Research And Enlightenment On Early Childhood STEM Curriculum In The United States

The STEM education reform has been extended to the early childhood stage in the United States,which leads the preschool STEM learning and teaching to be a hot spoon.In view of the lack of domestic field research on preschool STEM activities,and the main research methods that mainly based on the literature method,this study focused on the preschool STEM practice,through which summarizing the characteristics of preschool STEM activities including the content,formation,implementation,evaluation and environmental support.This research not only deepened our understanding of preschool STEM courses,and also provided suggestions for the innovative development of preschool STEM learning and teaching in China.This study used case analysis,observation and interview methods to collect six curriculum records and observed and analyzed the STEM courses conducted by three teachers in C kindergarten in Nebraska.Also,the researcher had an interview with the expert related to this field.The study summarized several characteristics of preschool STEM curriculum in the US.First,the course content,emphasizing multidisciplinary integration is based on life experience and real situation.Second,the activities are normally organized by division of labor in the form of projects or problems.Third,teachers implement preschool STEM explorations through six major steps.Forth,STEM abilities and emotional experience are focused in the course evaluation.Fifth,the environment supporting the activities,is integrated by nature,technology,engineering,two-dimensions and three dimensions,project and record.However,there are also some shortcomings: the STEM curriculum of young children in the lower ages is less authentic,there is no systematic STEM curriculum evaluation tool,and teachers' reflection on the curriculum still needs to be strengthened.Then,this study also had interviews with three domestic preschool teachers to understand the current status and problems of preschool STEM curriculumdevelopment.It shows that teachers' understanding of preschool STEM courses is not deep enough;they still can't grasp the implementation steps of activities clearly;teachers' STEM literacy is weak without effective training;the environment and materials give an insufficient support for STEM activities.In response to these current situations and problems,we could draw conclusions from the United States as following:First,it is emphasized that the preschool STEM curriculum is based on life experience and real life situations,with an integration of multidisciplinary.Second,teachers should adopt appropriate methods of organization and implementation in outdoor areas,engineering areas,or projects work.Third,it is recommended to establish a special training system to improve the STEM quality of preschool teachers;Forth,the kindergarten ought to provide a more open environment and materials to support STEM inquiry activities.