Results between STEM and non-STEM Teaching for Integral Learning in Primary School Children in Lima (Peru)

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative analysis of two private primary schools located in Lima Norte (north of Lima, Peru), in one of them students are educated under the STEM methodology and in the other no. The objective of this comparison is to determine if the STEM favors the development of integral learning skills (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity and research). For this, an investigation of quantitative, exploratory and descriptive approach was carried out. The sample is made up of 52 students; of them, 27 (51.9%) were educated with STEM methodology and 25 (48.1%) were not. The results revealed that students with STEM present high means and significant differences both in critical thinking (mean= 4.78, p= 0.008; <0.05), in communication and collaboration (mean= 4.52, p= 0.001; <0.05), and in creativity and research (mean= 4.93,p= 0.000; <0.05).