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What's the Research: How do Teachers Feel About Adopting a STEM Approach to Mathematics Education



As our world becomes increasingly reliant on STEM education for progress, math teachers everywhere have considered the benefits of teaching mathematics within the context of science, technology, and engineering.


A "STEM approach" is considered to be the integration of two or more STEM disciplines. Specifically, the teaching of mathematics in the context of science, technology, or engineering. In most schools, these are individual, separate curriculums. A STEM approach is often focused on real-world contexts and problem-solving. In one particular research study (linked below), 40 math teachers were surveyed and these are the pros and cons that were listed for a adopting a STEM approach:


Possible Pros:

  • Greater focus on the applicability of mathematics

  • Provides rationale to students about the "why" students are learning mathematics

  • 'Mathematics Meaningfulness'

  • Development of problem solving

  • Increased student engagement

  • Opportunity for higher order thinking


Possible Cons:

  • Lack of time and resources

  • Lack of teacher readiness (understanding what to do)

  • A focus on real-world math result is more abstract concepts being eliminated

  • A STEM approach maybe can't accomodate the sequential nature of mathematics learning

  • Difficulty relating tasks to mathematics curriculum


In my opinion, both lists are valid and the benefits of a STEM approach are worth the attempt. There's nothing I want more than for my students to know how math can be applied in other STEM disciplines, be engaged in the "doing of math", and become real problem-solvers in the process.


The "cons" list is really just a list of challenges we will face in such an endeavor. It definitely will take time, training, and a serious collaborative effort. I don't believe that math education should be static, or that we should adhere to a status quo of sequences or list of abstract topics if its not pushing forward societal progress. If what we want are educated STEM professionals to continually benefit and progress our societies at large, we need to let go of the archaic practices that are losing relevancy and meaningfulness. Comment below which "pro" is the most important to you, and which "con" seems to be the biggest obstacle.



Read the research here:


 
 
 

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