Article detail · 2023
Advantages and challenges of STEM education in K-12: Systematic review and research synthesis
Journal
International Journal of Research in Education and ScienceISSN 2148-9955
The ISSN points to another catalog journal; the name is from the YÖKSİS record.
- Year
- 2023
- Type
- review
Data source split
- YÖKSİS YÖKSİS article record
- YÖKSİS venue International Journal of Research in Education and Science
- Catalog match (ISSN) International Journal of Research in Education and Science (discontinued)
- OpenAlex OpenAlex enrichment (abstract, citations, topics)
Abstract
OpenAlex · English
This study presents a systematic review of the literature on STEM education. We investigated the trends of STEM education, as well as its main advantages and challenges in K-12 settings. A total of 118 empirical studies published between 2013 and 2021 in refereed journals were included in the analysis. The findings indicate a steady increase in the number of STEM studies over the past nine years. The dominant discipline on the studies is science, while the most common level of education is upper secondary education. Most STEM interventions take place in formal settings and uses mixed research methods. The most popular educational material is simple tools, and the most measured variable is learner achievement. The most reported advantage is that STEM education helps develop of 21st century skills. On the other hand, the most reported challenge is that STEM activities are difficult to design. Further, the study discusses other advantages and challenges in detail, to map the opportunities and difficulties for students, teachers, and researchers. Finally, the study highlights some research gaps, as well as some suggestions for future research.
Topics
Citations
OpenAlex cited_by_count. Not a WoS or Scopus citation count; those sources have no separate column here.
44 citations
OpenAlex cited_by_count (cache / database)
11 publications in the local catalog that cite this work (OpenAlex reference match; not the full global list).
- A unified framework for understanding teachers’ adoption of robotics in STEM education 2024
- On the practice of integrated STEM education as “poiesis” 2023
- On the practice of integrated STEM education as “poiesis” 2023
- Application of a mathematics-based STEM module to gifted students: a fire escape design 2026
- Application of a mathematics-based STEM module to gifted students: a fire escape design 2026
- Application of a mathematics-based STEM module to gifted students: a fire escape design 2025
- Implementing STEM-FLIP in A Science Course: A Case Study 2025
- Fostering secondary school students’ attitudes toward sustainable development and their individual entrepreneurship orientations through a STEM + activity 2025
- Application of a mathematics-based STEM module to gifted students: a fire escape design 2025
- Fostering secondary school students’ attitudes toward sustainable development and their individual entrepreneurship orientations through a STEM + activity 2025