Engineering Education Research Research Articles

Applications of Photovoice-Based Entrepreneurial-Minded Pedagogical Interventions in the Engineering Classroom

The recent emergence of generative AI technologies is beginning to shape workforce hiring practices. The shift towards skills-based hiring over degree-based hiring has sparked concerns over the ability of college graduates to be prepared for their career roles. One approach to equip students to work with technology and adapt to rapidly changing environments is the development of an entrepreneurial mindset. One way to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking is through the participatory action research methodology, photovoice. This study explores how photovoice promotes discovery, evaluation, and exploitation of opportunities in university engineering classrooms. For this study, a literature review was conducted to identify, evaluate, and interpret available research. For the review, a five-step process was used. This process included defining a search criterion, constructing a Boolean logic search query, inserting the query into multiple academic search engines/databases, screening and selecting articles, and categorizing and mapping the literature. The review’s findings were organized based on the type of study, participants, duration of study and photovoice interventions used, study outcomes, and entrepreneurial mindset development. The results discussed in this paper offer insights, guidance, recommendations, and future directions for engineering education research.

Analyzing the Possibilities of Implementation of AI and Social Networks in Teaching Foreign Language Students: Ukrainian Universities Case Study

The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and social networks into the educational landscape has raised questions about their impact on teaching and learning, particularly in foreign language instruction. This study explores the didactic properties of social networks and AI as information and communication technology (ICT) tools in the context of foreign language education at the university level. Through a comprehensive literature review, the researchers analyzed global studies on the integration of AI and social networks in language learning, as well as research specific to the Ukrainian higher education context. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate the potential benefits and challenges associated with the implementation of these technologies in foreign language instruction. The findings indicate that using AI-driven language learning applications, and social media platforms can significantly enhance vocabulary retention, language proficiency, and student engagement. However, the study also highlights potential threats, such as risks to academic integrity, entrenchment of discrimination, and the democratization of plagiarism. The research further emphasizes the importance of addressing teachers’ skills in navigating the ethical implications of AI integration in educational settings. The study provides valuable insights for university administrators, language instructors, and educational technology researchers. It underscores the need for a nuanced and informed approach to incorporating AI and social networks into foreign language curricula, balancing the pedagogical benefits with appropriate safeguards to ensure the quality and integrity of the educational process. The findings contribute to the evolving discourse on the role of emerging technologies in transforming higher education and language teaching.

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER) Annual Report from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER) Annual Report from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023

Self‐regulation and shared regulation in collaborative learning in adaptive digital learning environments: A systematic review of empirical studies

AbstractAdaptive learning technologies are closely related to learners' self‐regulatory processes in individual and collaborative learning. This study presents the outcomes of a systematic literature review of empirical evidence on adaptive learning environments to foster self‐regulation and shared regulation of learning in collaborative settings. We provide an overview of what and how adaptive technologies have been used to understand and promote self‐regulated learning in collaborative contexts. A search resulted in 38 papers being analysed. Specifically, we identified the seven main objectives (feedback and scaffolding, self‐regulatory skills and strategies, learning trajectories, collaborative learning processes, adaptation and regulation, self‐assessment, and help‐seeking behaviour) that the adaptive technology research has been focusing on. We also summarize the implications derived from the reviewed papers and frame them within seven thematic areas. Finally, this review stresses that future research should consider developing a converging theoretical framework that would enable concrete monitoring and support for self‐regulation and socially shared regulation of learning. Our findings set a baseline to support the adoption and proliferation of adaptive learning technology within self‐regulated learning research and development. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic By providing personalized and learner‐centric adaptive learning environments (ADLEs), adaptive learning technology can support and foster self‐regulated learning (SRL) practices. It is possible to create a more student‐centred and effective learning environment by combining adaptive learning and collaborative learning. Socially shared regulatory activities can involve planning, monitoring, controlling and reflecting on a group's learning processes. What this paper adds Provides a systematic literature review of empirical evidence on ADLEs, SRL and socially shared regulation of learning (SSRL) in collaborative contexts. Summarizes the insights on (S)SRL through ADLEs in collaborative learning. Identifies challenges and opportunities for ADLEs to support (S)SRL in collaborative learning. Implications for practice and/or policy Learning analytics and educational technology researchers will be able to use the systematic review as a guide for future research. Learning analytics and educational technology practitioners will be able to use the systematic review as a summary of the field's current state.

