Instrumental stem (istem): An integrated stem instructional model

Abstract

Instrumental STEM (iSTEM) is a novel instructional model for science teachers that assists in the incorporation of technology, engineering, and mathematics in ways that are organic, understandable, and replicable. The general premise is that students design, build, and maintain the tools and instruments they need to do authentic scientific inquiry. This model produces relevance for students by requiring the successful design, fabrication, and maintenance of tools and instruments necessary to answer questions they may have during the inquiry process. It also helps build creativity, critical thinking skills, and teamwork as students engage in design process, identify options and provide rationales for materials selection, and work collaboratively with others (e.g. students, teachers, industry, the public, etc.). This process is an organic and authentic one, in that, many practicing scientists must understand, build, modify, and maintain tools and instruments in order to do their jobs. This means that if a science teacher intends to teach a student how to do science like practicing scientists, then the instruction would include building, modifying, and maintaining tools and instruments.