Files and links (2)
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
STEM, STEAM and makerspaces in early childhood: A scoping review
Sustainability, Vol.14(20), 13533
19/10/2022
Metrics
321 File views/ downloads
45 Record Views
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Abstract
STEM has emerged as a key area of importance for children, highlighting the value and relevance of integrated understandings of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in both educational contexts and everyday life. The need for innovation and creativity is also recognised, which emphasizes the important role the arts can play as STEM is extended into STEAM. This scoping review investigated what is known about STEM, STEAM and makerspace experiences and opportunities for children aged birth to eight. The review found that early childhood experience with STEM, STEAM and makerspaces is an emerging field of research. Findings suggest that STEAM holds more relevance to learning and experiences in the early childhood years, and perhaps across the lifespan. The review also highlights the need to shift the starting point to the earliest of years and create greater intentionality in STEAM experiences with infants, toddlers and preschool aged children, recognizing the relevance of STEAM and maker mindsets in the lives of young children. Additionally, the scoping review identified the value of informal and community contexts as a means to invite broader participation. Such opportunities provide scope to challenge inequity in opportunity and to overcome intergenerational aversion towards STEM/STEAM-related learning. Further research is needed to understand the professional learning needs of early childhood educators and facilitators of STEAM and makerspace experiences.
Details
- Title
- STEM, STEAM and makerspaces in early childhood: A scoping review
- Creators
- Kelly Johnston (Author) - University of WollongongLisa Kervin (Author) - University of WollongongPeta Wyeth - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication Details
- Sustainability, Vol.14(20), 13533
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Grant note
- This research was supported by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child project number CE200100022.
- Identifiers
- 991013184813702368
- Copyright
- © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Education
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article