Study on STEM Teaching Materials in Australian Secondary Schools

Abstract

STEM education has received a great deal of attention worldwide in recent decades. Australia has focused on and developed its own unique STEM education curriculum. However, there is very little research available in Japan on STEM education in Australia; in particular, there is no prior research with a focus on the contents of STEM education activities in Australian secondary schools. In this study, we analyzed two sets of teaching materials from Australian secondary school STEM courses, one incorporating water games and the other utilizing film canister rockets, to identify their characteristic activities. From our analysis, we identified the following five characteristics of STEM teaching activities. First, the central problem of the whole activity is set up at the beginning of the class. Second, the research methods and solutions are discussed and improved upon during group work. Third, the implemented solutions and investigation methods are evaluated based on several criteria and designed to improve desirable outcomes. Fourth, the solutions and results of investigations are externalized and communicated with the other groups. Fifth, at the end of class, the students reflect on their activities and outcomes. We suggest that these five characteristics should be incorporated into learning activities when STEM education is introduced in Japan.