ERIC Number: ED668812
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 244
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-5355-9438-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: 0000-00-00
A Content Analysis of STEM Professional Development Opportunities Offered between 2015-2019 among Three Top STEM Conferences in the United States
Meghan P. England
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Tennessee Technological University
Although Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education has been recognized as important for success in the 21st century (AAAS, 1989; Bryan et al., 2016; Bybee, 2013; Bybee, 2018; CoSTEM & NSTC, 2018; Moore et al., 2016; Murphy, 2011; United States Department of Education, 2016), elementary and middle school educators are often unprepared to teach STEM education (NAE & NRC, 2014). In addition, teachers' lack of expertise, content knowledge, and/or pedagogical strategies affect their own self-efficacy and affect their students' learning (Caprara et al., 2006; NAE & NRC, 2014). The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) both have STEM education position statements promoting the importance of STEM education for all grade levels (NCSM & NCTM, n.d.; NSTA, 2020). A content analysis was completed on the professional development opportunities offered at three of their annual conferences over a five-year span, including: NSTA's National Conferences, NSTA's STEM Forum and Expos, and NCTM's Annual Conference to determine the percentage of STEM versus Silo STEM Professional Development (PD), the grade band focus, and the presenter level for each STEM+ opportunity. Overall, the highest percentage of STEM education opportunities were identified at NSTA's STEM Forum and Expos (75.8%), followed by NSTA's National Conferences (53.0%), and finally NCTM's Annual Conferences (21.8%). The largest grade band from K-16 with a STEM focus at NCTM's conferences were identified within Secondary Education (41.6%), while the focus at NSTA's STEM Forum was in Elementary Education (25.3%). NSTA's National Conferences had a majority in combinations between PreK-12 (33.3%). The presenter type included Exhibitors, K-12 educators, and/or higher education educators. The largest presenter type was most often identified as Exhibitors for both NSTA's National (30.8%) and STEM Forum Conferences (37.2%), while most NCTM PD sessions were offered by Higher Education (34.9%). [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Educational Opportunities, Conferences (Gatherings), STEM Education, Elementary School Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Faculty Development, Communities of Practice
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A