High School Students' Motivation Regarding an Integrated STEM Food System Project
Saved in:
| Title: | High School Students' Motivation Regarding an Integrated STEM Food System Project |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Sarah L. J. Thies, Neil A. Knobloch, Hui-Hui Wang, Bryanna J. Nelson |
| Source: | NACTA Journal. 2024 68:107-118. |
| Availability: | North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. 1014 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701. Tel: 208-957-7001; e-mail: support@nacta.org; Web site: https://nactateachers.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) (USDA) |
| Contract Number: | IND00117973 IND011778 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | High Schools Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | High School Students, Student Motivation, STEM Education, Relevance (Education), Food, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills, Problem Solving, Student Attitudes, Vocational Interests, Cooperative Learning, Career Exploration, Student Interests, Agricultural Occupations, Natural Resources, Sustainability |
| Geographic Terms: | Indiana |
| ISSN: | 0149-4910 |
| Abstract: | High school students need to be prepared for postsecondary education and enter the workforce to solve real-world problems including food and energy sustainability. Real-world problems require students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills and transfer their learning across disciplines. Framed as a grand challenge to students, the food systems project utilized an integrated STEM approach complemented with a systems thinking approach that challenged students to analyze relationships among system components with a holistic perspective. This quantitative descriptive study described the perceptions, experiences, and career interests of high school students who completed a food systems STEM project. The students self-reported they were interested in the project, applied scientific reasoning to solve the problem, and collaborated with peers to apply STEM concepts. Students also reported the project helped them learn more about STEM careers and reported higher interest in career fields such as science, technology/engineering, the agricultural industry, food industry, and natural resources industry after completing the food system STEM project. Food systems integrated STEM projects can be a tool to engage students to solve complex problems and build interest in STEM careers. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1450327 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | High school students need to be prepared for postsecondary education and enter the workforce to solve real-world problems including food and energy sustainability. Real-world problems require students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills and transfer their learning across disciplines. Framed as a grand challenge to students, the food systems project utilized an integrated STEM approach complemented with a systems thinking approach that challenged students to analyze relationships among system components with a holistic perspective. This quantitative descriptive study described the perceptions, experiences, and career interests of high school students who completed a food systems STEM project. The students self-reported they were interested in the project, applied scientific reasoning to solve the problem, and collaborated with peers to apply STEM concepts. Students also reported the project helped them learn more about STEM careers and reported higher interest in career fields such as science, technology/engineering, the agricultural industry, food industry, and natural resources industry after completing the food system STEM project. Food systems integrated STEM projects can be a tool to engage students to solve complex problems and build interest in STEM careers. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0149-4910 |
