Integrating novel engineering strategies into STEM education: APP design and an assessment of engineering‐related attitudes

Abstract

AbstractScience, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education has become an international priority. STEM education provides students with interdisciplinary knowledge and promotes the cultivation of high‐level skills. However, STEM training opportunities for teachers are rare, which results in fewer opportunities for primary and secondary students to receive high‐quality engineering education. Novel Engineering is an innovative strategy to integrate engineering and literacy in STEM education. To this end, the researchers developed, implemented and evaluated a novel engineering STEM software program based on the story of Robinson Crusoe. A quasi‐experimental single‐group pre‐ and posttest research method was adopted. A total of 72 students in two seventh grade classes at a junior middle school in Shanghai participated in the study. Data were collected and analysed through STEM learning interest scales, flow status scales, interviews and students’ STEM work scores. The research findings demonstrated that students gave a high evaluation of the novel engineering STEM software program. Furthermore, this STEM software program contributed to students’ significant improvements in the attitudes of mathematics and 21st century skill and provided students with a lasting and better flow experience. Finally, suggestions were proposed for STEM software design, implementation and evaluation. Practitioner NotesWhat is already known about this topic Novel engineering is an innovative teaching strategy to integrate literacy and engineering in K12 education. Students can take classroom literature from the existing curriculum, like stories, novels and textbook to use the basis for engineering design challenges. Through this approach, they learn to identify problems, to design realistic solutions, and to engage in the Engineering Design Process, all while reinforcing their STEM literacy. Teamwork, short‐term projects and problem‐based learning benefits students' STEM learning. What this paper adds This paper uses a STEM APP as the scaffolding to integrate STEM instruction and novel engineering. This paper investigates students' usage status from interest, flow state, interview and other dimensions. Software design is problem‐driven, team‐driven, responsibility assigned to work together on a short‐term task. Implications for practice and/or policy This paper develops STEM software based on novel engineering to provide ideas for other developers. This paper provides advice to practitioners of similar STEM programs. STEM software of novel engineering is verified as one kind of learning scaffolding.