Bridging the Gender Gap through Problem-Based Learning in STEM Labs: What can we learn from Biotechnology?

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This Research to Practice Work-In-Progress paper introduces LabSTEM North, a Danish design-based research project, which aims to explore central and contextual issues related to diversity and motivation in STEM and to co-create an integrated problem-based STEM-didactics with K-12 teachers across institutional and disciplinary boundaries in the Northern Region of Denmark. The paper presents the reasoning behind and initial phases of the project, its research design and methods and presents preliminary findings from a case study on biotechnology as an example of a subject and engineering program particularly successful in attracting young women to STEM. Interviews with students from general high school, technical high school and 1 st year university point to the inherent ‘meaningfulness’ of health-related subjects as a particularly motivational factor for education and career choices. This highlights the importance of ‘meaning’ and exemplarity in the content, context and complexity of the chosen ‘problem’ in problem-based learning. In the LabSTEM North project, these insights will inform the cross-institutional co-creation of problem-based and STEM-integrated teaching, emphasizing attention to the choice of meaningful problems to support diversity and motivation for STEM.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2022 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)
Number of pages5
PublisherIEEE Press
Publication date2022
Pages1-5
Article number9962400
ISBN (Print)978-1-6654-6245-7
ISBN (Electronic)9781665462440
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Event2022 IEEE Frontiers in Education (FIE) - Uppsala, Sweden
Duration: 8 Oct 202211 Oct 2022
https://www.fie2022.org/

Conference

Conference2022 IEEE Frontiers in Education (FIE)
Country/TerritorySweden
CityUppsala
Period08/10/202211/10/2022
Internet address
SeriesProceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE
ISSN1539-4565

Keywords

  • Diversity
  • Gender
  • K-12 STEM education
  • Problem-based learning
  • Project-based learning

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