Immersive multi-modal pedagogical conversational artificial intelligence for early childhood education: An exploratory case study in the wild

Educational technology research has found that parents of young children widely share concerns about extended screen time, lack of physical activity, and lack of social interaction. Kid Space was developed to address these concerns by enabling multi-modal and immersive collaborative play-based learning. Kid Space utilizes multiple sensing technologies with an immersive physical space through a human-scale wall projection and incorporates a conversational AI agent to interact with children, understand individual progress, and personalize learning experiences in a blended physical and digital environment. To evaluate Kid Space in the wild, we conducted a multi-method user study involving a quasi-experimental design and exploratory case study with 14 students and three educators in an elementary school. Mixed methods for data collection and analysis were used to understand the students' and educators' perceptions of Kid Space and its impact on the students’ educational outcomes (learning engagement, experience, and performance). The findings showed (1) positive perceptions toward Kid Space, (2) high levels of engagement - with decreased screen time (41% of the time), increased physical activity (99.3% of the time), and increased social interactions with conversational AI agent and the other collaborating student (52% of the time), and (3) significant learning gains after experiencing Kid Space (24% gain, paired t-test: p < 0.01). These positive results are accompanied by critical user insights for improving future iterations of Kid Space to validate long-term educational outcomes.

Bibliometric Analysis to Reveal Research Evolution and Educational Technology Trends in Civil Engineering Education

Civil engineering education is a discipline that endeavors to find the best way through various pedagogical methods to teach civil engineering to prospective civil engineers. Civil engineering education is in the spotlight along with developments in construction technology and its application in learning. Thus, civil engineering education offers a broad field of research in the context of education and construction sciences. Therefore, investigating the evolution of educational research and technology trends in civil engineering education is of interest. In this context, we performed a bibliometric analysis of 545 Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) global publications in the field of civil engineering education published during the period 1967 to 2022. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using the R language-based software Biblioshiny. The research results show that, first, research trends in civil engineering education in the 55-year period were divided into 6 themes, namely: engineering education, civil engineering education or construction education, fields of civil engineering, technology in engineering education, global and social aspects, and other. Second, the United States is a leader in civil engineering education research, as most authors and journals are from this country. Third, the evolution of educational technology in civil engineering education can be described in five eras: 1) simple software era (1976–1990); 2) geographic information systems (GIS) and virtual reality (VR) era (1991–2000); 3) multimedia and e-learning era (2001–2010); 4) building information modeling (BIM) era (2011–2022); and 5) the forthcoming era (2023−future). Using computers as analysis and visualization tools became increasingly accurate and real, such as the integration of VR technology and incorporation of BIM technology. These findings might help researchers regarding the future direction of research and educational technology in civil engineering.

Uncovering Emerging Trends in Technology and Art Education: A Bibliometric Mapping Analysis

The rapid advancements in technology have opened up new doors for both teachers and students to explore, learn, and create in innovative ways. However, this progress has also brought forth new challenges and complexities that demand a deeper understanding of the use of technology in art education. In this context, bibliometric analysis has emerged as a potent tool to examine emerging trends in the intersection of technology and art education. Employing the PRISMA approach (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) and utilizing relevant Scopus databases with standardized procedures that ensure comprehensiveness and replicability, this bibliometric study identified 29 articles. The number of published articles in 2022, at 12, exceeded that of 2021, with only 6. Furthermore, the study highlighted the top 10 countries conducting research in technology and art education, with China having 17 studies, followed by the United States with 3 and Australia with 2. The top three keywords in current research trends are Education Computing, with 9 publications, E-learning, with 8, and Virtual Reality, with 7. Other keywords that relate to technology and art education are also pertinent to the research. These findings suggest that there is a growing interest in utilizing innovative research techniques to examine the intersection of technology and art education. As emerging technologies broaden the horizons of art-making and learning, they offer new avenues for creativity and innovation, but they also demand careful consideration of their potential benefits and risks. Educators and researchers will need to work in tandem to design effective strategies for integrating these technologies in ways that encourage creativity, learning, and social justice.

Preface: 2023 International Conference on Innovation Management, Psychology, Education and Sociology (IMPES 2023)

The 2023 International Conference on Innovation Management, Psychology, Education and Sociology (IMPES 2023) was held during December 09-10, 2023 in Sapporo, Japan. The main objectives of the conference are to promote research and development activities in innovation management, social psychology, educational technology, cultural studies, social policy, and sociology. Another goal is to promote the exchange of scientific information among researchers, developers, students, and practitioners around the world. IMPES 2023 can be a scientific forum to accommodate fruitful discussion among international researchers in various fields. We would like to thank all speakers, invited guests, and also other parties and donors for their continuous support to the success of this event. Hopefully, this event provides many benefits for us all.&#x0D; Conference Organizing Chair&#x0D; Sapporo, Japan

Behavioral economics in U.S. financial literacy programs: A comprehensive review - Evaluating the role of psychology-driven strategies in enhancing understanding and responsible financial behaviors among citizens

This study critically evaluates the integration of behavioral economics into U.S. financial literacy programs, focusing on the enhancement of understanding and promotion of responsible financial behaviors. The main objective is to explore how psychology-driven strategies can improve financial decision-making and literacy. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis methodology, the study analyzes data from academic journals, government reports, and industry publications, focusing on literature published between 2013 and 2023. Key findings indicate that the incorporation of behavioral economics principles, such as understanding cognitive biases and heuristics, significantly enhances the effectiveness of financial literacy programs. Personalization of financial education to individual needs and the use of behavioral nudging techniques are identified as effective strategies in promoting responsible financial behaviors. The study also highlights the challenges and opportunities in the field, particularly the need for financial education to adapt to technological advancements and evolving economic landscapes. Strategic recommendations include developing comprehensive curricula that integrate behavioral insights, tailoring programs to diverse demographic groups, leveraging technology for engaging and accessible education, and conducting ongoing research to inform teaching methodologies and policy-making. Lastly, the study underscores the importance of integrating behavioral economics into financial literacy programs. It suggests that a multifaceted approach, combining innovative educational practices, technology, and continuous research, is crucial for fostering a financially literate society capable of making informed and responsible financial decisions. The study provides a foundation for future research in the field, encouraging further exploration and academic discourse.

Learner engagement with instructor‐generated video

AbstractEffective video resources are assumed to promote learner engagement, but the extent to which this occurs is unclear. This study examines learners' engagement with instructor‐generated video. It contributes an analytical synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data that provides the basis for investigating the extent to which, and how, learners engage with video resources provided in their courses. Specifically, three dimensions of learner engagement with video are studied: behavioural, cognitive and affective. The study contributes to educational technology research by identifying distinctive patterns of learner control over the use of video which diverges from instructors' assumptions. It shows the complex and nuanced features of cognitive and affective engagement. Videos can have positive effects, but inappropriate use of technical features results in learner disengagement. This study contributes a novel use of signalling theory, suggesting the importance of instructor signals concerning relevance, focus and utility as a feature of video generation, as a prerequisite of cognitive engagement. A research and theory development agenda is developed, locating video‐based learning in student contexts as a basis for explaining both engagement and disengagement with video technology affordances. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Higher education tutors are increasingly expected to generate video content as a feature of their course delivery. Although effective video resources are assumed to promote learner engagement, the extent to which this occurs is unclear. Video technology affordances rarely feature in academic professional development programmes leaving tutors ill‐equipped to understand how and in what ways students engage with video resources as a part of their courses. What this paper adds A novel use of signalling theory to explain different patterns of learner engagement and disengagement. Learner agency and control results in video technology affordances being fitted and ‘flexed’ around factors that instructors rarely consider in the video generation process. A new model to describe factors that affect student engagement with instructor‐generated video. Implications for practice and/or policy Raise awareness for instructors about patterns of student engagement with video technology affordances that affect learning experience and outcomes. Implement professional development programmes to equip instructors to design and generate video content that takes account of patterns of behavioural, cognitive and affective engagement and signals relevance, focus and utility. Develop clear policies regarding technical features of video generation to avoid learner disengagement.

