Understanding Middle School Students’ Design Thinking During STEM Activities (Poster 20)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Friday 8:00 a.m.
  In Poster Session: Science Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Research argues that the integration of engineering into K-12 science instruction provides a motivating context for students to apply scientific knowledge. Small group engineering activities offer opportunities to examine how students make sense of both context and content in proposing and developing design solutions. This study examined the different approaches of four small groups of middle school students to their design work. Only one group meaningfully used the engineering design context to make design decisions. Only two groups explicitly drew on their science knowledge to make design decisions; the other two groups relied on tinkering to develop design solutions. This study informs the field about the use of engineering design activities to enhance learning in middle school science classrooms.

Authors

• Gillian Roehrig, University of Minnesota

• Muhammad Guntur Purwanto, University of Minnesota

• Jeanna R. Wieselmann, Southern Methodist University