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Shaping science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum in Australian schools: an ecological systems analysis
Citation
Falloon, G and Powling, M and Fraser, S and Hatisaru, V, Shaping science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum in Australian schools: an ecological systems analysis, Australian Journal of Education, 66, (2) pp. 171-195. ISSN 0004-9441 (2022) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2022 Australian Council for Educational Research
DOI: doi:10.1177/00049441221083347
Abstract
Improving young people’s engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is being promoted worldwide as a means of addressing projected shortfalls in expertise needed to further nations’ economic, social and environmental goals. Responding to this, schools are reforming traditional discipline-based curricula into interdisciplinary approaches based on problem and project-based designs, to make STEM learning more relevant and meaningful for students. This study drew on a dataset of 449 Australian principal and teacher interviews, to identify factors influencing STEM curriculum in their schools. It utilised Ecological Systems Theory to build understanding relating to the influence of activities and outputs originating at macro, exo and meso system levels, on STEM curriculum and practices in classrooms. Results demonstrated how many innovative schools were able to successfully leverage community, business and national resources to enhance their STEM curriculum, while others struggled due to limitations imposed by geographic or socio-economic factors, or limited access to resources, expertise or advice. Central to achieving this was the powerful influence of principals’ and teachers’ proximal processes and developmental assets in establishing effective and engaging interdisciplinary STEM curricula, despite constraints imposed by, at best, ambiguous national and state curriculum and policies, rigid assessment regimes and compliance-focused reporting requirements.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | principal, leadership, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, curriculum, interdisciplinary, ecological systems theory |
| Research Division: | Education |
| Research Group: | Curriculum and pedagogy |
| Research Field: | Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy |
| Objective Division: | Education and Training |
| Objective Group: | Teaching and curriculum |
| Objective Field: | Teacher and instructor development |
| UTAS Author: | Fraser, S (Professor Sharon Fraser) |
| UTAS Author: | Hatisaru, V (Dr Vesife Hatisaru) |
| ID Code: | 149228 |
| Year Published: | 2022 |
| Deposited By: | Education |
| Deposited On: | 2022-03-18 |
| Last Modified: | 2022-11-25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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