Abstract
STEM education is a new frontier in Australia, particularly for primary schools. However, the E in
STEM needs to have a stronger focus with science and mathematics concepts aligned to the presiding
curricula. In addition, pedagogical knowledge practices such as planning, preparation, teaching
strategies, assessment and so forth need to be connected to key concepts for developing a STEM
education. One of the aims of this study was to understand how a pedagogical knowledge practice
framework could be linked to student outcomes in STEM education. Specifically, this qualitative
research investigated Year 4 students’ involvement in an integrated STEM education program that
focused on science concepts (e.g., states of matter, testing properties of materials) and mathematics
concepts (such as 3D shapes and metric measurements: millilitres, temperature, grams, centimetres)
for designing, making and testing a strong and safe medical kit to insulate medicines at desirable
temperatures. Eleven pedagogical knowledge practices (e.g., planning, preparation, teaching
strategies, classroom management, and assessment) were used as a framework for understanding how
teaching may be linked to student outcomes in STEM education. For instance, “planning” involved
devising a student booklet as a resource for students to understand the tasks required of them, which
also provided space for them to record ideas, results and information. Planning involved linking
national and state curriculum documents to the STEM education activities. More studies are required
around pedagogical knowledge frameworks to understand what students learn when involved in
STEM education, particularly with the inclusion of engineering education.