THE CONTRIBUTION OF STEM EDUCATION IN CREATING AUTHENTIC LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTS IN K-12 EDUCATION

STEM education can contribute to the creation of authentic learning and assessment environments, as STEM activities foster practical engagement, integrate technology and innovative tools, promote a multidisciplinary approach, link different scientific fields, and enhance critical thinking and creativity among students.The aim of this research was to investigate the extent to which STEM is applied by teachers in primary and secondary education in Greece and how it contributes to authentic learning.It is crucial that teachers are well-prepared and equipped to support students in attaining higher levels of understanding, which can provide them with academic opportunities in science and technology.Through authentic learning, students construct their own knowledge in realistic environments.Furthermore, authentic settings emphasize the social nature of knowledge, which benefits student comprehension and application.Instead of memorizing information, students learn how to learn through hands-on experiments and simulated exercises.By engaging in complex, open-ended problems, students develop skills, search for information, and use critical thinking to solve challenges.They actively participate in practical activities, monitor their progress, and evaluate their final work based on specific criteria that provide a summative assessment of their learning.The aim of this study is to investigate the degree of STEM implementation in primary and secondary education and STEM's contribution to the creation of authentic learning and assessment environments.Fifteen teachers, mostly members of the Hellenic Education Society of STEM, participated in this study.Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and qualitative analysis was used to identify key themes related to how STEM promotes authentic learning and assessment.The initial themes that emerged from the data analysis include the degree of STEM implementation in K-12 education, the contribution of STEM teaching to authentic learning and assessment and barriers to creating authentic learning and assessment environments in STEM teaching.Additionally, the study identified key challenges that teachers face in implementing STEM education, including limited access to STEM resources, a lack of flexibility in developing STEM curricula and the necessity for professional development opportunities that do not infringe on teachers' time.Participants emphasized the importance of securing dedicated time for professional development to prevent teacher burnout and ensure the effective implementation of STEM learning.The shortage of resources, training, and teacher support were highlighted as significant obstacles in creating authentic learning and assessment environments through STEM education.Addressing these challenges can help ensure the broad-scale implementation of STEM education.This research underscores the importance of children receiving adequate STEM education in order to be prepared to thrive in a professional environment seeking executives literate in 21st century skills.Moreover, creating supportive environments for teachers is essential to facilitate the effective integration of STEM into the curriculum.