A pedagogical approach: toward leveraging mathematical modeling and AI to support integrating humanities into STEM education

This paper examines the transformative potential of integrating humanities into STEM education using interdisciplinary approaches, AI, and Model Eliciting Activities (MEAs). The integration is motivated by the increasing complexity of global challenges, such as climate change, which demand solutions...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Quintana M. Clark
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1396104/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832583776008404992
author Quintana M. Clark
author_facet Quintana M. Clark
author_sort Quintana M. Clark
collection DOAJ
description This paper examines the transformative potential of integrating humanities into STEM education using interdisciplinary approaches, AI, and Model Eliciting Activities (MEAs). The integration is motivated by the increasing complexity of global challenges, such as climate change, which demand solutions that extend beyond traditional STEM boundaries and incorporate ethical, cultural, and societal considerations. This study profiles a multi-year, NSF-funded project focused on enhancing STEM literacy among underrepresented minority students through agricultural sciences-based MEAs that address key societal challenges in health, energy, urban green spaces, and food security. The paper details the curriculum’s design principles, emphasizing real-world, culturally relevant contexts. Results indicate that while quantitative measures show limited significant changes in interest and motivation, qualitative findings highlight increased student engagement, especially regarding real-world issues. The study underscores the importance of structural and interactional components, such as culturally relevant pedagogy, for successful curriculum implementation. Future research is recommended to explore broader applications of this model across diverse educational settings, aiming to refine interdisciplinary educational frameworks that equip students with technical skills and ethical awareness to navigate societal challenges responsibly. This case study provides a framework for educators seeking to implement interdisciplinary approaches that prepare students to address complex global challenges by integrating technical skills with ethical and cultural understanding.
format Article
id doaj-art-4ce8452fdb234cf799ce837aca11690f
institution Kabale University
issn 2504-284X
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Education
spelling doaj-art-4ce8452fdb234cf799ce837aca11690f2025-01-28T06:41:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-01-01910.3389/feduc.2024.13961041396104A pedagogical approach: toward leveraging mathematical modeling and AI to support integrating humanities into STEM educationQuintana M. ClarkThis paper examines the transformative potential of integrating humanities into STEM education using interdisciplinary approaches, AI, and Model Eliciting Activities (MEAs). The integration is motivated by the increasing complexity of global challenges, such as climate change, which demand solutions that extend beyond traditional STEM boundaries and incorporate ethical, cultural, and societal considerations. This study profiles a multi-year, NSF-funded project focused on enhancing STEM literacy among underrepresented minority students through agricultural sciences-based MEAs that address key societal challenges in health, energy, urban green spaces, and food security. The paper details the curriculum’s design principles, emphasizing real-world, culturally relevant contexts. Results indicate that while quantitative measures show limited significant changes in interest and motivation, qualitative findings highlight increased student engagement, especially regarding real-world issues. The study underscores the importance of structural and interactional components, such as culturally relevant pedagogy, for successful curriculum implementation. Future research is recommended to explore broader applications of this model across diverse educational settings, aiming to refine interdisciplinary educational frameworks that equip students with technical skills and ethical awareness to navigate societal challenges responsibly. This case study provides a framework for educators seeking to implement interdisciplinary approaches that prepare students to address complex global challenges by integrating technical skills with ethical and cultural understanding.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1396104/fullSTEMhumanitiesartificial intelligencemodel-eliciting activitiesmathematical modelingethics
spellingShingle Quintana M. Clark
A pedagogical approach: toward leveraging mathematical modeling and AI to support integrating humanities into STEM education
Frontiers in Education
STEM
humanities
artificial intelligence
model-eliciting activities
mathematical modeling
ethics
title A pedagogical approach: toward leveraging mathematical modeling and AI to support integrating humanities into STEM education
title_full A pedagogical approach: toward leveraging mathematical modeling and AI to support integrating humanities into STEM education
title_fullStr A pedagogical approach: toward leveraging mathematical modeling and AI to support integrating humanities into STEM education
title_full_unstemmed A pedagogical approach: toward leveraging mathematical modeling and AI to support integrating humanities into STEM education
title_short A pedagogical approach: toward leveraging mathematical modeling and AI to support integrating humanities into STEM education
title_sort pedagogical approach toward leveraging mathematical modeling and ai to support integrating humanities into stem education
topic STEM
humanities
artificial intelligence
model-eliciting activities
mathematical modeling
ethics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1396104/full
work_keys_str_mv AT quintanamclark apedagogicalapproachtowardleveragingmathematicalmodelingandaitosupportintegratinghumanitiesintostemeducation
AT quintanamclark pedagogicalapproachtowardleveragingmathematicalmodelingandaitosupportintegratinghumanitiesintostemeducation