Module 8: Future Teachers on STEM Importance

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Questions and Answers

What is emphasized as the greatest utility of integrated STEM education?

Using mathematics and science together (correct)

Implementing engineering without technology

Teaching STEM subjects individually

Focusing on technological literacy only

Which two areas are indicated as necessary for inquiry and design in STEM education?

Technology and Mathematics (correct)

History and Geography

Engineering and Literature

Science and Art

According to previous studies, what aspect of STEM education did preservice elementary school teachers value?

Its irrelevance to elementary education

Its complexity and difficulty

It being important for various reasons (correct)

It being mainly a secondary school focus

What does the modified model of integrative STEM learning emphasize?

Interconnectedness of STEM areas Signup and view all the answers

Why might understanding pre-service teachers' views on STEM be significant?

They directly influence future K-12 education practices. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects a common misconception about STEM education among those who disagreed with its importance?

Children are not developmentally ready for STEM learning. Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the importance of STEM education based on the references provided?

Understanding STEM is critical from early education onward. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following options highlights a concern raised by one of the respondents about testing and teaching approaches?

Learning should focus on holistic development. Signup and view all the answers

Which document discusses the characterizations of STEM teacher education?

School Science and Mathematics journal Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized in the environmental literacy course mentioned in the content?

Implementation of STEM education Signup and view all the answers

What is one primary purpose of integrating math and science in education?

To enhance problem-solving skills that apply to real-life situations. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to address gender bias in STEM education?

It encourages early interest in STEM subjects among girls. Signup and view all the answers

How does preparing students for STEM careers benefit their future job prospects?

By providing them with a foundation applicable across various jobs. Signup and view all the answers

What does STEM education promote in terms of student learning?

Learning that emphasizes higher order thinking and problem solving. Signup and view all the answers

What is a misconception about STEM that was highlighted in focus group discussions?

STEM is solely for students who excel in math. Signup and view all the answers

What outcome is expected from integrating science experiments with math?

To foster a connected understanding of math and science. Signup and view all the answers

How do STEM initiatives affect students' future learning experiences?

They establish a crucial foundation for future learning in various fields. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key finding regarding preservice teachers' views on STEM education?

Preservice teachers hold a variety of reasons for the importance of STEM. Signup and view all the answers

What implication was suggested for preservice teacher coursework related to STEM?

Courses could explore the reasons behind STEM's importance directly. Signup and view all the answers

How do the findings reflect the complexity of elementary teachers' views on STEM?

They indicate a multi-faceted perspective on STEM education. Signup and view all the answers

What does the increasing complexity of reasons for STEM importance among preservice teachers suggest?

A more nuanced understanding of STEM's role and significance. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of the research discussed?

The perceived importance of STEM education among preservice elementary teachers. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Future Elementary Teachers' Perspectives on the Importance of STEM

The chapter describes future elementary teachers' perspectives on the importance of STEM education at the elementary level.
The emphasis on STEM across K-12 has increased, from funding agencies to standards documents like NGSS.
Studies show that less instructional time is devoted to science in elementary schools compared to other subjects like English language arts and mathematics .
The study, based on an earlier study (N=73), surveyed preservice teachers and recent graduates about the importance of STEM at the elementary level using an online survey and open-ended questions.
All respondents in the earlier study reported STEM education as important, listing 10 different reasons.
The diversity of reasons varied significantly across the data set.
A new, more comprehensive study (N=149), replicated the earlier research using a focus group of a subset of surveyed participants.
All participants were pre-service teachers in four or five-year teacher preparation programs.

Defining STEM Education

STEM is defined as a process of meaningful interdependence among all disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
A STEM teacher could be someone who teaches any one of the four STEM disciplines individually or someone who integrates content from two or more disciplines.
The way teachers (current and future) discuss STEM varies considerably.
Some emphasize interdisciplinary nature of STEM, as described in the Framework for K-12 Science Education and NGSS.
Others focus on STEM's connection to science.
Preservice elementary teachers with STEM-focused methods courses were better prepared for integrated instruction.
Environmental literacy courses enhanced their perspective on interdisciplinary links.

Elementary STEM Importance Framework (ESIF)

The ESIF is a framework used for analyzing responses to the question "Is STEM education important at the elementary level?".
The framework has 10 codes, each with example responses.

Methodology

The objective was to understand prospective teachers' perspectives on STEM education at the elementary level.
A secondary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a coding framework.
A mixed methods approach was used, combining a survey with focus groups.
The survey (Is STEM education important at elementary level? Why or Why not?) was used to gather responses which were coded using the ESIF framework.
149 surveyed participants: 94% female, 5% male, 1% unidentified gender and 84% white/Caucasian.
An average GPA of greater than 3.0
Focus groups of 4 participants employed to elaborate survey responses.

Findings

Nearly all respondents (97%) agreed that STEM education is important at the elementary level.
Reasons for importance were compared to the previous study.
Some participants disagreed with the importance of STEM at the elementary level.
Reasons cited for disagreement included developmental appropriateness and concerns about stress.
Reasons given for the importance of STEM:
- Fundamental, real-life skills
- Building a strong base for future learning
- Nurturing positive attitudes toward STEM
- Interdisciplinary approach
- Preparing students for STEM jobs
- Encouraging higher-order thinking skills

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Description

This chapter explores future elementary teachers' perspectives on the significance of STEM education. It examines how the emphasis on STEM has evolved in K-12 education and highlights variations in reasons provided by preservice teachers for its importance. The study includes findings from both a previous research survey and a more comprehensive follow-up.