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Integrated STEAM Lessons: Research on Third-Graders' Knowledge, Identity, and Attitudes

Dr. Jillian Powers (´óÏó´«Ã½) and Dr. Susannah Brown (´óÏó´«Ã½) visited The Foundations School in West Palm Beach, FL to implement STEAM lessons with third grade students. This mixed methods research project was in collaboration with Dr. Ann Musgrove (´óÏó´«Ã½), Dr. Susan Wemette (Center for Creative Education), and Mr. Robert Bogle (´óÏó´«Ã½ Doctoral Research Assistant) that focused on the knowledge, identity, and attitudes of at-risk third grade students before and after STEAM lessons. Paired t-tests and qualitative analyses of open-ended surveys were performed to examine the students’ self-reported knowledge, identity, and attitudes. The findings revealed significant increases in students' self-reported knowledge of coding and programming robots. Qualitative data suggested that integrating art with science enhanced comprehension of scientific concepts. Regarding STEAM identity, the study showed a significant increase in students' self-reported competence in programming robots. Thematic analysis of qualitative data supported this finding, indicating that the lessons fostered creative problem-solving skills and self-recognition of these abilities.