Toward a Framework of Integrating Ability: Conceptualization and Design of an Integrated Physics and Mathematics Test

The awareness that many problems in our society are interdisciplinary in nature and require the integration of multiple STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) concepts to solve them has given rise to a new instructional approach, called “integrated STEM education”. Integrated STEM educ...

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Main Authors: Haydée De Loof, Stijn Ceuppens, Jolien De Meester, Leen Goovaerts, Lieve Thibaut, Mieke De Cock, Wim Dehaene, Fien Depaepe, Heidi Knipprath, Jelle Boeve-de Pauw, Peter Van Petegem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/3/249
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author Haydée De Loof
Stijn Ceuppens
Jolien De Meester
Leen Goovaerts
Lieve Thibaut
Mieke De Cock
Wim Dehaene
Fien Depaepe
Heidi Knipprath
Jelle Boeve-de Pauw
Peter Van Petegem
author_facet Haydée De Loof
Stijn Ceuppens
Jolien De Meester
Leen Goovaerts
Lieve Thibaut
Mieke De Cock
Wim Dehaene
Fien Depaepe
Heidi Knipprath
Jelle Boeve-de Pauw
Peter Van Petegem
author_sort Haydée De Loof
collection DOAJ
description The awareness that many problems in our society are interdisciplinary in nature and require the integration of multiple STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) concepts to solve them has given rise to a new instructional approach, called “integrated STEM education”. Integrated STEM education aims to remove the barriers from the STEM fields and has the potential to increase students’ interest and motivation for learning, as well as to lead to improved achievement. It is important to assess the effectiveness of educational STEM initiatives in terms of students’ integrating ability, but to date, no such instruments are available. This study provides a definition of “integrating ability” and establishes a framework for understanding its components. Based on this definition and framework, a multiple-choice instrument for testing integrated physics and mathematics in the ninth grade (IPM9) was developed and validated. The definition and framework for integrating ability and the construction guidelines for an integrated test, can be used by researchers to assess students’ ability to integrate STEM subjects.
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spelling doaj.art-f6881eb24d4c44f08281f076107139d72023-11-17T10:41:36ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022023-02-0113324910.3390/educsci13030249Toward a Framework of Integrating Ability: Conceptualization and Design of an Integrated Physics and Mathematics TestHaydée De Loof0Stijn Ceuppens1Jolien De Meester2Leen Goovaerts3Lieve Thibaut4Mieke De Cock5Wim Dehaene6Fien Depaepe7Heidi Knipprath8Jelle Boeve-de Pauw9Peter Van Petegem10Research Group Edubron, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumElectronic Circuits and Systems (ECS), KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumFaculty of Engineering Science, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumFaculty of Engineering Science, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumResearch Group Education and Labour Market, Research Institute for Work and Society (HIVA), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumESAT-MICAS, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumCentre for Instructional Psychology & Technology, Itec, Imec Research Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumResearch Group Edubron, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumResearch Group Edubron, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumThe awareness that many problems in our society are interdisciplinary in nature and require the integration of multiple STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) concepts to solve them has given rise to a new instructional approach, called “integrated STEM education”. Integrated STEM education aims to remove the barriers from the STEM fields and has the potential to increase students’ interest and motivation for learning, as well as to lead to improved achievement. It is important to assess the effectiveness of educational STEM initiatives in terms of students’ integrating ability, but to date, no such instruments are available. This study provides a definition of “integrating ability” and establishes a framework for understanding its components. Based on this definition and framework, a multiple-choice instrument for testing integrated physics and mathematics in the ninth grade (IPM9) was developed and validated. The definition and framework for integrating ability and the construction guidelines for an integrated test, can be used by researchers to assess students’ ability to integrate STEM subjects.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/3/249integrating abilityintegrated STEMSTEM educationSTEM evaluation
spellingShingle Haydée De Loof
Stijn Ceuppens
Jolien De Meester
Leen Goovaerts
Lieve Thibaut
Mieke De Cock
Wim Dehaene
Fien Depaepe
Heidi Knipprath
Jelle Boeve-de Pauw
Peter Van Petegem
Toward a Framework of Integrating Ability: Conceptualization and Design of an Integrated Physics and Mathematics Test
Education Sciences
integrating ability
integrated STEM
STEM education
STEM evaluation
title Toward a Framework of Integrating Ability: Conceptualization and Design of an Integrated Physics and Mathematics Test
title_full Toward a Framework of Integrating Ability: Conceptualization and Design of an Integrated Physics and Mathematics Test
title_fullStr Toward a Framework of Integrating Ability: Conceptualization and Design of an Integrated Physics and Mathematics Test
title_full_unstemmed Toward a Framework of Integrating Ability: Conceptualization and Design of an Integrated Physics and Mathematics Test
title_short Toward a Framework of Integrating Ability: Conceptualization and Design of an Integrated Physics and Mathematics Test
title_sort toward a framework of integrating ability conceptualization and design of an integrated physics and mathematics test
topic integrating ability
integrated STEM
STEM education
STEM evaluation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/3/249
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