Promoting STEM Education of Future Chemistry Teachers with an Engineering Approach Involving Single-Board Computers
We describe a master’s level chemistry education course that was designed to support STEM education by strengthening the E component with an engineering approach. Engineering approach is a method of conducting projects systematically similar to professional engineers. In the course, the future chemi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/5/3278 |
| _version_ | 1797615699788562432 |
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| author | Miha Ambrož Johannes Pernaa Outi Haatainen Maija Aksela |
| author_facet | Miha Ambrož Johannes Pernaa Outi Haatainen Maija Aksela |
| author_sort | Miha Ambrož |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We describe a master’s level chemistry education course that was designed to support STEM education by strengthening the E component with an engineering approach. Engineering approach is a method of conducting projects systematically similar to professional engineers. In the course, the future chemistry teachers were given the task of building a measurement instrument using a single-board computer (SBC). In addition to course description, we present a pilot study, the aim of which was to explore the opportunities and challenges the engineering approach initiates with pre-service chemistry teachers trying to accomplish a SBC-based open engineering project. The study employed a qualitative research approach, using the course as the data collection platform. The collected data was analyzed using an inductive content analysis. The data analysis shows that an open SBC project is a good platform for learning and teaching future chemistry teachers about chemistry-driven STEM education, but it is very challenging to conduct. The main conclusion is that the engineering approach is a practical solution for strengthening the engineering in STEM education. To generalize these findings to a wider context, we suggest further research to improve the course using this study’s results and re-evaluate the approach in a new instance of the course. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:29:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11b3feb1aa4a45fc8c607bad49f38e9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:29:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-11b3feb1aa4a45fc8c607bad49f38e9a2023-11-17T07:21:40ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-03-01135327810.3390/app13053278Promoting STEM Education of Future Chemistry Teachers with an Engineering Approach Involving Single-Board ComputersMiha Ambrož0Johannes Pernaa1Outi Haatainen2Maija Aksela3Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaThe Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, FinlandThe Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, FinlandThe Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, FinlandWe describe a master’s level chemistry education course that was designed to support STEM education by strengthening the E component with an engineering approach. Engineering approach is a method of conducting projects systematically similar to professional engineers. In the course, the future chemistry teachers were given the task of building a measurement instrument using a single-board computer (SBC). In addition to course description, we present a pilot study, the aim of which was to explore the opportunities and challenges the engineering approach initiates with pre-service chemistry teachers trying to accomplish a SBC-based open engineering project. The study employed a qualitative research approach, using the course as the data collection platform. The collected data was analyzed using an inductive content analysis. The data analysis shows that an open SBC project is a good platform for learning and teaching future chemistry teachers about chemistry-driven STEM education, but it is very challenging to conduct. The main conclusion is that the engineering approach is a practical solution for strengthening the engineering in STEM education. To generalize these findings to a wider context, we suggest further research to improve the course using this study’s results and re-evaluate the approach in a new instance of the course.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/5/3278trends in educationSTEM educationsingle-board computerengineering approachinquiry learningproject-based learning |
| spellingShingle | Miha Ambrož Johannes Pernaa Outi Haatainen Maija Aksela Promoting STEM Education of Future Chemistry Teachers with an Engineering Approach Involving Single-Board Computers Applied Sciences trends in education STEM education single-board computer engineering approach inquiry learning project-based learning |
| title | Promoting STEM Education of Future Chemistry Teachers with an Engineering Approach Involving Single-Board Computers |
| title_full | Promoting STEM Education of Future Chemistry Teachers with an Engineering Approach Involving Single-Board Computers |
| title_fullStr | Promoting STEM Education of Future Chemistry Teachers with an Engineering Approach Involving Single-Board Computers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting STEM Education of Future Chemistry Teachers with an Engineering Approach Involving Single-Board Computers |
| title_short | Promoting STEM Education of Future Chemistry Teachers with an Engineering Approach Involving Single-Board Computers |
| title_sort | promoting stem education of future chemistry teachers with an engineering approach involving single board computers |
| topic | trends in education STEM education single-board computer engineering approach inquiry learning project-based learning |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/5/3278 |
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