Potential and Challenges in Integrating Science and Mathematics in the Classroom Through Real-World Problems: A Case of Implementing an Interdisciplinary Approach to STEM

Abstract

There is a pressing need to make STEM integration more transparent and balanced across disciplines, to support teachers in fostering this integration, and to evaluate students’ learning through such integration. However, research has been inconclusive as to what effective STEM integration entails. This study employs design-based research methodology in a case study of two teachers from one secondary school that was implementing an interdisciplinary approach in STEM. The findings indicated increased student engagement and enjoyment from the use of real-world problems and apparent student autonomy and ownership of the project. The teachers thought more deeply about how to better integrate interdisciplinary skills and knowledge in their teaching, and they experienced a greater sense of satisfaction in making learning meaningful for students. The challenges that teachers face include the integration of the learning of two subject disciplines into one interdisciplinary discipline that has real-world applications and the time needed to plan collaboratively. An interdisciplinary approach requires a change in school culture as to the provision in the timetable for interdisciplinary planning and to the enculturation of inquiry-based learning.