Empowering Tomorrow A Systematic Approach to STEM Education Pedagogy for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Students' Conceptual Understanding

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to compare three different approaches to STEM education in terms of their impact on students' retention of STEM concepts and their ability to apply those concepts in real-world contexts: project-based learning, problem-based learning, and inquiry-based learning. Sixty (60) students in 9th grade made up the study's research sample. A cooperative teacher assisted them in their education. Two groups were formed from the participants. In contrast to the experimental group, which received training based on STEM concepts, the control group received more conventional methods of instruction. A 2x3 factorial design was utilised in the quantitative and experimental studies. We used the conceptual understanding in STEM subjects test (CUSST) to quantify students' grasp of STEM concepts. The study's primary findings indicated that STEM instructional strategies increased students' conceptual comprehension. All three phases of teacher preparation (pre-service, induction, and in-service) should incorporate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) instructional practices into the science curriculum and training modules. The incorporation of STEM fields has the potential to enhance science education programmes, methodology, textbooks, and curricula. Stakeholders may be able to use this study as a springboard to investigate current teacher professional development programmes for gaps.