Abstract:

This paper presents an educational project pursues to improve the academic results of the students specially (but not only) in secondary schools by means of the motivation that provides them the project-based learning. This educational project has also been designed to promote scientific and technology vocations in schools and K-12 students. The promotion of scientific culture and innovation needs the proper study of the contents of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) throughout the entire learning process.

One of the most prestigious engineering curriculum wich promotes scientific culture and innovation is the “Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum”. This paper presents a comparison between these two curriculums (Masschusettes vs Spanish STEM Curriculum). This comparation shows that both Curriculums are very similar in contents, but there are big differences in methodology and the guidelines proposed.

This paper proposes a methodological change and the development of educational resources needed to study the STEM content of the K-12 Spanish curriculum based on results obtained through research projects recently developed by different research groups.

By introducing educational activities related to research projects, it is possible to create inquiry-based educational environments that encourage student curiosity, engagement, persistence, respect for evidence, and sense of responsibility. Furthermore, this allows put in relation research groups with the educational community.

K-12 STEM content of the Spanish curriculum can be divided into 6 main groups: Home installations, Electronics, Technologies of information and communication, Control and robotics, Pneumatics and hydraulics and Technology and Society. This paper describes the methodology used to study all this contents basing the explanation in recents research projects using project-based learning. This allows students to learn STEM content directly from the local scientific community, improving its scientific vocation.

Keywords:

Motivating students, Problem-based learning, Scientific vocations, Engineering vocations, STEM, K-12 Engineering education, K-12 Curriculum.