Abstract
This is an action research study conducted with primary school teachers defining the interdisciplinary integration of art with science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) during their planning and implementation. The research focused on integrated science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) activities conducted by the teachers in their classes, fourth-grade in primary schools, in Osmaniye province, Turkey, in the 2017–2018 school year. The teachers, inside researcher, and evaluators observed and reflected on the integration in four phases, the planning and implementation of the activities. The study defined the possible interdisciplinary flow models of art integration with other disciplines in the process, along with the appropriate flow models of art integration in planning and implementation. In conclusion, it is reasonable and useful to position the A (art) with technology at the beginning, with engineering at the end and after Science and Maths (TA > SM > EA model) in the planning phase. Appropriate integration with the other STEAM disciplines in primary school settings were to found be in the implementation stage, at the beginning, together with technology after engineering and at the end, and together with engineering after Science and Maths (E > TA > SM > EA model).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Code Availability
Not applicable.
Abbreviations
- STEM:
-
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
- STEAM:
-
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics
- IR:
-
Inside Researcher
- SM:
-
Science and Math
References
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (1990) Science for all Americans (online). http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/sfaatoc.htm. Accessed 13 Sep 2017
Bequette JW, Bequette MB (2012) A place for art and design education in the STEM conversation. Art Education 65(2):40–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.2012.11519167
Bramble A (2019) Teachers’ implementations of arts integration: a qualitative exploratory case study. Doctoral dissertation, University of Phoenix
Burnaford G, Brown S, Dohery J, McLaughlin HJ (2007) Arts integration frameworks, research & practice. http://www.aep-arts.org/wp-content/uploads/Arts-Integration-Frameworks.pdf. Accessed 16 Aug 2017
Bybee RW (2010) What is STEM education. Science 5995(329):996. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1194998
Byrd LS (2019) A study of an arts integration curriculum and its impact on academic achievement. Doctoral dissertation, University of South Alabama
California Department of Education (CDE) (2014) Science, technology, engineering and mathematics. https://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/stemintrod.asp. Accessed 27 Nov 2017
Chemi T (2014) The artful teacher: a conceptual model for arts integration in schools. Stud Art Educ 56(1):370–383
Cole D (2014) Why we need the “A” in STEAM. https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/qa-with-david-cole-why-we-need-the-a-in-steam. Accessed 14 Feb 2018
Dalton JE, Hrenko KA (2016) Caring as a transformative model for arts integration. In DJ Flinders CM, Moroye KK (Eds), Curriculum and teaching dialogue. Information Age Publishing
Drake SM (1991) How our team dissolved the boundaries. Educ Leader 49(2):20–22. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Susan-Drake/publication/303721085_Integrating_the_Curriculum/links/574f4f0708ae1880a8228718/Integrating-the-Curriculum.pdf. Accessed 22 Sep 2017
Drake SM (1998) Creating integrated curriculum: proven ways to increase student learning. Corwin, Thousand Oaks, CA
Drake S, Burns RC (2004) Meeting standards through integrated curriculum. Association for Supervision and Curriculum, Virginia
Dugger JWE (2011) Evolution of STEM in the United States. http://www.iteaconnect.org/Resources/PressRoom/AustraliaPaper.pdf. Accessed 31.05.2018
Dwyer MC (2011) Reinvesting in the arts education: winning America’s future through creative schools. President’s committee on the arts and the humanities. http://www.pcah.gov. Accessed 14 Sep 2017
Elliott J (2001) Action research for educational change. Open University Press, Buckingham
Finn CE, Ravitch D (2007) Beyond the basics: achieving a liberal education for all children. Thomas B, Fordham Institute, Washington
Fogarty RJ (1991) Ten ways to integrate curriculum. Educ Leadersh 49:61–65. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Ten-ways-to-integrate-curriculum-Fogarty/fc8406745befdf07ad521450d7434df379c72c48?p2df. Accessed 29 Jun 2018
Gonzalez HB, Kuenzi JJ (2012) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM): A primer. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292937643_Science_technology_engineering_and_mathematics_STEM_education_A_primer. Accessed 18 Dec 2017
