Toward Integrated STEM Education: Developing a Research Agenda

美国国家工程院正在对K-12学校科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)综合教育的现状进行全面审查。STEM教育是公认的K-12教育优先事项，但到目前为止，大部分注意力和资金都集中在改进STEM的单字母部分，主要是科学和数学。这项研究侧重于结合或整合四个STEM学科中两个或两个以上学科的基本内容和过程的教与学的潜在好处，并特别强调技术和工程。初步证据表明，综合STEM可能会提高学生的学习兴趣和成就，并影响职业抱负。这项研究的目标是制定一项研究议程，从学习成就、动机和职业抱负方面考察STEM综合教育对学生(K-12)的价值。最后报告总结了数据收集和分析的结果以及委员会对研究议程的结论和建议。本报告通过向相关团体作陈述、发表印刷和在线文章以及社论和向相关利益攸关方介绍情况来传播。这项研究大约75%的资金是通过私人基金会提供的。这项研究是由一个精心挑选的项目委员会完成的，该委员会由12-14名专家组成，他们来自与国家工程院院长指定的工作重点相关的不同领域。他们得到了知识渊博的学院工作人员的支持。该委员会在30个月内举行了6次会议。第一个研讨会是设计一个概念框架或多种融合方式的分类法。其他讲习班向委员会介绍与综合STEM教育有关的具体问题。该项目包括对综合教学文献的审查，对综合教学当前做法的初步定性研究(调查、课程分析、访谈和实地考察)，以及对地区、州和国家各级政策的审查。这项研究的目标是制定一项研究议程，从学习成就、动机和职业抱负方面考察STEM综合教育对学生(K-12)的价值。一名外部评估员评估数据收集工作、项目的沟通和外联工作以及最后报告的影响。对讲习班参与者和其他人的调查和/或访谈确定了该报告对全国讨论STEM教育的影响。最终评价报告提炼了总结的经验教训，以及对下一步研究综合STEM概念的影响。项目和最后共识报告旨在向有兴趣了解综合STEM的限制和潜力的利益攸关方群体提供信息。利益相关者包括在教育领域发挥作用的联邦和州机构、基金会、STEM教师组织和STEM专业协会以及从业者和普通公众。

The National Academy of Engineering is conducting a comprehensive examination of the current state of integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in K-12 schools. STEM education is a recognized priority for K-12 education but to date most of the attention and funding has been focused on improving the single-letter components of STEM and mainly only science and mathematics. This study focuses attention on the potential benefits of teaching and learning that combine or integrate essential content and processes of two or more of the four STEM disciplines with particular emphasis on technology and engineering. Preliminary evidence suggests that integrated STEM may produce gains in students' academic interest and achievement as well as influence career aspirations. The goal of the study is to craft a research agenda that will examine the value of an integrated STEM education to students (K-12) in terms of learning achievement, motivation, and career aspirations. The final report summarizes the findings from the data gathering and analysis and the committee's conclusions and recommendations for a research agenda. This report is disseminated through presentations to relevant groups, publication of print and online articles and editorials and briefings to relevant stakeholders. About 75% of the funding for this study is provided through private foundations The study is done by a carefully selected project committee of 12-14 experts in diverse fields relevant to the focus of the effort appointed by the president of the National Academy of Engineering. They are supported by knowledgeable Academy staff. The Committee meets six times over 30 months. The first workshop is to devise a conceptual framework or taxonomy of the multiple ways integration can occur. Other workshops inform the Committee about specific issues relevant to integrated STEM education. The project includes a review of the literature on integrated teaching and learning, primary qualitative research on the current practices in integrated teaching (surveys, curriculum analyses, interviews and site visits), and review of policy at the district, state, and national levels. The goal of the study is to develop a research agenda that will examine the value of an integrated STEM education to students (K-12) in terms of learning achievement, motivation, and career aspirations. An external evaluator assesses the data gathering effort, the project's communication and outreach efforts and the impact of the final report. Surveys and/or interviews with workshop participants and others determine how the report influences the national discussion STEM education. The final evaluation report distills the lessons learned and the implications for next steps in studying the integrated STEM concept.The project and the final consensus report are designed to inform stakeholder groups that have an interest in understanding the limits and potential of integrated STEM. The stakeholders include federal and state agencies with a role in education, foundations, STEM teacher organizations and STEM professional societies as well as practitioners and the general public.