Inclusive STEM teaching from a language perspective

Authors Jantien Smit, Lucía Beatriz Chisari, Maria Kouns, Anne Bergliot Oyehaug, Elwin Savelsbergh, Maaike Hajer
Published in European Journal of STEM Education
Publication date 2023
Research groups Multilingualism and Education
Type Article

Summary

Worldwide, pupils with migrant backgrounds do not participate in school STEM subjects as successfully as their peers. Migrant pupils’ subject-specific language proficiency lags behind, which hinders participation and learning. Primary teachers experience difficulty in teaching STEM as well as promoting required language development. This study investigates how a professional development program (PDP) focusing on inclusive STEM teaching can promote teacher learning of language-promoting strategies (promoting interaction, scaffolding language and using multilingual resources). Participants were five case study teachers in multilingual schools in the Netherlands (N = 2), Sweden (N = 1) and Norway (N = 2), who taught in primary classrooms with migrant pupils. The PDP focused on three STEM units (sound, maintenance, plant growth) and language-promoting strategies. To trace teachers’ learning, three interviews were conducted with each of the five teachers (one after each unit). The teachers also filled in digital logs (one after each unit). The interviews showed positive changes in teachers’ awareness, beliefs and attitudes towards language-supporting strategies. However, changes in practice and intentions for practice were reported to a lesser extent. This study shows that a PDP can be an effective starting point for teacher learning regarding inclusive STEM teaching. It also illuminates possible enablers (e.g., fostering language awareness) or hinderers (e.g., teachers’ limited STEM knowledge) to be considered in future PDP design.

On this publication contributed

  • Jantien Smit | professor | Multilingualism and Education
    Jantien Smit
    • Professor
    • Research group: Multilingualism and Education
  • Elwin Savelsbergh | Professor | Research group Science and Technology Education
    Elwin Savelsbergh
    • Professor
    • Research group: Research group Curriculum Development in Primary and Secondary Education

Language English
Published in European Journal of STEM Education
Year and volume 8 1
Key words Inclusive STEM education, teacher learning, multilingualism, scaffolding language, professional development
Digital Object Identifier 10.20897/ejsteme/13643

Jantien Smit

Jantien Smit | professor | Multilingualism and Education

Jantien Smit

  • Professor
  • Research group: Multilingualism and Education