Hermes L (2001) Action research-lehrkräfte erforschen ihren unterricht, hrsg. Landesinstitut für Schule und Weiterbildung NRW, Soest, Entwurf: Okt. 2000 (Lehrerfortbildung in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Qualitätsentwicklung und Qualitätssicherung von Unterricht in der Sekundarstufe I, Englisch)
Herr K, Anderson GL (2005) The action research dissertation: a guide for students and faculty. SAGE Publications, California
Herry K, Anderson GL (2005) The action research dissertation: a guide for students and faculty. SAGE Publication, California
Hunter-Doniger T, Herring A (2017) Artistic realizations found in generalist preservice teachers’ courses: rigor, confidence, and connections. Stud Art Educ 58(4):279–291. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393541.2017.1368289
Johnson AP (2002) A Shortguide to Action Research. Allyn ve Bacon, Boston
Jokela T (2019) Art-based action research for art education in the north. Int J Art Des Educ 38(3):599–609. https://doi.org/10.1111/jade.12243
Jordan-Douglass A (2019). Artist/teacher partnerships: exploring pathways to arts integration in STEM Curriculum. Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Kemmis S, McTaggart R (2005) Participatory action research: communicative action and the public sphere. In: Denzin NK, Lincoln YS (eds), The Sage handbook of qualitative research (pp. 559–603). https://doi.org/10.1080/09650790600975593
Klein JT (2000) Voices of royaumont. In Somerville M, Rapport D (eds), Transdisciplinarity: recreating integrated knowledge. Oxford, eoLSS: England
Koch KA, Thompson JC (2017) Laughter filled the classroom: outcomes of professional development in arts integration for elementary teachers in inclusion settings. Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal 22(2):1–11. https://doi.org/10.18666/LDMJ-2017-V22-I2-8373
Lackey L, Huxhold D (2016) Arts integration as school reform: exploring how teachers experience policy. Arts Educ Policy Rev 117(4):211–222. https://doi.org/10.1080/10632913.2016.1213120
LaMore R, Root-Bernstein R, Root-Bernstein M, Schweitzer JH, Lawton JL, Roraback E, ..., Fernandez L (2013) Arts and crafts: Critical to economic innovation. Econ Dev Q 27(3):221–229. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891242413486186
LaPorte J, Mark S (1993) The T/S/M ıntegration project: integrating technology, science, and mathematics in the middle school. Technol Teach 52(6):17–21. https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/51623
Leavy P (2011) Essentials of transdisciplinary research: using problem-centered methodologies. Left Coast, Walnut Creek, CA
Liao C (2016) From interdisciplinary to transdisciplinary: an arts-integrated approach to STEAM education. Art Educ 69(6):44–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.2016.1224873
Mackin E, Mackin R, Obremski J, McKie K (2017) A districtwide commitment to arts integration. Phi Delta Kappan 98(7):29–33. https://doi.org/10.1177/2F0031721717702628
Maltese AV, Tai RH (2010) Pipeline persistence: examining the association of educational experiences with earned degrees in STEM among U.S. students. Sci Educ 95(5):877–907
Marallo LA (2014) Integrating art + STEM: an exploratory study of three science centers. Doctoral dissertation, University of Washington
Marshall, J (2010) Five ways to integrate: using strategies from contemporary art. Art Educ 63(3):13–19
Marshall J (2014) Transdisciplinarity and art integration: toward a new understanding of art-based learning across the curriculum. Stud Art Educ 55(2):104–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393541.2014.11518922
Marshall J (2015) Art education five ways to integrate: using strategies from contemporary art. Art Educ 63(3):13–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.2010.11519065
May B, Robinson NR (2016) Arts teachers’ perceptions and attitudes on arts integration while participating in a statewide arts integration initiative. J Music Teach Educ 25(3):12–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/1057083714568567
McGarry K (2018) Making partnerships with STEAM. Art Educ 71(2):28–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.2018.1414535
Merriam SB, Tisdell EJ (2015) Qualitative research: a guide to design and implementation. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco
Miles MB, Huberman AM (1994) Qualitative data analysis: an expanded sourcebook, 2nd edn. Sage, Thousand Oaks
Moss TE, Benus, MJ, Tucker EA (2018) Impacting urban students’ academic achievement and executive function through school-based arts integration programs. SAGE Open 8(2):2–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/2F2158244018773131
National Research Council (NRC) (2011) A framework for K-12 science education: practices, crosscutting concepts and core ideas. National Academies Press, Washington, DC
