School-STEM Professionals’ Collaboration: a case study on teachers’ conceptions

ABSTRACT

The motivation for the design of this study was to understand the possibility and impact of the involvement of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) professionals on school STEM education. This involved two stages, with the design of a set of authentic STEM inquiry activities firstly and implementation in primary classrooms secondly. Five teachers from a local primary school, who were making their first attempt in implementing STEM learning with students at senior primary levels, participated in this study. The teachers worked collaboratively with an Environmental Scientist with support from the research team to design authentic STEM activities to solve a problem which is currently affecting the school environment. The study used a qualitative approach with teachers’ pre- and post- concept maps, self-reflections and interviews to capture changes in teachers’ STEM conceptions. The findings showed that “School-STEM Professionals’ Collaboration” had a positive impact on teachers’ conceptions of STEM education and STEM professionals.

KEYWORDS:

• STEM education
• teacher Conception
• School-STEM Professionals’ Collaboration

Ethics statement

The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) had approved and reviewed any research protocols involving human participants submitted by principal investigators.

Additional information

Funding

The work described in this paper was fully supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China [EDUHK 18607717].

Notes on contributors

Wing Mui Winnie So

Wing Mui Winnie So Professor so is a Professor in the Department of Science and Environmental Studies and the Director of Centre for Education in Environmental Sustainability at the Education University of Hong Kong.

Qianwen He

Qianwen He Qianwen He is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Science and Environmental Studies at the Education University of Hong Kong

Yu Chen

Yu Chen Dr. Chen is now a Research Associate in the Department of Science and Environmental Studies at the Education University of Hong Kong

Cheuk Fai Chow

Cheuk Fai Chow Dr. Chow is an Associate Professor in the Department of Science and Environmental Studies and Director of Knowledge Transfer Sub-Office at the Education University of Hong Kong.