STEM Education in Primary Classrooms Unravelling Contemporary Approaches in Australia and New Zealand

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.

Lists of Figures and Tables

List of Contributors

Foreword Professor Paul Bertsch, Queensland Chief Scientist

Chapter 1. More Than Coding: Positioning STEM Education in Policy and Practice Angela Fitzgerald, Carole Haeusler and Linda Pfeiffer

Chapter 2. Engaging Diverse Students in STEM: The Five Dimensions Framework Kimberley Wilson

Chapter 3. Inquiry-Based Teaching and Learning in Primary STEM Amanda Woods-McConney, Andrew McConney And Keryn Sturrock

Chapter 4. Learning Mathematics Through STEM in A Play Based Classroom Paula Mildenhall and Barbara Sherriff

Chapter 5. A Case Study of a University-Industry STEM Partnership in Regional Queensland Dr Linda Pfeiffer and Kathryn Tabone

Chapter 6. Online Citizen Science in the Classroom: Engaging with Real Science and STEM to Develop Capabilities for Citizenship Dayle Anderson, Markus Luczak-Roesch, Cathal Doyle, Yevgeniya (Jane) Li, Brigitte Glasson, Cameron Pierson, Dianne Christenson, Carol Brieseman, Melissa Coton and Matt Boucher

Chapter 7. School-University Partnerships as Rich STEM Learning Contexts for Pre-Service Teachers Working with Primary Students Kimberley Pressick-Kilborn and Anne Prescott

Chapter 8. What Do Primary Teachers Think About STEM Education? Exploring Cross-Cultural Perspectives Kathy Smith, Sindu George and Jennifer Mansfield

Chapter 9. The Role of the Maker Faire in STEM Engagement: Messages for Teacher Professional Development Coral Campbell, Linda Hobbs and Lihua Xu

Chapter 10. More Than S.T.E.M.: Connecting Students’ Learning to Community Through Eco-Justice Kathryn Paige, Lisa O’Keeffe and David Lloyd

Chapter 11. Informal Spaces for STEM Learning and Teaching: STEM Clubs Angela Fitzgerald, Tania Leach, Kate Davis, Neil Martin and Shelley Dunlop

Angela Fitzgerald is an associate professor (science curriculum and pedagogy) and deputy head of the School of Education at the University of Southern Queensland. Her main focus is engaging pre- and in-service teachers in developing their confidence and competence in STEM learning and teaching in primary school settings.

Carole Haeusler is a lecturer in science education at the University of Southern Queensland. She has had extensive teaching experience at secondary and tertiary levels and has worked as a consultant in government authorities. Her research interest is primary children’s cognition in science.

Linda Pfeiffer is a senior lecturer in the School of Education and the Arts at CQUniversity, Australia. She has a broad range of teaching experiences in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Linda works with numerous stakeholders to improve STEM outcomes and leads the Australia Pacific LNG STEM Research Central project.