Niess ML (2005) Preparing teachers to teach science and mathematics with technology: Developing a technology pedagogical content knowledge. Teach Teach Educ 21(5):509–523. http://0-search.proquest.com.library.uark.edu/docview/62154354?accountid=8361. Accessed 14 Dec 2017
Parsons M (2004) Art and integrated curriculum. In: Eisner E, Day M (eds) Handbook of research and policy in art education. Lawrence Erlbaum, New Jersey
Rabkin N, Redmond R (2006) The arts make a difference. J Arts Manag Law Soc 36(1):25–32
Riley S (2016) Arts enhancement, integration STEAM chart. https://s3.amazonaws.com/newsletterresources/enhance+integrate+steam+chart.pdf. Accessed 26 June 2017
Saito T, Gunji Y, Kumano Y (2015) The problem about technology in STEM education: some findings from action research on the professional development & integrated STEM lessons in informal fields. K-12 STEM Education 1(2):85–100. https://doi.org/10.14456/K12STEMED.2015.16
Sanders M (2009) STEM, STEM education, STEMania. The Technology Teacher 68(4):20–27. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ821633. Accessed 12 Jan 2018
Silverstein LB, Layne S (2010) What is arts integration? The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC
Smilan C, Miraglia KM (2009) Art teachers as leaders of authentic art integration. Art Educ 62(6):39–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.2009.11519044
Sotiropoulou-Zormpala M (2016) Seeking a higher level of arts integration across the curriculum. Arts Educ Policy Rev 117(1):43–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/10632913.2014.966288
Stenhouse L (1975) An introduction to curriculum research and development. Heinemann, London
Strokrocki M (2005) Interdisciplinary art education: building bridges to connect disciplines and cultures. National Art Education Association, Virginia
Taylor P, Carpenter S, Ballengee-Morris C, Sessions B (2006) Interdisciplinary approaches to teaching art in high school. National Art education Association, Reston
The Ohio State University Tetac Mentors (2002) Integrated curriculum: possibilities for the arts. Art Educ 55(3):12–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.2002.11651490
Turkish National Board of Education (2018) Turkish national K-12 visual art curriculum (online). http://mufredat.meb.gov.tr/ProgramDetay.aspx?PID=358. Accessed 02 May 2018
Uğurlu H (2008) Teknoloji sanat ilişkisi: Günümüzde teknolojik sanatların amacı [Technology-art relationship: The purpose of technological arts today]. Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 2(1):247–260. https://doi.org/10.12780/UUSBD27
Ulbricht J (2005) Toward transdisciplinary programming in higher education. In: Stokrocki M (ed) Interdisciplinary art education: building bridges to connect disciplines and cultures. National Art Education Association, Reston, pp 17–30
Vasquez JA, Carry S, Michael C (2013) Lesson essentials, grades 3–8: integrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Heinemann, Portsmouth
Wang H (2012) A new era of science education: Science teachers' perceptions and classroom practices of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) integration. Doctoral dissertation, Minnesota University
Whyte WW (1989) Advancing scientific knowledge through participatory action research. Sociol Forum 4(3):367–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01115015
Williams P (2011) STEM Education: Proceed with caution. Des Technol Educ J 16(1):3–10
Wynn T, Harris J (2012) Toward a STEM + arts curriculum: creating the teacher team. Art Educ 65(5):42–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.2012.11519191
Zhou M, Brown D (2018) Arts integration in elementary curriculum (2nd eds.). Education open textbooks. https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/education-textbooks. Accessed 17 Dec 2018
Zuber-Skerritt O (1992) Professional development in higher education: a theoretical framework for action research. Kogan Page, London
Acknowledgements
The study is a part of a doctoral dissertation, which was conducted by the first author and supervised by the second and third authors.
Funding
The authors declare that the research was not supported by any individuals and organization.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
The first author is an inside researcher who conducted the action research study with teachers. Both the first and second authors analysed the data and wrote the initial manuscript draft. The third author provided expert guidance through each revision. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Uştu, H., Saito, T. & Mentiş Taş, A. Integration of Art into STEM Education at Primary Schools: an Action Research Study with Primary School Teachers. Syst Pract Action Res 35, 253–274 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-021-09570-z
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-021-09570-z