STEM Education for Real-World Problem Solving: Innovations in Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Practice

A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 592

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of Engineering’s EPICS Program, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Interests: STEM education; experiential learning; engineering education; design based research

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue explores how STEM education can effectively equip students to engage with real-world challenges through applied knowledge, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. As global and local communities face increasingly complex issues—from sustainability and infrastructure to data analysis and healthcare—STEM education plays a crucial role in preparing the next generation of innovators and professionals.

We invite contributions that highlight innovative instructional strategies, course designs, and learning environments that connect STEM content to real-world applications. Submissions may include empirical research, conceptual models, case studies, or practical examples that demonstrate how STEM education fosters skills such as decision-making, adaptability, and creative problem-solving. The goal of this Special Issue is to showcase a range of approaches that move beyond traditional classroom teaching to engage learners in meaningful, applied experiences. We welcome perspectives from K–12, higher education, informal learning environments, and industry partnerships. Prospective authors are encouraged to submit work that reflects how STEM education can be aligned with current and emerging real-world needs, helping students to understand content and apply their learning to solve authentic problems.

Dr. Aparajita Jaiswal
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • STEM education
  • real-world problem solving
  • innovative instructional strategies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 579 KB  
Article
Impact of Scientific Inquiry-Based Activities on STEM Interest in Croatian Primary Schools
by Nikolina Ribarić and Daniela Novoselić
Educ. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 1237; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15091237 - 17 Sep 2025
Viewed by 205
Abstract
This research examines the impact of practical work and the use of scientific research methods when teaching ten-year-old students interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). An increased interest in STEM is encouraging, as it may carry through to [...] Read more.
This research examines the impact of practical work and the use of scientific research methods when teaching ten-year-old students interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). An increased interest in STEM is encouraging, as it may carry through to higher education institutions and potentially increase students’ ability to contribute to improving Croatian society. The program “Sa STEMom raSTEMo” was approved by the Ministry of Sciences and Education for researching and improving didactic work in STEM fields in elementary schools. A total of 650 participants from four classes in five primary schools were selected. Half of the participants formed the intervention group in which the “Sa STEMom raSTEMo” program was implemented for three months, and the other half formed the control group. Before and after the experimental intervention, a survey to determine interest in STEM fields was conducted in both groups, and the results were compared to verify the impact of the implemented forms of teaching. A questionnaire was then constructed and tested through a pilot study; its understandability and reliability were measured, as well as the validity of the applied measurement scales. Furthermore, a survey of interest in STEM fields was conducted three months after the intervention. All results were analyzed and compared. The results showed that implementing practical work and using scientific research methods in classroom teaching increases students’ interest in STEM. In general, no statistically significant differences in interest in STEM were observed between girls and boys aged 10, and no relevant gender differences were observed in 10-year-olds who participated in the program. Full article
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