Investigating the Influence of the STEM Approach in Elementary Science Textbooks

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original research

Authors

1 Department of Physics education-Farhangian university -Shiraz-Iran

2 Master of Science in Socio-Economic Systems Engineering, Higher Institute of Management and Planning Education and Research

3 Department of Physics Education, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 14665-889, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Educational Administration, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 14665-889, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The STEM approach, as a new method, emphasizes the simultaneous teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The most complete type of STEM, called integrated STEM, attempts to establish a framework in which students experience solving real-world problems using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The main manifestation of STEM in elementary school textbooks can be seen in science textbooks. Science is the only book that provides the conditions for the growth of students' scientific capabilities and can be a vehicle for implementing the STEM method. Methods: Using the content analysis method, the present article studied all the headings of the science textbooks for the six elementary school grades. In this study, with nearly 900 course titles, the extent of the influence of the STEM approach in the aforementioned books was examined. The extent to which science textbooks pay attention to the four STEM areas, as well as art and social studies, separately and as an integrated STEM is examined in this article. Findings: The results of this study show that although the complete and desirable form of integrated STEM has not been implemented in empirical science textbooks, the headings of empirical science textbooks do have a look at STEM fields, especially engineering. Conclusion: Although this look can be a bright spot for the beginning, from the perspective of the integrated STEM approach, there is still a long way to go for development and excellence.

Keywords

Research in Chemistry Education

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 25 September 2025

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