To increase students' sense of ownership, the present study incorporated elements of Challenge-based learning (CBL) into a mechanical engineering course. CBL is a desirable pedagogy adopted by many universities of technology. Although the boundaries and constraints of a regular course hinder the application of CBL, some of its benefits can be…

Many empirical studies about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) curriculum present problems for students to solve. This paper draws upon the data collected from the enactment of an integrated STEM curriculum to discuss problems as constitutive of problem spaces where four Grade 5 Singapore students engage with the…

Background: Few studies have reported how students enact learner agency in a team setting or examined what elements of team settings students perceive as more supportive of their learning in problem- and project-based learning (PBL) processes. Purpose: This study explores how engineering students perceive their enactment of learner agency,…

This study explores how engineering students develop learner agency in an intercultural PBL (problem- and project-based learning) environment, along with the factors that affect their development. Theoretically, learner agency is framed within three interrelated dimensions: intrapersonal, behavioural, and environmental. A narrative inquiry…

In introductory physics laboratory instruction, students often expect to confirm or demonstrate textbook physics concepts. This expectation is largely undesirable: labs that emphasize confirmation of textbook physics concepts are generally unsuccessful at teaching those concepts and even in contexts that do not emphasize confirmation, such…

Problem-based learning (PBL) has been implemented with different levels of success in first-year engineering education in response to the rapidly growing requirements for a higher degree of learner agency in graduates. This study is contextualised in a systemic problem-based learning environment and explores the sources of first-year engineering…

Contribution: This study explores the elements engineering students perceive as important for developing their learner agency in the context of intercultural project-based learning (PBL) teams. Background: The concept of learner agency has recently gained prominence due to its relevance for student-centeredness, autonomy, self-regulation, and…

Demand is high for graduates entering the professional aviation and aerospace workforce with resilience competencies like adversity persistence, contextual awareness, being self-directed and autonomous, handling change, and ability to establish peer relationships. Research shows resilience competencies are particularly emphasized as essential…

Although often suffering from a lack of conceptual clarity and definition, the use of problem-based learning (PBL) as a pedagogical approach has become almost ubiquitous across many disciplines in higher education in recent years. As well as purported benefits for student learning, the empowerment of students through increased autonomy is…

Interest-driven activities, such as mathematical play, can support student agency, motivation, and engagement, and can foster dispositions that reflect authentic disciplinary engagement. However, the bulk of research on mathematical play investigates the mathematics that emerges in young children's natural play or in informal spaces such as video…

This article conducts a systematic review of the literature, which seeks to present opportunities and trends in fostering creativity in science and engineering. The literature review is based on four phases: to identify eligible articles, screen and classify the selected documents, analyse the content and the citations, and report the findings and…

The article profiles a project addressing a central issue in reform-driven STEM education--the need to align educational experiences with real-world STEM. The interdisciplinary program aimed for authenticity by purposefully designing an authentic PBL project and incorporating STEM professionals as volunteer facilitators. These volunteers enhanced…

This study aims to investigate 10th grade students' agency and authority in a mathematics problem-based learning (PBL) classroom. The participants were 40 Grade 10 students. The data were collected during January-February of 2019 from twelve PBL lesson plans, Agency and Authority Observation Forms, Teacher's Notes, Students' Reflections and…

This study explored the gaming principles that fitted well in the theory of learning in good computer games and attempted to incorporate those principles into mathematics education. A qualitative dominant mixed methods approach was employed, in which qualitative interviews [eight students, six teachers and eight parents] and quantitative surveys…

Background: While improved student engagement has been highlighted as an essential goal and a major outcome of Problem and Project-Based learning (PBL), little empirical evidence has been provided regarding types and forms of student engagement. Material and method: The study explored forms of student engagement in PBL settings, drawing on…