Investigating the relationship between math literacy and linguistic synchrony in online mathematical discussions through large‐scale data analytics

AbstractPrevious literature has associated math literacy with linguistic factors such as verbal ability and phonological skills. However, few studies have investigated linguistic synchrony, shown in mathematical discussions. This study modelled math literacy and examined the relationship of math literacy with linguistic synchrony between students and facilitators. We retrieved data from 20,776 online mathematical discussion threads at a secondary school level. First, we assessed students' math literacy based on their discussions and classified them into high‐ and low‐math literacy groups. Then, we conducted Cross‐Recurrence Quantification Analysis (CRQA) to calculate linguistic synchrony within each thread. The result implies that students with high math literacy are more likely to share common words (eg, mathematical terms) with facilitators. At the same time, they would paraphrase the facilitators' words rather than blindly mimic them as the exact sentences or phrases. On the other hand, students with low math literacy tend to use overlapping words with facilitators less frequently and are more likely to repeat the exact same phrases from the facilitators. The findings provide an empirical data analysis and insights into mathematical discussions and linguistic synchrony. In addition, this paper implies the directions to improve online mathematical discussions and foster math literacy. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Mathematical discussions are known to be an effective way to promote math literacy. Math literacy and linguistic skills have a strong link. Linguistic synchrony is related to better collaboration and common knowledge building. What this paper adds Reveals the relationship between math literacy and linguistic synchrony and deepens the understanding of digital communication in online learning environments. Provides empirical analysis of natural language data in group discussions using CRQA. Conceptualizes linguistic synchrony with three sub‐concepts: linguistic concurrence, predictability, and complexity. Implications for practice and/or policy Educators and practitioners could utilize the automatic formative assessment of math literacy based on the student's language use in mathematical discussions. Educational technology researchers and designers could include CRQA indices and recurrence plots in the dashboard design to provide information to support teachers and learners. Teachers would be able to provide real‐time interventions to promote effective mathematical communication and foster math literacy throughout mathematical discussions.

Using collaborative autoethnography to investigate mentoring relationships for novice engineering education researchers

Abstract Background The National Science Foundation Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (RIEF) program aims to increase research capacity in the field by providing funding for technical engineering faculty to learn to conduct engineering education research through mentorship by an experienced social science researcher. We use collaborative autoethnography to study the tripartite RIEF mentoring relationship between Julie, an experienced engineering education researcher, and two novice education researchers who have backgrounds in biomedical engineering—Paul, a biomedical engineering faculty member and major professor to the second novice, Deepthi, a graduate student. We ground our work in the cognitive apprenticeship model and Eby and colleagues’ mentoring model. Results Using data from written reflections and interviews, we explored the role of instrumental and psychosocial supports in our mentoring relationship. In particular, we noted how elements of cognitive apprenticeship such as scaffolding and gradual fading of instrumental supports helped Paul and Deepthi learn qualitative research skills that differed drastically from their biomedical engineering research expertise. We initially conceptualized our tripartite relationship as one where Julie mentored Paul and Paul subsequently mentored Deepthi. Ultimately, we realized that this model was unrealistic because Paul did not yet possess the social science research expertise to mentor another novice. As a result, we changed our model so that Julie mentored both Paul and Deepthi directly. While our mentoring relationship was overall very positive, it has included many moments of miscommunication and misunderstanding. We draw on Lent and Lopez’s idea of relation-inferred self-efficacy to explain some of these missed opportunities for communication and understanding. Conclusions This paper contributes to the literature on engineering education capacity building by studying mentoring as a mechanism to support technically trained researchers in learning to conduct engineering education research. Our initial mentoring model failed to take into account how challenging it is for mentees to make the paradigm shift from technical engineering to social science research and how that would affect Paul’s ability to mentor Deepthi. Our experiences have implications for expanding research capacity because they raise practical and conceptual issues for experienced and novice engineering education researchers to consider as they form mentoring relationships.

From hype to insight: Exploring ChatGPT's early footprint in education via altmetrics and bibliometrics

