STEM Subjects Communal Goals, and Social Connection

Incorporating STEM subjects communal goals into the educational process reaps significant personal and social rewards. In many schools, STEM subjects like science, math, and technology are important for societal progress. However, students often feel a disconnect from these subjects because they don’t see how they can make a difference in the world, thus the need to enhance STEM education.

The Importance of Communal Engagement through STEM Subjects

STEM subjects communal goals play a critical role in addressing societal challenges, such as improving health and environmental sustainability. But simply mastering technical knowledge isn’t enough. Students also need to develop a sense of care for others and connection to their communities.

Understanding What Drives Science and Math Learning

Subjects like science and math are usually seen as ways to achieve personal success, like getting good grades. But it’s also important to think about how these subjects can help others and make the world a better place. Research shows that when students see how science and math can help others, they become more interested in learning. This is true for students who care about helping others and being part of a community.

Previous studies have shown that when students see STEM subjects as ways to help others, they’re more likely to stick with them, even when the subjects are tough. For example, students who are the first in their family to go to college are more interested in science when they see it as a way to help their families. Also, when women see science as a way to help their community, they’re more motivated to learn.

Research Focus: STEM Education among the Asian population

Most of these STEM subjects are done in Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic countries. So, researchers wanted to see if the same is true for secondary students in Hong Kong. They looked at how students in Hong Kong feel about learning science and math when they see it as a way to help others. They also wanted to see if feeling empathy, understanding others, and being involved in their community make a difference in how much they want to learn STEM subjects.

Implications for Teaching and Learning Stem Subjects

Understanding what motivates students to learn STEM subjects can help teachers make learning more interesting and meaningful. It’s not just about getting good grades, but also about making a positive impact in the world. The research sheds light on the universal appeal of communal engagement in STEM and paves the way for further exploration of factors influencing students’ STEM interest worldwide.

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Reference

1. Nalipay, M.J.N., Huang, B., Jong, M.S.Y. et al. Promoting STEM learning perseverance through recognizing communal goals: understanding the impact of empathy and citizenship. IJ STEM Ed 11, 17 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-024-00471-w
2. https://ecocentricnow.com/future-of-stem-education-exploring-trends-shaping-tomorrow-learning/
3. Allen, P. J., Chang, R., Gorrall, B. K., Waggenspack, L., Fukuda, E., Little, T. D., & Noam, G. G. (2019). From quality to outcomes: A national study of afterschool STEM programming. International Journal of STEM Education, 6(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-019-0191-2