This is the first comprehensive book to consider STEM education from early childhood through to senior secondary education. It approaches STEM as a form of real-world, problem-based education that draws on the knowledge and skills of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Rather than presenting each of the separate disciplines to an equal extent, it focuses on STEM researchers’ perspectives on how their work contributes to effective STEM education in terms of building knowledge, skills and engagement.
Gathering contributions by authors from various countries, the book explores effective STEM education from a range of perspectives within the international context. Moreover, it addresses critical issues in STEM education, including transition and trajectories, gender, rurality, socioeconomic status and cultural diversity. By doing so, it not only shares the current state of knowledge in this field, but also offers a source of inspiration for future research.
Amy MacDonald is Associate Professor of Early Childhood Mathematics Education in the School of Education at Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga, Australia. Amy is an internationally-recognised early childhood mathematics education researcher, and she has published widely in this area. Her research focuses on young children's mathematics experiences and education prior to starting school. She is also known internationally for her work on educational transitions; in particular, the ways in which children’s mathematics is noticed and built upon during transitions to school. Amy was an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Research Fellow for 2018-2020.
Lena Danaia is Associate Professor of Science Education in the School of Teacher Education at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia. Lena specialises in science and technology curricula and is experienced in mixed methods research with a strong focus on surveys. She has been recognised nationally for her outstanding contributions to learning and teaching, and received an Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Teaching Excellence Award. Beyond her research and university teaching, Lena contributes significantly to STEM education through teacher professional learning sessions and school-based science workshops.
Steve Murphy is a PhD candidate and Lecturer in STEM Education in the School of Education at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia. Previously, Steve worked for more than two decades in Principal, educational leadership and teaching roles in both primary and secondary schools. Steve is a STEM specialist, with experience in designing and delivering integrated and inquiry learning with strong digital learning elements. Steve’s doctoral research analysed case studies of schools identified as high performing in STEM in an effort to identify practices contributing to this performance.
