Presentation Schedule
Place-based STEAM Education: Students’ Perceptions of Their Social and Environmental Responsibilities as Citizens (97252)
Session Chair: Elodie Billionniere
Sunday, 4 January 2026 15:25
Session: Session 4 (Parallel)
Room: Hawaii Convention Center: Room 304B
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
This paper describes long-term analysis of an interdisciplinary high school program utilizing STEAM through place and land-based education. The research follows students from 8 to 25 years as part of their participation in the STEAM program, in which data collection and community-driven actions are the norm. It demonstrates how extended field experiences and integrated coursework have led to engaging students in continued STEAM-related studies, employment and related civic actions. It also explores how these practices have affected the students’ perceptions of their social and environmental responsibilities as citizens. Our action research studies—utilizing semi-structured interviews of a sub-set of students, teachers and administrators, and end-of-semester focus groups and anonymous surveys has revealed key factors related to the concept of place that contributed to the positive outcomes of these alternatives:
-The longer time on field studies/labs, allowed students to approximate the work within a STEM field to a larger extent than is normally possible in regular classroom setting.
-The self-reflective and socio-constructivist pedagogy helped students make sense of their experiences together and construct their emerging understandings.
-The supportive and trusting relationship between students and the teachers in the program, as well as the collaborative and supportive relationships that developed within the school groups, field groups and larger communities.
-The program was often held in the field rather than back on campus thus creating entirely school/community-based semesters.
-The multidisciplinary approach, which utilizes an integration of strategic STEAM courses curriculum that promotes a relational aspect to knowledge (i.e. Holistic Education)
Authors:
Kevin OConnor, Mount Royal University, Canada
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Kevin OConnor is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at Mount Royal University in Canada
See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule
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