary Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Stem And Cs Abilities, Scott R. Bartholomew, Vanessa Santana, Jessica Yauney

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Curriculum, legislation, and standards across the nation are quickly evolving to incorporate computer science and computational thinking concepts into K-12 classrooms. For example, many states have passed legislation requiring computer science to be included in every school’s curriculum. Most states, however, report high shortages of qualified computer science teachers, meaning, teachers without extensive training will be required to integrate these concepts into their classrooms—a daunting task for most teachers without the necessary background and experiences. This paper reports the impacts of a thirteen-week intervention in a local elementary school designed to introduce computational thinking skills to 4th and 5 …

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Community Of Practice In Integrated Stem Education: A Systematic Literature Review, Jung Han, Todd R. Kelley, Nathan Mentzer, J. Geoff Knowles Nov 2021

Community Of Practice In Integrated Stem Education: A Systematic Literature Review, Jung Han, Todd R. Kelley, Nathan Mentzer, J. Geoff Knowles

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

The efforts to integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in K-12 education have been increasing to help student learning and enhance 21st-century skills. The integrated STEM approach not only has pedagogical effects but also helps students prepare for STEM-related careers (ITEEA, 2020; NRC, 2012). Integrated STEM education is grounded in authentic, situated, and contextual learning, where Community of Practice plays a critical role. However, although educators and researchers have advocated Community of Practice as an important concept for learning, empirical research on Community of Practice within the integrated STEM context is limited. Additionally, how integrated STEM Communities of Practice …

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Early Field Experiences For Stem Undergraduates : A Possible Pathway Into Teaching, Judith Quander, Timothy Redl Nov 2021

Early Field Experiences For Stem Undergraduates : A Possible Pathway Into Teaching, Judith Quander, Timothy Redl

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

In this article, the authors describe an effort to recruit undergraduate STEM majors to secondary STEM teaching through engaging them in an early field experience by which the majors serve as peer advisors as part of a summer program for middle and high school students. The authors report on longitudinal data indicating that a fair number of peer advisors did go on to a career in teaching. Using qualitative data, the authors discuss how the participants reflect on opportunities for professional identity development as part of their experience in serving as peer advisors. Connections between these opportunities and participants' decisions …

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Stem Major Perceptions And Persistence To Teacher Certification, Chrissy Cross Ph.D., Keith Hubbard, Dennis A. Gravatt, Lesa Beverly Nov 2021

Stem Major Perceptions And Persistence To Teacher Certification, Chrissy Cross Ph.D., Keith Hubbard, Dennis A. Gravatt, Lesa Beverly

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

In this qualitative research study, researchers from a rural regional university in Texas examined the perceptions of STEM teaching and persistence to STEM teacher certification in a group of STEM majors participating in a hybrid recruitment and early intense field experience. The findings from this study indicate that the hybrid recruitment and early field experience influences the desire of the STEM majors to persist to teacher certification and influences the accuracy of their perceptions regarding STEM teaching and general perceptions of teaching as a career.

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Singaporean Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions Of Stem Epistemic Practices And Education, Dominic Koh, Aik Ling Tan Nov 2021

Singaporean Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions Of Stem Epistemic Practices And Education, Dominic Koh, Aik Ling Tan

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education is perceived to be the magic bullet for progressive and futuristic learning. It is widely touted as a way to develop 21st century competencies and scientific literacy. Despite the ubiquitous use of the term STEM, understanding of STEM education remains largely diffused. This study serves as a first in contributing a Singaporean narrative on perceptions of STEM education. To discern the diversity and prevalence of understanding of STEM education, 16 undergraduate preservice teachers (PST) responded to a series of questions. Out of the 16, nine PSTs were randomly selected for an …

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Supporting Stem Teachers Through Online Induction: An E-Mentor’S Exploration In Cyberspace, Christian E. Legler Mar 2021

Supporting Stem Teachers Through Online Induction: An E-Mentor’S Exploration In Cyberspace, Christian E. Legler