AbstractBackgroundThe emergence of ChatGPT in the education literature represents a transformative phase in educational technology research, marked by a surge in publications driven by initial research interest in new topics and media hype. While these publications highlight ChatGPT's potential in education, concerns arise regarding their quality, methodology, and uniqueness.ObjectiveOur study employs unconventional methods by combining altmetrics and bibliometrics to explore ChatGPT in education comprehensively.MethodsTwo scholarly databases, Web of Science and Altmetric, were adopted to retrieve publications with citations and those mentioned on social media, respectively. We used a search query, “ChatGPT,” and set the publication date between November 30th, 2022, and August 31st, 2023. Both datasets were within the education‐related domains. Through a filtering process, we identified three publication categories: 49 papers with both altmetrics and citations, 60 with altmetrics only, and 66 with citations only. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on all three lists of papers, further dividing the entire collection into three distinct periods. All the selected papers underwent detailed coding regarding open access, paper types, subject domains, and learner levels. Furthermore, we analysed the keywords occurring and visualized clusters of the co‐occurring keywords.Results and ConclusionsAn intriguing finding is the significant correlation between media/social media mentions and academic citations in ChatGPT in education papers, underscoring the transformative potential of ChatGPT and the urgency of its incorporation into practice. Our keyword analysis also reveals distinctions between the themes of the papers that received both mentions and citations and those that received only citations but no mentions. Additionally, we noticed a limitation that authors' choice of keywords might be influenced by individual subjective judgements, potentially skewing results in thematic analysis based solely on author‐assigned keywords such as keyword co‐occurrence analysis. Henceforth, we advocate for developing a standardized keyword taxonomy in the educational technology field and integrating Large Language Models to enhance keyword analysis in altmetric and bibliometric tools. This study reveals that ChatGPT in education literature is evolving from rapid publication to rigorous research.

Graduate student experiences of engineering education research in Canada

ABSTRACT In Canada, formal structures for advancing engineering education research (EER), including graduate programmes, funding, and career pathways, are uncommon. However, an active informal EER community exists. Using the Identity Trajectory Framework, we designed an exploratory basic interpretive qualitative study to learn how 21 graduate students experienced EER in Canada. EER’s dualist internal identity and lack of external identity, credibility, and structural support create a feedback loop of uncertainties for graduate students trying to navigate EER. This inhibits the healthy development of EER as an academic discipline, and thereby, the healthy development of EER graduate students. If we want to successfully support graduate students in developing their identity as EER researchers, we need institutional structures. Understanding how graduate students experience EER in Canada is important to understand how to build capacity here and in other locales where the field is newly developing.

Aesthetic experience in technology education – the role of aesthetics for learning in lower secondary school robotic programming

IntroductionWithin the technology education research field, aesthetics has primarily been treated as either related to artifacts, design processes and innovation, or as related to students’ enjoyment, appreciation, and participation in technology and technology education. This study focuses on the role of aesthetics in technology learning more specifically the learning of programming. Previous research has pointed to aesthetics as important for the learning of programming, e.g., that programming activities in higher education typically involve experiences of frustration. While previous research is primarily based on student reports, there is a need for further exploration of processes of learning to program. The aim of this study is to explore the role of aesthetics for student learning to program in and what these processes may mean in relation to a disciplinary aesthetics of the technology subject.MethodsThe study was part of a design-based study with the overall purpose to develop the teaching of programming in lower secondary school. Data was collected from a programming task designed and implemented in school-year 9 (the students were aged 15–16) in Technology in two lower secondary classes. In total, three teachers participated in the implementation. The students pair-programmed Lego robots that should perform specific movements, such as following a curved line. Each group recorded their coding process along with audio, resulting in videos that documented the gradual evolution of their programs. These videos, capturing the real-time programming and associated student and teacher conversations, serve as the data for this study. In order to analyze the role of aesthetics in classroom conversations a Practical Epistemology Analysis was applied.ResultsThe results show that aesthetic judgments were important for orienting learning toward (1) the movement of the robot and (2) the ways to be in the programming activity. During the programming activity, the students expressed feelings of frustration but also joy and humor.DiscussionThe findings concur with previous research and contribute to further understanding the role of negative and positive aesthetic experiences in the teaching and learning of programming. The importance of the objects of aesthetic experience found in this study are discussed as part of a disciplinary aesthetic of programming.

Characteristics of students’ learning behavior preferences — an analysis of self-commentary data based on the LDA model

How to better grasp students’ learning preferences in the environment of rapid development of engineering and science and technology so as to guide them to high-quality learning is one of the important research topics in the field of educational technology research today. In order to achieve this goal, this paper utilizes the LDA (Latent Dirichlet Allocation) model for text mining of the survey results on the basis of a survey on students’ self-perception evaluation. The results show that the LDA model is capable of extracting terms from text, fuzzy identifying groups of students at different levels and presenting potential logical relationships between the groups, and further analyzing the learning preferences of students at different levels for IT courses. Based on the student’s learning needs, this paper proposes recommendations for developing students’ learning effectiveness. The LDA method proposed in this paper is a feasible and effective method for assessing students’ learning dynamics as it generates cognitive content about students’ learning and allows for the timely discovery of students’ learning expectations and cutting-edge dynamics.

