3. How did students propose to improve their designs
to optimize goal attainment?
4. What learning did students display across the
problem?
In setting the scene for our study, we first give consideration
to STEM integration in the school curriculum
and then address processes of engineering design. The
latter formed the basis of the theoretical framework we
applied in our longitudinal study.
STEM integration in the school curriculum
STEM integration is receiving greater attention from
multiple perspectives including as a means of addressing
national and international student achievement data, as
well as preparing students to be competitive in the everchanging
global economy (Moore et al. 2014b). Achieving
an integrated approach, however, is a complex endeavor,
as the Californian Department of Education
indicates in citing the axiom, “the whole is more than
the sum of the parts” (http://www.cde.ca.gov/PD/ca/sc/
stemintrod.asp ).
The STEM Taskforce Report (2014) illustrates this
point further, adopting the strong view that STEM education
is far more than a “convenient integration” of its
four disciplines, rather, it encompasses “real-world,
problem-based learning” that integrates the disciplines
“through cohesive and active teaching and learning approaches”
(p. 9). The report argues that the disciplines
“cannot and should not be taught in isolation, just as
they do not exist in isolation in the real world or the
workforce” (p. 9). The benefits to be gained from such
integration have been variously documented, together
with the challenges faced. Studies have indicated that
students become better problem solvers, display more
positive and motivated learning, and improve in their
mathematics and science achievements (e.g., Furner and
Kumar 2007a; Stinson et al. 2009). Specifically, through
the integration of engineering, students should become
more aware of its role and presence in society and be
able to apply engineering design processes to the solution
of real-world problems (e.g., National Academy of
Engineering and National Research Council NAE and
NRC 2009a).
Despite the noted benefits of STEM integration, the
research is in its infancy and raises many issues in need
of attention, especially for the younger grades. One of
the challenges facing researchers is how to overcome obstacles
to effective STEM integration including the lack
of a unified and explicit understanding of what this entails,
together with inadequate knowledge of multidisciplinary
content many teachers experience (Moore et al.
2014a; Stinson et al. 2009). It is beyond the scope of this
study to investigate STEM integration more broadly;
3. How did students propose to improve their designsto optimize goal attainment?4. What learning did students display across theproblem?In setting the scene for our study, we first give considerationto STEM integration in the school curriculumand then address processes of engineering design. Thelatter formed the basis of the theoretical framework weapplied in our longitudinal study.STEM integration in the school curriculumSTEM integration is receiving greater attention frommultiple perspectives including as a means of addressingnational and international student achievement data, aswell as preparing students to be competitive in the everchangingglobal economy (Moore et al. 2014b). Achievingan integrated approach, however, is a complex endeavor,as the Californian Department of Educationindicates in citing the axiom, “the whole is more thanthe sum of the parts” (http://www.cde.ca.gov/PD/ca/sc/stemintrod.asp ).The STEM Taskforce Report (2014) illustrates thispoint further, adopting the strong view that STEM educationis far more than a “convenient integration” of itsfour disciplines, rather, it encompasses “real-world,problem-based learning” that integrates the disciplines“through cohesive and active teaching and learning approaches”(p. 9). The report argues that the disciplines“cannot and should not be taught in isolation, just asthey do not exist in isolation in the real world or theworkforce” (p. 9). The benefits to be gained from suchintegration have been variously documented, togetherwith the challenges faced. Studies have indicated thatstudents become better problem solvers, display morepositive and motivated learning, and improve in theirmathematics and science achievements (e.g., Furner andKumar 2007a; Stinson et al. 2009). Specifically, throughthe integration of engineering, students should becomemore aware of its role and presence in society and beable to apply engineering design processes to the solutionof real-world problems (e.g., National Academy ofEngineering and National Research Council NAE andNRC 2009a).Despite the noted benefits of STEM integration, theresearch is in its infancy and raises many issues in needof attention, especially for the younger grades. One ofthe challenges facing researchers is how to overcome obstaclesto effective STEM integration including the lackof a unified and explicit understanding of what this entails,together with inadequate knowledge of multidisciplinarycontent many teachers experience (Moore et al.2014a; Stinson et al. 2009). It is beyond the scope of thisstudy to investigate STEM integration more broadly;
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