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

This self-study examines the processes involved in e-mentoring novice STEM teachers while using a university-sponsored comprehensive online induction platform. During this self-study, I e-mentored three STEM teachers for four months. The self-study of teaching and teacher education practices (S-STTEP) methodology was used to study my own e-mentoring facilitation. Data were collected from interviews, online textual data, and my own personal reflective journals. By studying the process of e-mentoring, I gained a more thorough understanding of the challenges involved in e-mentoring novice STEM teachers. This research also helped me better understand the induction of novice STEM teachers through e-mentoring on a …

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Don't Run Out Of Steam! Barriers To A Transdisciplinary Learning Approach, Jennifer C. Caton Mar 2021

Don't Run Out Of Steam! Barriers To A Transdisciplinary Learning Approach, Jennifer C. Caton

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Reform-based instruction can maximize learning and provide equitable access for students in both mathematics and science. A proposal for change by national organizations shed light on the need for programs in integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or with the inclusion of the arts (STEAM). A balanced approach to integrated STEAM education uses real issues from around the world to challenge students to be innovative, creative, and think critically about ways they can provide solutions. The purpose of this article is to highlight the potential of a transdisciplinary STEAM instructional approach, while examining the barriers that teachers face in …

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Preservice Science And Mathematics Teachers’ Acculturation Into Communities Of Practice: A Call For Undergraduate Research In Science And Mathematics Teacher Preparation, Kara Esther Baldwin, Rebekka Darner Mar 2021

Preservice Science And Mathematics Teachers’ Acculturation Into Communities Of Practice: A Call For Undergraduate Research In Science And Mathematics Teacher Preparation, Kara Esther Baldwin, Rebekka Darner

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Current mathematics and science standards, namely the Common Core State Standards of Mathematics (CCSSM) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), emphasize engaging students in mathematical and scientific practices. This review article is driven by the question: How can we expect science and mathematics teachers to appropriately engage students in the practices of the scientific and mathematical disciplines, when most teachers themselves lack experience practicing as scientists and mathematicians? To address this question, we review the literature on teachers’ understanding of their discipline’s practices, disciplinary practices as means to engage in inquiry, and how preservice teacher engagement in undergraduate research …

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What Stem Teachers Need To Know And Do To Engage Families Of Emergent Multilingual Students (English Language Learners), Lisa Hoffman, Emily Suh, Alan Zollman Mar 2021

What Stem Teachers Need To Know And Do To Engage Families Of Emergent Multilingual Students (English Language Learners), Lisa Hoffman, Emily Suh, Alan Zollman

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

STEM teacher educators are aware that we teach far more than content-specific methodology. Educators need to guide STEM teachers in the knowledge and skills to support emergent multilingual students (English language learners, or ELLs) by simultaneously developing their STEM content learning and scaffolding their language acquisition (Hoffman & Zollman, 2016; Suh, Hoffman, & Zollman, 2020). Research identifies the family unit having a profound effect upon student learning and educational choices. Educators, educational researchers, and policymakers alike recognize the importance of family involvement in education (Grant & Ray, 2019). Although previous family engagement initiatives have focused on teaching families from a …

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Perceptions Of K-12 Teachers On The Cognitive, Affective, And Conative Functionalities Of Gifted Students Engaged In Design Thinking, Krista M. Stith, Mistie L. Potts, Lisa Davia Rubenstein, Kathryn L. Shively, Robyn Spoon Nov 2020

Perceptions Of K-12 Teachers On The Cognitive, Affective, And Conative Functionalities Of Gifted Students Engaged In Design Thinking, Krista M. Stith, Mistie L. Potts, Lisa Davia Rubenstein, Kathryn L. Shively, Robyn Spoon

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Gifted students are our nation’s natural resource of technological inventors and innovators, but oftentimes do not receive differentiated instruction in technology/engineering design learning environments. This is not negligence or lack of care by the instructor, but a national issue of not sufficiently providing pre- and in-service teachers with formal training opportunities in gifted education. The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of K-12 teachers, trained in gifted education pedagogy and the Design Thinking Model (DTM), after their gifted students engaged in design thinking activities. Fifteen K-12 educators of different content areas reflected in focus groups upon how …