The Realities of Evaluating Educational Technology in School Settings

HCI researchers are increasingly interested in the evaluation of educational technologies in context, yet acknowledge that challenges remain regarding the logistical, material and methodological constraints of this approach to research [ 18 , 53 ]. Through the analysis of the authors’ contributed thematic research vignettes, the following article exposes the practical realities of evaluating educational technologies in school settings. This includes insights into the planning stages of evaluation, the relationship between the researcher and the school environment, and the impact of the school context on the data collection process. We conclude by providing an orientation for the design of HCI educational technology research undertaken in school contexts, providing guidance such as considering the role of modular research design, clarifying goals and expectations with school partners, and reporting researcher positionality.

Beliefs in engineering education research: A systematic scoping review for studying beliefs beyond the most popular constructs

AbstractBackgroundBeliefs are a complex research construct with deep connections to innumerable different research areas and agendas. Engineering education researchers are increasingly studying beliefs, and synergy across these efforts can lead to a greater impact in translating beliefs research into educational practice.PurposeOur purpose was to enable any researcher in engineering education to productively research beliefs as a construct. Specifically, we aimed to synthesize the different purposes for studying beliefs, and the extent to which researchers have operationalized beliefs.Scope/MethodWe conducted a systematic scoping review of beliefs following the PRISMA protocol. We extracted and mapped data from the 79 academic included manuscripts. We performed additional analysis using both inductive and deductive coding methods to synthesize how beliefs have been researched. We included studies about the beliefs of engineering students in post‐secondary education beyond the four most popular types of beliefs (i.e., self‐efficacy, mindset, epistemic, and goal orientation beliefs).ResultsGiven the diverse nature of beliefs in engineering education, we found that the findings of the included studies could not be coherently synthesized. Instead, we present (1) a synthesis of researchers' purpose(s) for studying beliefs, and (2) a detailed representation of the many ways in which researchers have operationalized beliefs using different theories and methodological approaches.ConclusionsWe recommend that researchers studying beliefs work to align their stated purpose for studying beliefs with their research contribution and build understanding of how beliefs ultimately relate to behavior. We also identified an opportunity for researchers to carefully and explicitly operationalize beliefs as a research construct.

Students’ learning of management and leadership in engineering education – a literature review

ABSTRACT The increasing complexity of societal problems and the need for more interdisciplinary problem-solving in the future raise new demands for future engineering competences. Consequently, competences related to management and leadership must be reconsidered and reflected in both engineering education and engineering education research. This leads to the following research question: In which ways are students’ learning of management and leadership articulated and related in engineering education literature? In this study, this research question is answered through a systematic literature review wherein 112 journal articles were reviewed to explore articulations of students’ learning of management and leadership competences. The review finds extensive diversity in the literature, with different and sometimes even overlapping articulations of management and leadership in an educational context. Furthermore, the review identifies a difference between implicit and explicit approaches to addressing the development of students’ management and leadership competences. Finally, the importance of the mutual interaction between management and leadership is discussed in an engineering education context. It is stressed that moving forward when working with complex problems in interdisciplinary teams requires both change and vision, as well as the tools and plans to actually make it happen.

5th INTERNATIONAL BALTIC SYMPOSIUM ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION “SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION: NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND INNOVATIONS (BalticSTE2023)”: SYMPOSIUM REVIEW

The fifth BalticSTE2023 Symposium took place in Šiauliai on 12-15 June this year. Time passes inexorably, which is why this symposium can be called an anniversary symposium. It was also important that the symposium was held in the usual / regular format, i.e. face-to-face. It is worth remembering that this is a biennial scientific event of importance not only in the Baltic region but certainly internationally. Due to the Covid19 pandemic, the fourth symposium was held remotely. A review of this symposium has also been published (Lamanauskas, 2021). By the way, reviews of previous symposia have also been published (Lamanauskas, 2015; 2017; 2019). The symposium's fundamental aim is to promote science and technology education. Moreover, it is an excellent tool to disseminate research findings as well as to build collaboration and cooperation network. Another important aim is to show that Baltic region countries also actively participate in natural science and technology education research, especially in the STEAM context. In addition, Baltic countries, as well as other small regions of the world, need corresponding, close communication, and cooperation. During this symposium, all these essential ideas were developed and supported.