Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Learning while designing in a fourth-grade integrated STEM problem

  • Published:
International Journal of Technology and Design Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article reports on a 4th-grade problem activity implemented as part of a 4-year longitudinal, design research study across grades 3–6. The activity integrated the four STEM disciplines through a focus on design. Following investigations of their feet measurements and shoes, two classes of 9-year-olds explored the roles of designers and engineers in shoe manufacture, experimented with materials, and then designed and constructed their own pairs of shoes. A conceptual framework, towards informed design (adapted from Crismond and Adams in J Eng Educ 101(4):738–797, 2012), is advanced for exploring students’ learning while designing. Drawing on this framework, consideration is given to students’ use of design strategies, including posing their own problems and design aims, sketching their shoe designs, testing and reflecting on their products, and redesigning and reconstructing. Although more students expressed a desired shoe than a design problem to be solved, they nevertheless were able to develop their own design aims and constraints. Designing a functional and aesthetically pleasing shoe was most common, together with comfort. Material properties typically less accessible to young students (water repellent, durable, insulated) were also considered in their designs. Students’ attention to detail in their design sketches (e.g., style features, 2-D and 3-D perspectives, measurements, materials) suggested they had progressed beyond beginning designers. Likewise, students’ increased satisfaction with their redesigns, displaying knowledge of material properties, measurement and spatial skills, and design processes indicated progress towards informed design.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Adapted from Crismond and Adams (2012)

Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alamaki, A. (2017). A conceptual model for knowledge dimensions and processes in design and technology projects. International Journal of Technology and Design Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-017-9410-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baaki, J., Tracey, M. W., & Hutchinson, A. (2017). Give us something to react to and make it rich: Designers reflecting-in-action with external representations. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 27, 667–682.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagiati, A., & Evangelou, D. (2018). Identifying Engineering in a PreK classroom: An observation protocol to support guided project-based instruction. In L. D. English & T. Moore (Eds.), Early engineering learning (pp. 83–111). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, L. A., Moore, T. J., Johnson, C. C., & Roehrig, G. H. (2015). Integrated STEM education. In C. C. Johnson, E. E. Peters-Burton, & T. J. Moore (Eds.), STEM road map: A framework for integrated STEM education (pp. 23–37). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Burghardt, D., & Hacker, M. (2004). Informed design: A contemporary approach to design pedagogy as a core process in technology. The Technology Teacher, 64(1), 6–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bybee, R. W. (2013). The case for STEM education: Challenges and opportunities. Arlington, VA: NSTA Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capobianco, B. M., DeLisi, J., & Radloff, J. (2017). Characterizing elementary teachers’ enactment of high-leverage practices through engineering design-based science instruction. Science Education, 102(2), 342–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, P., Jackson, K., & Dunlap, C. (2016). Design research: An analysis and critique. In L. D. English & D. Kirshner (Eds.), Handbook of international research in mathematics education (3rd ed., pp. 481–503). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crismond, D. (2013). Troubleshooting: A bridge that connects engineering design and scientific inquiry. Science Scope, 36, 74–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crismond, D. P., & Adams, R. S. (2012). The informed design teaching and learning matrix. Journal of Engineering Education, 101(4), 738–797.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daugherty, M. K., & Carter, V. (2018). The nature of interdisciplinary STEM education. In M. J. de Vries (Ed.), Handbook of technology education (pp. 159–171). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dym, C. L., Agogino, A. M., Eris, O., Frey, D. D., & Leifer, L. J. (2005). Engineering design thinking, teaching, and learning. Journal of Engineering Education, 94(1), 103–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • English, L. D. (2016). STEM education K-12: Perspectives on integration. International Journal of STEM Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-016-0036-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • English, L. D. (2017). Advancing elementary and middle school STEM education. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 15(1), 5–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • English, L. D. (2018). Engineering education in early childhood: Reflections and future directions. In L. D. English & T. Moore (Eds.), Early engineering learning (pp. 273–284). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fan, S., & Yu, K. (2017). How an integrative STEM curriculum can benefit students in engineering design practices. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 27, 107–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Froyd, J. E., & Lohmann, J. R. (2014). Chronological and ontological development of engineering education as a field of scientific inquiry. In A. Johri & B. M. Olds (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of engineering education research (pp. 3–26). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gustafson, B., MacDonald, D., & Gentilini, S. (2007). Using talking and drawing to design: Elementary children collaborating with university industrial design students. Journal of Technology Education, 19(1), 19–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guzey, S. S., Ring-Whalen, E. A., Harwell, M., & Peralta, Y. (2017). Life STEM: A case study of life science learning through engineering design. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-017-9860-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haupt, G. (2018). Design in technology education: Current state of affairs. In M. J. de Vries (Ed.), Handbook of technology education (pp. 643–659). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hertel, J. D., Cunningham, C. M., & Kelly, G. J. (2017). The roles of engineering notebooks in shaping elementary engineering student discourse and practice. International Journal of Science Education, 39(9), 1194–1217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honey, M., Pearson, G., & Schweingruber, A. (2014). STEM integration in K-12 education: Status, prospects, and an agenda for research. Washington: National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonassen, D. H., Strobel, J., & Lee, C. B. (2006). Everyday problem solving in engineering: Lessons for engineering educators. Journal of Engineering Education, 95(2), 139–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, A., Buntting, C., & de Vries, M. J. (2013). The developing field of technology education: A review to look forward. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 23, 191–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kangas, K., Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, P., & Hakkarainen, K. (2013). Design expert’s participation in elementary students’ collaborative design process. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 23(2), 161–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, T. R., Brenner, D. C., & Pieper, J. T. (2010). Two approaches to engineering design: Observations in STEm education. Journal of STEM Teacher Education, 47(2), 5–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, T. R., Capobianco, B. M., & Kaluf, K. J. (2015). Concurrent think-aloud protocols to assess elementary design students. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 25, 521–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, T. R., & Sung, E. (2017). Sketching by design: Teaching sketching to young learners. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 27, 363–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, E. A. (2014). Design-based research in engineering education: Current state and next steps. In A. Johri & B. M. Olds (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of engineering education research (pp. 497–518). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachapelle, C. P., & Cunningham, C. M. (2014). Engineering in elementary schools. In S. Purzer, J. Stroble, & M. Cardella (Eds.), Engineering in pre-college settings: Research in synthesizing research, policy, and practices (pp. 61–88). Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lachapelle, C. P., Cunningham, C. M., & Davis, M. E. (2018). Middle childhood education: Engineering concepts, practices, and trajectories. In M. J. de Vries (Ed.), Handbook of technology education (pp. 141–157). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, B., & Dorst, K. (2009). Design expertise. Oxford: Architectural Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesh, R., & Lehrer, R. (2000). Iterative refinement cycles for videotape analyses of conceptual change. In R. Lesh & A. Kelly (Eds.), Research design in mathematics and science education (pp. 665–708). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, T. (1999). Research in technology education—Some areas of need. Journal of Technology Education, 10(2), 41–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, T. (2005). Coming to terms with engineering design as content. Journal of Technology Education, 16(2), 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lippard, C. N., Lamm, M. H., & Riley, K. L. (2017). Engineering thinking in prekindergarten children: A systematic literature review. Journal of Engineering Education, 106(3), 454–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, D., & Gustafson, B. (2004). The role of design drawing among children engaged in a parachute building activity. Journal of Technology Education, 16(1), 55–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masters, G. (2016). Policy insights: Five challenges in Australian school education. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mativo, J., & Wicklein, R. (2011). Learning effects of design strategies on high school students. Journal of STEM Teacher Education, 48(3), 8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McFadden, J., & Roehrig, G. (2018). Engineering design in the elementary science classroom: Supporting student discourse during an engineering design challenge. International Journal of Technology and Design Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-018-9444-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenna, A. F. (2014). Adaptive expertise and knowledge fluency in design and innovation. In A. Johri & B. M. Olds (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of engineering education research (pp. 227–242). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mentzer, N., Becker, K., & Sutton, M. (2015). Engineering design thinking: High school students’ performance and knowledge. Journal of Engineering Education, 104(4), 417–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, T. J., & Smith, K. A. (2014). Advancing the state of the art of STEM integration. Journal of STEM Education, 15(1), 5–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, T. J., Stohlmann, M. S., Wang, H., Tank, K. M., Glancy, A. W., & Roehrig, G. H. (2014). Implementation and integration of engineering in K-12 STEM education. In S. Purzer, J. Strobel, & M. Cardella (Eds.), Engineering in pre-college settings: Research into practice (pp. 35–60). West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nathan, M. J., Srisurichan, R., Walkington, C., Wolfgram, M., Williams, C., & Alibali, M. W. (2013). Building cohesion across representations: A mechanism for STEM integration. Journal of Engineering Education, 102(1), 77–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, D.-Y., Park, M.-H., & Bates, A. B. (2018). Exploring young children’s understanding about the concept of volume through engineering design in a STEM activity: A case study. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 16(2), 275–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiser, B. J. (2004). Scaffolding complex learning: The mechanisms of structuring and problematizing student work. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 13(3), 273–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rennie, L., Venville, G., & Wallace, J. (2018). Making STEM curriculum useful, relevant, and motivating for students. In R. Jorgensen & K. Larkin (Eds.), STEM education in the junior secondary (pp. 91–109). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Shaughnessy, M. (2013). By way of introduction: Mathematics in a STEM context. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 18(6), 324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. (2001). The current and future role of modeling in design and technology. Journal of Design and Technology Education, 6(1), 5–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Song, S., & Agogino, A. M. (2004). Insights on designers’ sketching activities in new product design teams. In Proceedings of the DETC’04 ASME 2004 design engineering technical conference and computers and information in engineering conference (pp. 1–10). Salt Lake City, Utah, September 28–October 2.

  • Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. M. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasquez, J., Sneider, C., & Comer, M. (2013). STEM lesson essentials, grades 3–8: Integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, J., Spencer, K., & Hammer, D. (2014). Examining young students’ problem scoping in engineering design. Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research, 4(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.7771/2157-9288.1082.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welch, M., Barlex, D., & Lim, H. S. (2000). Sketching: Friend or foe to the novice designer? International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 10, 125–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wendell, K., & Lee, H. (2010). Elementary students’ learning of materials science practices through instruction based on engineering design tasks. Journal of Science and Technology Education, 19, 580–601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wendell, K., Wright, C. G., & Paugh, P. (2017). Reflective decision-making in elementary students’ engineering design. Journal of Engineering Education, 106(3), 356–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC; DP150100120). Views expressed in this paper are those of the author and not the ARC. Participation of the students and teachers is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia

    Lyn D. English

Authors
  1. Lyn D. English
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lyn D. English.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

English, L.D. Learning while designing in a fourth-grade integrated STEM problem. Int J Technol Des Educ 29, 1011–1032 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-018-9482-z

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-018-9482-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation