Official documents in several educational systems reflect the importance of integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and consider project-based learning (PBL) as a way of integrating such disciplines in the classroom. Although STEAM-PBL has been characterized and evaluated in different ways, its impact on school mathematics teaching remains unclear. Mathematics is recognized as the fundamental basis of other disciplines; however, many students still perceive it as a difficult subject and abandon it. To analyze STEAM-PBL classroom implementation from a school mathematics standpoint, we examined 41 classroom experiences from 11 Spanish secondary education teachers (five in-field mathematics teachers), who participated in a STEAM training program for more than 4 years. To frame this study, Thibaut et al.’s (J STEM Educ 3(1):02, 2018) and Schoenfeld’s (Educ Res 43(8):404–412, 2014) characterizations of well-designed and implemented projects, respectively, were employed. The results showed that in-field mathematics teachers avoided transdisciplinary projects in which school mathematics is difficult to address, while out-of-field teachers tended to overlook the mathematics in interdisciplinary projects. Unlike out-of-field teachers, mathematics teachers often eluded design-based learning processes for deeply exploiting school mathematics. The latter teachers promoted high cognitive demands and positive perceptions about mathematics in projects where formative environments were generated through discussion and a meaningful feedback loop.

Secondary education curricula highlight competence-based learning; however, meaningful school-intervention habits have not yet been observed. The initiatives implemented have focused primarily on promoting the combined development of no more than three key competences. This article presents an international study, under the Erasmus+ and H2020 programmes, for analysing the impact of the STEAM project-based learning approach with KIKS format (Kids Inspire Kids for STEAM) on the interwoven development of key competences. The sample included 267 high school students divided into 53 teams from 29 educational centres in Finland, England, Hungary, and Spain. Each team carried out several projects, for no less than two academic years, by means of the following two approaches: STEAM project-based learning and KIKS format. Data from this qualitative study were collected from observations and interviews with students, teachers, and KIKS trainers. Analyses revealed that the combination of these two approaches facilitated the development of all eight key competences. The project-based learning focus essentially fostered the enhancement of the mathematical competence and competence in science, technology, and engineering, while KIKS format promoted literacy and multilingual competences. The remaining competences were encouraged by the combination of both approaches. It is noteworthy that prolonged participation in the programme, as it was implemented, was crucial to achieving the obtained outcomes. Los currículos de educación secundaria resaltan el aprendizaje por competencias, sin embargo, actualmente no se observan cambios sustanciales en los hábitos de intervención en el aula. Las iniciativas implementadas se han centrado principalmente en impulsar el desarrollo conjunto de tres competencias clave como máximo. Este artículo presenta un estudio internacional, bajo los programas Erasmus+ y H2020, con el objetivo de establecer relaciones entre el aprendizaje basado en proyectos STEAM con formato KIKS (Kids Inspire Kids for STEAM) y el desarrollo global de las competencias clave. La muestra incluye 267 estudiantes de secundaria distribuidos en 53 equipos, pertenecientes a 29 centros de Finlandia, Inglaterra, Hungría y España. Cada equipo elaboró varios proyectos, durante al menos dos años académicos, mediante los siguientes enfoques de implementación: aprendizaje basado en proyectos STEAM y formato KIKS. Los datos de este estudio cualitativo se recabaron por medio de observaciones y entrevistas a estudiantes, profesores y formadores KIKS. Los análisis revelaron que la combinación de ambos enfoques facilitó el desarrollo de las ocho competencias clave. El aprendizaje por proyectos favoreció esencialmente el desarrollo de la competencia matemática y competencia en ciencia, tecnología e ingeniería, mientras que el formato KIKS potenció las competencias en lectoescritura y multilingüe. El resto de competencias se vieron estimuladas por la combinación de ambos enfoques. Cabe destacar que la participación prolongada en el programa de implementación fue determinante en los resultados obtenidos.

This article is aimed at educators concerned with curricular initiatives that foster STE(A)M projects in secondary education to promote mathematics competencies. Research has recently reported that these projects superficially address mathematics content, hampering the development of competencies the consensus deems necessary to prepare citizens for daily life. This study shows that learning goals may be achieved when teachers receive personalised training and sustained assistance in their project experiences. We examine how two Spanish teachers, with advisors’ support, progress in exploiting mathematics competencies within the implementation of a single project each over a period of 3 years. Their evolution was not the result of minor recommendations but of continuous interactions with the advisors. These interactions intended to maintain a balance between teacher confidence and project enhancements, which required commitment and constancy. Four of the five competencies considered in the Spanish curriculum emerged powerfully after sustained refinement. The frequently mobilised competencies were intra-mathematics, representations, as well as collaborative work and positive identity, followed by modelling. The last of which was difficult to address, but when it was, the other three emerged more naturally. Computational thinking was poorly represented mainly because of the advisors’ background and its recent incorporation into the reference curriculum. The teachers’ progress was influenced by the advisor’s academic background, pedagogical expertise, ability to transfer research outcomes into teaching, and experience supporting others.

The STEAMTEACH (STEAM Education for Teaching Professionalism) project works with teacher trainers to develop a program of Transcultural STEAM Professional Development for in- and pre-service teachers. Following a literature review, a semi-structured questionnaire then interviews approach was used to elicit current practice, challenges for teachers and recommendations from Austrian teacher trainers. These recommendations were then compared with and supported by STEAM academic literature. It was found that none of the institutions offered a STEAM approach and it does not appear in the curriculum. Indeed, this fact is the primary challenge to overcome. Recommendations were that teachers should work in multidisciplinary, supportive, collaborative groups and networks. Problem and project-based learning were identified as key learning methodologies. A mix of physical and on-line working synchronously and asynchronously was recommended for online professional development because teachers can participate irrespective of time and place. Educational technology can support collaboration, and also ‘plug and play’ technologies including game-based learning can be inserted into an overall STEAM approach. The affective factor was judged essential for students and teachers.

Unlike previous research, this study analyzes the strategies of pre-service early childhood teachers when solving multi-digit division problems and the errors they make. The sample included 104 subjects from a university in Spain. The data analysis was framed under a mixed-method approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative analyses. The results revealed that the traditional division algorithm was widely used in problems involving integers, but not so frequently applied to problems with decimal numbers. Often, number-based and algebraic strategies were employed as an alternative to the traditional algorithm, as the pre-service teachers did not remember how to compute it. In general, number-based strategies reached more correct solutions than the traditional algorithm, while the algebraic strategies did not usually reach any solution. Incorrect identifications of the mathematical model were normally related to an exchange of the dividend and divisor roles. Most pre-service teachers not only failed to compute the division, but also to interpret the obtained solution in the problem context. The study concludes that, during their schooling, students accessing the Degree in Early Childhood education have not acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to solve multi-digit division problems, and thus the entrance requirements at the university must be rethought.