Authentic Problems of the Knowledge Society: Social and Cognitive Dimensions Within STEM Instructional Designs

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Thirteen
  In Roundtable Session: Science in Teacher Education (Table 1)

Abstract

Integration of social and cognitive dimensions through authentic problems of society allows students to see their role in society. This study focused on how teachers integrated social and cognitive dimensions in their STEM lesson plans. Participants were 46 science teachers that completed a STEM PD program. Results revealed that teachers mostly included communicating and collaborating with others in their lesson plans. However, teachers put less emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Further, teachers integrated cognitive and social dimensions, and provided the flexibility of solutions, yet, they had difficulties incorporating an original context into the problems and incorporating other disciplines. Teacher PDs need to promote the contextualization and interdisciplinarity of topics to help improve students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Authors

• Defne Yabas, Bahcesehir University
  Presenting Author

• Gaye D. Ceyhan, Bogazici University
  Presenting Author

• Zerrin Doganca Kucuk, Maynooth University
  Presenting Author

• M. Sencer Corlu, OsloMet University
  Non-Presenting Author