Understanding the conditions informing successful STEM clubs: what does the evidence base tell us?
Article
Article Title | Understanding the conditions informing successful STEM clubs: what does the evidence base tell us? |
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ERA Journal ID | 20615 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Davis, Kate (Author), Fitzgerald, Angela (Author), Power, Margaret (Author), Leach, Tania (Author), Martin, Neil (Author), Piper, Stephanie (Author), Singh, Rena (Author) and Dunlop, Shelley (Author) |
Journal Title | Studies in Science Education |
Journal Citation | 59 (1), pp. 1-23 |
Number of Pages | 23 |
Year | 2023 |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
ISSN | 0305-7267 |
1940-8412 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/03057267.2021.1969168 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03057267.2021.1969168 |
Abstract | STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) clubs are gaining momentum as a means for engaging students in STEM- related activities. Despite this growth, there have been limited attempts to examine the conditions that inform practice in these informal educational spaces. This paper addresses that gap through a comprehensive literature review of empirical and practitioner publications, with a focus on synthesising the approaches that support STEM clubs to be effective learning environments. In total, 33 papers were included in this review. Through a rigorous literature review process, the research team identified a number of key focus areas that support the achievement of learning outcomes and programme sustainability. These focus areas are grouped into three key themes – club management, environment, and program evaluation – that STEM club practitioners should attend to in order to ensure a well-informed approach. Within in each theme a number of sub-dimensions were identified, which provide prac- tical insights and lived examples of how these conditions can be enacted within STEM clubs in ways that speak to quality. The evidence-based findings presented in this paper can be used by practitioners to guide STEM club practice. Further, the paper iden- tifies where research is required to explore contemporary practice in informal education settings. |
Keywords | STEM clubs; informal learning; literature review; evidence-based |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 390113. Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | School of Business |
School of Education | |
School of Creative Arts | |
Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences | |
Library Services | |
Queensland Museum, Australia | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q69x6/understanding-the-conditions-informing-successful-stem-clubs-what-does-the-evidence-base-tell-us
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