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Nature Of Problem-Solving Skills For 21st Century Stem Learners: What Teachers Need To Know, Paul Nnanyereugo Iwuanyanwu Nov 2020

Nature Of Problem-Solving Skills For 21st Century Stem Learners: What Teachers Need To Know, Paul Nnanyereugo Iwuanyanwu

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Since the emergence of the fourth industrial revolution which calls for a new model of learning for the twenty-first century learners, it has been argued that the nature of problems that learners must solve in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) must also be transformed to enable new forms of learning skills that are needed to tackle complex global challenges. However, the question of how best to teach these skills purposefully and explicitly is largely overlooked. STEM education reformers recognize that the lecture method or traditional method of teaching is highly ineffective for teaching twenty-first century competencies and skills that …

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Classrooms As Workplace: “Early Pre-Service” Stem Teaching Experience In A University-Based Summer Stem Institute, Daniel Choi, Antoinette S. Linton Nov 2020

Classrooms As Workplace: “Early Pre-Service” Stem Teaching Experience In A University-Based Summer Stem Institute, Daniel Choi, Antoinette S. Linton

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

The focus of study is to examine the impact that The Orange County Teacher Pathway Partnership (OC-TPP) at CSU Fullerton has had on participants’ (community college transfer students) skills and experiences gained in each of the program years from years 2015-2018. Students who participated in the STEM Institute gained pre-professional skills and teaching experience through various activities in the program. Students remained on the teacher pathway because the program allowed them to break out of their comfort zones, build social connections, and adjust to various groups of people. Attending the program increased college student confidence in content knowledge and content-based …

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Full Steam Ahead: Creating Interdisciplinary Informal Learning Opportunities For Early Childhood Teacher Candidates, Sara L. Hartman, Danielle Dani Feb 2020

Full Steam Ahead: Creating Interdisciplinary Informal Learning Opportunities For Early Childhood Teacher Candidates, Sara L. Hartman, Danielle Dani

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Early childhood teacher candidates benefit when presented with opportunities to engage meaningfully with their clinically-based school community. Informal learning events that are hosted after school hours but within school settings present a valuable way to provide these opportunities. Too often, content areas exist in isolation in classrooms, a stark contrast to the real world where content is connected and overlapping. Additionally, while many early childhood teachers express insecurity about their ability to teach STEM content, an integrated STEAM (STEM + Arts & Humanities) approach may help to promote comfort with STEM content and presents an authentic example of content integration. …

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Fab Fridays: Fostering Elementary Teacher Candidate Preparation Through Informal Stem Events, Jennifer R. Meadows, Jane Baker, Stephanie Wendt Feb 2020

Fab Fridays: Fostering Elementary Teacher Candidate Preparation Through Informal Stem Events, Jennifer R. Meadows, Jane Baker, Stephanie Wendt

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Informal STEM learning opportunities offered outside of the structured school day have been gaining popularity in today’s STEM-oriented culture. These are venues where children and their families gather to engage and explore in science, technology, engineering, and math —together. For a number of years, faculty from the College of Education at Tennessee Tech University have been promoting these events for the local community, free of charge, to encourage and foster a love for STEM Education. Methods professors recognize these events as golden opportunities for teacher candidates enrolled to learn about STEM content while aiding in the development of their pedagogy. …

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Stem Faculty Experience Teaching Students With Autism, Solvegi Shmulsky, Ken Gobbo, Michelle W. Bower Feb 2019

Stem Faculty Experience Teaching Students With Autism, Solvegi Shmulsky, Ken Gobbo, Michelle W. Bower

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

College students who have an autism spectrum condition study in STEM fields at a higher rate than their neurotypical peers, and they face documented challenges in postsecondary education. Given the proportionally higher representation of autism in STEM majors, it is important to study what works best, from an educational standpoint, for this diverse group of students. The purpose of this qualitative study is to document the experience and insight of college faculty about unique learner qualities related to autism and the qualities most needed in STEM fields. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 STEM faculty members about their experience teaching …

