| Title: |
Exploring a STEM-Integrated Instructional Approach and Its Preliminary Contextual Assessments of Problem-Solving and Motivation in Oman |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Marwa Al-Hinai (ORCID 0009-0002-1415-9242); Mohamed A. Shahat (ORCID 0000-0002-9637-8192); Ehab Omara (ORCID 0000-0001-6657-3141); Mahmoud M. Emam (ORCID 0000-0003-4451-9237); Sameh S. Ismail (ORCID 0000-0003-2718-5159); Nabil Alhabsi (ORCID 0009-0007-7437-6608); Khoula Alhosni (ORCID 0000-0003-3961-0941); Mohammed Al-Amri (ORCID 0000-0002-0183-6227); Amur Al-Yahmedi (ORCID 0000-0002-3956-3439); Yasser M. Fawzy (ORCID 0009-0001-6057-2612); Sulaiman M. Al-Balushi (ORCID 0000-0002-4080-1203) |
| Source: |
European Journal of STEM Education. 2026 11(1). |
| Availability: |
Lectito Journals. Wassenaarseweb 20, 2596 CH, The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel: 31-70-2190600; e-mail: info@lectitojournals.com; Web site: http://www.lectitopublishing.nl |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
21 |
| Publication Date: |
2026 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
Elementary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades |
| Descriptors: |
Foreign Countries; STEM Education; Culturally Relevant Education; Problem Solving; Grade 4; Student Motivation; Gender Differences; Science Education; Hands on Science; Inquiry; Relevance (Education); Program Effectiveness |
| Geographic Terms: |
Oman |
| ISSN: |
2468-1954; 2468-4368 |
| Abstract: |
This study investigates how using the Engineering Design Process (EDP) to deliver culturally contextualized STEM education can enhance problem-solving skills and motivation among fourth-grade students in Oman, while also examining whether these outcomes differ by gender. Using a quasi-experimental design, 118 students participated in either a STEM-based instructional intervention or a traditional science curriculum. The intervention featured hands-on, inquiry-driven, and locally meaningful tasks that directly reflect students' real environmental and cultural experiences in Oman. These included constructing weather-resistant animal shelters, designing floating paper boats, creating chocolate molds suited for warm climates, and developing low-cost oil-spill cleanup solutions using readily available local materials. These contextually grounded challenges, highlighted as a central strength of the study, demonstrate how the EDP can authentically align global STEM competencies with regional realities. The findings revealed preliminary evidence of improvements in the problem-solving dimensions of problem identification, planning, and production, as well as in motivational factors such as responsibility and engagement. However, no significant gains were observed in self-efficacy or peer collaboration, indicating areas for future instructional enhancement. This study underscores the value of culturally responsive, practice-based STEM pedagogy and provides initial insights into the use of contextualized, performance-based assessments to explore students' cognitive and motivational development in primary STEM education. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1497343 |
| Database: |
ERIC |