STEM Education in Primary Classrooms

Unravelling Contemporary Approaches in Australia and New Zealand

Angela Fitzgerald editor Linda Pfeiffer editor Carole Haeusler editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:31st Mar '20

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

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STEM Education in Primary Classrooms cover

If you were to peer into a primary school classroom somewhere across Australia and New Zealand, you would be forgiven for thinking that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is synonymous with coding and digital technologies. However, while these aspects are important, technology alone does not reflect the broad learning opportunities afforded by STEM.

In countering this narrow approach, STEM Education in Primary Classrooms offers a platform for research that innovates, excites and challenges the status quo. It provides educators with innovative and up-to-date research into how to meaningfully and authentically embed STEM into existing classroom practices. It incorporates accurate explanations of STEM as an integrated approach to solving real-world problems, including social issues, along with case studies and stories to bring practice to life in evidence-informed ways.

This book showcases the impact of a broader approach to STEM in the primary classroom through Australian-based and New Zealand-based research that will challenge current teaching practices. Thus, this book will be of interest to pre- and in-service primary school teachers, along with researchers and postgraduate students in the STEM education field.

Congratulations to the authors and editors for creating an accessible and research-informed account of why we must and how we can implement an integrated approach to STEM education for primary school students. The various examples and case studies richly illustrate how we can embed interdisciplinary problem-solving tasks using authentic contexts and inquiry pedagogies into the curriculum and develop the capabilities required for living and working in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Emeritus Professor Mark Hackling, Edith Cowan University

What does the future hold? Whatever direction it takes, it is a sure bet that science, technology, engineering and mathematics will have a critical role. Citizens will have to decide what is acceptable, useful and beneficial and what is not. STEM education is the key to wise choices and starting early to prepare all Australians and New Zealanders with capacity to make those choices is critical. This is a great book that has deep analytical insights from practitioners and researchers and shows us the way. Let’s go.
Emeritus Professor Ian Chubb, Former Chief Scientist of Australia, AC FAA FTSE

This book is distinctive in highlighting how science education can be a generative starting point for STEM education in primary school settings. The chapters offer rich examples of this through a focus on pedagogy, partnerships, professional development and possibilities. I strongly recommend the book to teachers and researchers – they will find much to pique their interest and support their thinking.

Professor Bronwen Cowie, Associate Dean Research, Education Division, The University of Waikato, New Zealand

ISBN: 9780367229351

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 508g

194 pages