Targeting all of STEM in the primary school : Engineering design as a foundational process

Mezzanine M2

With the increased national and international focus on advancing STEM education, it is important to ensure all of its disciplines are represented in the curriculum. To-date, the STEM acronym has been used largely in reference to science, with less emphasis on the remaining disciplines – especially engineering. Yet engineering design, a core component of engineering education, is now seen internationally as a foundational process linking the STEM disciplines, not just confined to engineering. Engineering concepts, design processes, representing, modelling, and innovative design-based problem-solving are all featured within the new Design and Technologies Curriculum. This paper will explore the nature and roles of these engineering components and discuss ways in which they might be integrated within primary school students’ STEM learning. The paper will include findings from STEM-based problem-solving research with a focus on engineering learning.