Rethinking Nature of STEM: Theoretical Insights and the Development of EPISTEMIK-Fire as an Assessment Tool.
Saved in:
| Title: | Rethinking Nature of STEM: Theoretical Insights and the Development of EPISTEMIK-Fire as an Assessment Tool. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Martínez-Martínez, Víctor1 (AUTHOR) victormm@ubu.es, Ortiz-Revilla, Jairo1 (AUTHOR), Greca, Ileana M.1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Science & Education. Feb2026, Vol. 35 Issue 1, p127-164. 38p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Interdisciplinary education, *Research methodology, *STEM education, Fire ecology, Epistemics |
| Abstract: | Nature of STEM (NoSTEM) encompasses epistemological, social, and ethical dimensions underlying STEM disciplines, emphasizing their interdependence rather than treating them as isolated domains. This perspective challenges reductionist and technocentric views, fostering a holistic understanding of science and technology in society. Nevertheless, currently, no validated instruments specifically evaluate NoSTEM, making the development of such instruments essential for advancing interdisciplinary STEM education. Thus, we present Evaluating Performance in STEM Integrated Knowledge (EPISTEMIK), a roadmap for developing instruments to assess NoSTEM in educational contexts grounded in a solid theoretical-philosophical framework. Based on this, we introduce a mixed-method instrument, combining statistical validation with qualitative analysis to ensure instrument robustness, focused on fire ecology (EPISTEMIK-Fire), consisting of 11 closed-ended and 2 open-ended items. EPISTEMIK-Fire uses fire ecology to explore interdisciplinary integration and critical reflection. However, while we introduce both EPISTEMIK and EPISTEMIK-Fire, the results primarily focus on validating the latter. Findings highlight EPISTEMIK-Fire's potential to provide a comprehensive understanding of NoSTEM, addressing gaps in existing evaluation tools by capturing interdisciplinary knowledge and socio-ethical implications. Beyond this application, our study contributes to STEM education by offering a rigorous framework for assessing interdisciplinary integration. Future applications aim to extend this instrument to diverse STEM fields and educational levels, fostering critical scientific literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Science & Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 1 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 192011215 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Rethinking Nature of STEM: Theoretical Insights and the Development of EPISTEMIK-Fire as an Assessment Tool. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martínez-Martínez%2C+Víctor%22">Martínez-Martínez, Víctor</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> victormm@ubu.es</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ortiz-Revilla%2C+Jairo%22">Ortiz-Revilla, Jairo</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Greca%2C+Ileana+M%2E%22">Greca, Ileana M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Science+%26+Education%22">Science & Education</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 35 Issue 1, p127-164. 38p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interdisciplinary+education%22">Interdisciplinary education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+education%22">STEM education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fire+ecology%22">Fire ecology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Epistemics%22">Epistemics</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Nature of STEM (NoSTEM) encompasses epistemological, social, and ethical dimensions underlying STEM disciplines, emphasizing their interdependence rather than treating them as isolated domains. This perspective challenges reductionist and technocentric views, fostering a holistic understanding of science and technology in society. Nevertheless, currently, no validated instruments specifically evaluate NoSTEM, making the development of such instruments essential for advancing interdisciplinary STEM education. Thus, we present Evaluating Performance in STEM Integrated Knowledge (EPISTEMIK), a roadmap for developing instruments to assess NoSTEM in educational contexts grounded in a solid theoretical-philosophical framework. Based on this, we introduce a mixed-method instrument, combining statistical validation with qualitative analysis to ensure instrument robustness, focused on fire ecology (EPISTEMIK-Fire), consisting of 11 closed-ended and 2 open-ended items. EPISTEMIK-Fire uses fire ecology to explore interdisciplinary integration and critical reflection. However, while we introduce both EPISTEMIK and EPISTEMIK-Fire, the results primarily focus on validating the latter. Findings highlight EPISTEMIK-Fire's potential to provide a comprehensive understanding of NoSTEM, addressing gaps in existing evaluation tools by capturing interdisciplinary knowledge and socio-ethical implications. Beyond this application, our study contributes to STEM education by offering a rigorous framework for assessing interdisciplinary integration. Future applications aim to extend this instrument to diverse STEM fields and educational levels, fostering critical scientific literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Science & Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=192011215 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s11191-025-00643-2 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 38 StartPage: 127 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Interdisciplinary education Type: general – SubjectFull: Research methodology Type: general – SubjectFull: STEM education Type: general – SubjectFull: Fire ecology Type: general – SubjectFull: Epistemics Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Rethinking Nature of STEM: Theoretical Insights and the Development of EPISTEMIK-Fire as an Assessment Tool. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Martínez-Martínez, Víctor – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ortiz-Revilla, Jairo – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Greca, Ileana M. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 02 Text: Feb2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 09267220 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 35 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Science & Education Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
