STUDENTS' REFLECTIONS ON THEIR SCIENTIST- OR ENGINEER-LIKE PRACTICES IN STEM PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

Abstract

Students build up their STEM career interest based on their experiences. However, it remains unclear how students reflect on their STEM experiences in light of their understanding of STEM careers. This study aimed to explore how students relate their practices in STEM project-based learning (PBL) with their perceptions of scientists’ and engineers’ work. A randomly selected sample of students (n =142) participating in a STEM event participated in structured interviews regarding the resemblance between their months-long STEM PBL and scientists’ and engineers’ work. The data were coded using content analysis mostly by adopting a bottom-up approach followed by statistical analysis. Results showed that the majority of students claimed that their group had done things like scientists, while only about half of the students acknowledged doing things like engineers. The number and aspects of the students’ mentioned practices were generally limited, with engineer-like practices more divergent and reflecting their stereotype of engineers working as manual laborers. The results also suggest that students tend to neglect the minds-on but hands-off scientist- or engineer-like practices such as raising a question/problem. The findings address the research gap regarding how students reflect on their STEM PBL experiences in light of career development. Keywords: project-based learning, STEM education, STEM practices, structured interviews