Exploring STEM integration: assessing the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary informal program in fostering students’ performance and inspiration

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Although sound is an everyday phenomenon that we hear about constantly, numerous studies have reported that students often exhibit learning difficulties in understanding this subject. Only a few studies have proposed programs involving practical learning experiments to provide students with solid conceptual knowledge. Moreover, little research to date has dealt with the topic of sound from the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) perspective. Purpose The need for this research is rooted in the general lack of learning materials developed according to integrative STEM and in the shortage of interdisciplinary contents that specifically address the subject of sound. The Sound, Waves and Communication Systems (SWCS) program was developed in Sakhnin in Israel to integrate the learning of science and technology through the extensive use of Information and Computer Technologies (ICT). The study aimed at exploring middle school students’ achievements and motivation in learning the program and discovering the factors that might affect these elements. Sample The participants in the study are 120 middle school students (7th-graders), divided into six separate groups: two groups (40 students) participated in the pilot study, whereas four groups (80 students) took part in the main study. Methods The study adopted a mixed method research design, and combined quantitative and qualitative methods that included observations in class, administering a students’ motivation questionnaire before and after studying the course, giving achievement exams, and analyzing the students’ projects. Results The findings showed that despite difficulties in learning the subject, the students eventually managed to gain a conceptual understanding and their self-efficacy significantly increased. Conclusions The flexible integration of the teachers’ instruction, the hands-on lab work, the use of ICT, and project-based learning all contributed to the participants’ success and motivation in learning the current course.