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Elementary Education In-Service Teachers’ Familiarity, Interest, Conceptual Knowledge And Performance On Science Process Skills, Frackson Mumba, Erin Miles, Vivien Chabalengula Feb 2019

Elementary Education In-Service Teachers’ Familiarity, Interest, Conceptual Knowledge And Performance On Science Process Skills, Frackson Mumba, Erin Miles, Vivien Chabalengula

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Although studies have examined teachers’ science process skills, little is known about the extent to which in-service elementary teachers are familiar with science process skills and are interested in learning more about science process skills. Therefore, the purposes of this research study were to determine (a) in-service elementary teachers’ familiarity with, interest in, conceptual knowledge of, and performance on science process skills and (b) how in-service elementary teachers’ familiarity with, interest in, conceptual knowledge of, and performance on science process skills relate to each other. Forty-eight elementary teachers in 21 schools in the United States participated in this study. Data …

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Stem Pedagogical Content Knowledge Scale (Stempck): A Validity And Reliability Study, Bekir Yıldırım, Emine Şahin Topalcengiz Feb 2019

Stem Pedagogical Content Knowledge Scale (Stempck): A Validity And Reliability Study, Bekir Yıldırım, Emine Şahin Topalcengiz

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

The aim of this study was to develop the STEM Pedagogical Content Knowledge Scale (STEMPCK Scale). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to examine the structural validity of the scale. Exploratory factor analysis of the scale was conducted using data from 443 preservice teachers who were studying to become science teachers, preschool teachers, elementary school teachers, and mathematics teachers. The confirmatory factor analysis of the scale was conducted using data from 212 students who were enrolled in the same departments. The scale was administered to 655 preservice teachers in total. To determine the reliability of the scale, the Cronbach’s …

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How Does Training From A Stem Elementary Education Program Influence An Elementary Teacher’S Instruction And Experiences?, Courtney G. Mayakis, Jessica R. Robinson, John Williams Iii Jul 2018

How Does Training From A Stem Elementary Education Program Influence An Elementary Teacher’S Instruction And Experiences?, Courtney G. Mayakis, Jessica R. Robinson, John Williams Iii

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

In the United States, innovation and our economy seem to be lacking in comparison to other countries. Many cite the shortage of individuals interested in STEM careers as part of the problem. The following research article addresses how STEM programs may influence the efficacy and practice of curriculum integration as well as the mathematics and science instruction of teachers in elementary education. Data were collected using interviews and taped instruction from an elementary educator who graduated from a STEM-focused elementary program. This exploratory case study will aid in understanding how preservice programs focusing on STEM-integrated curriculum in elementary education can …

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Increasing Stem Literacy Via An Informal Learning Environment, Christa D. Jackson, Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder Jun 2018

Increasing Stem Literacy Via An Informal Learning Environment, Christa D. Jackson, Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

STEM literacy is the ability to apply concepts from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve problems that cannot be solved using a single discipline. In this qualitative study, we examined how a robotics course in an educator preparation program that integrates informal learning experiences increased teachers’ exposure to a variety of STEM learning activities and impacted their STEM literacy. The results revealed the teachers developed a deeper understanding of STEM and broadened their STEM literacy through participating in the informal learning experiences.

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Educators’ Perceptions Of Integrated Stem: A Phenomenological Study, Brian K. Sandall, Darrel L. Sandall, Abram L. J. Walton Apr 2018

Educators’ Perceptions Of Integrated Stem: A Phenomenological Study, Brian K. Sandall, Darrel L. Sandall, Abram L. J. Walton

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

The study utilized a semistructured interview approach to identify phenomena that are related to integrated STEM education by addressing the question: What are the critical components of an integrated STEM definition and what critical factors are necessary for an integrated STEM definition’s implementation? Thirteen expert practitioners were identified and interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed for content in three different ways: by person, by interview question, and across all interviews using exploratory data analysis methods. Ten identified phenomena were grouped into two classes: structural implementation phenomena and interpersonal implementation phenomena. The structural implementation phenomena were: subject integration, project-based learning, …

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