Practice-based holistic STEM teaching in VET

This article examines the significance of practice-based holistic STEM teaching in vocational education and training and how it can enhance students' motivation and learning in STEM subjects. The study shows that STEM teaching, which incorporates vocational practice, can motivate and include m...

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Main Authors: Henrik Hersom, Felicia Lind Benthien
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences 2025-03-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Vocations in Development
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.oslomet.no/index.php/yrke/article/view/5891
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author Henrik Hersom
Felicia Lind Benthien
author_facet Henrik Hersom
Felicia Lind Benthien
author_sort Henrik Hersom
collection DOAJ
description This article examines the significance of practice-based holistic STEM teaching in vocational education and training and how it can enhance students' motivation and learning in STEM subjects. The study shows that STEM teaching, which incorporates vocational practice, can motivate and include more student groups, including those with negative experiences from previous schooling. The article distinguishes between 'imagined vocational practice' and 'experienced vocational practice'. The article argues that the latter, which involves concrete, physical experiences, has the potential to strengthen students' motivation and increase the opportunities for participation in STEM teaching. When students have the opportunity to physically experience their future vocational practice, it can help enhance their engagement and improve their learning outcomes in STEM subjects. Practice-based and holistic teaching makes abstract concepts more concrete and therefore easier for students to relate to their future vocation. The empirical analyses in the article are based on the research and development project 'Holistic STEM Teaching in VET'. The data collection was carried out through observations and qualitative interviews as well as a national survey. Additionally, an international literature review was conducted. The analysis indicates that when teaching initially involves experienced vocational practice and later introduces imagined vocational practice, it can help students understand and appreciate the theoretical aspects of STEM subjects.  Practice-based holistic teaching requires interdisciplinary collaboration between STEM teachers and vocational teachers, as well as organizational structures that facilitate this. Teachers' collaboration supports students' sense of meaning in STEM subjects, as it qualifies the inclusion of relevant practice across vocational and STEM subjects. The article concludes that practice-based holistic STEM teaching, which is based on concrete vocational experiences, not only increases motivation and learning among students but also contributes to more inclusive and meaningful teaching that can engage a broader range of student types.
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spelling doaj-art-751189e7e6b9481c839088f6aa3f82ef2025-08-20T01:57:45ZengOslo and Akershus University College of Applied SciencesScandinavian Journal of Vocations in Development2464-41532025-03-0110110.7577/sjvd.5891Practice-based holistic STEM teaching in VETHenrik Hersom0Felicia Lind Benthien1University College CopenhagenUniversity College Copenhagen This article examines the significance of practice-based holistic STEM teaching in vocational education and training and how it can enhance students' motivation and learning in STEM subjects. The study shows that STEM teaching, which incorporates vocational practice, can motivate and include more student groups, including those with negative experiences from previous schooling. The article distinguishes between 'imagined vocational practice' and 'experienced vocational practice'. The article argues that the latter, which involves concrete, physical experiences, has the potential to strengthen students' motivation and increase the opportunities for participation in STEM teaching. When students have the opportunity to physically experience their future vocational practice, it can help enhance their engagement and improve their learning outcomes in STEM subjects. Practice-based and holistic teaching makes abstract concepts more concrete and therefore easier for students to relate to their future vocation. The empirical analyses in the article are based on the research and development project 'Holistic STEM Teaching in VET'. The data collection was carried out through observations and qualitative interviews as well as a national survey. Additionally, an international literature review was conducted. The analysis indicates that when teaching initially involves experienced vocational practice and later introduces imagined vocational practice, it can help students understand and appreciate the theoretical aspects of STEM subjects.  Practice-based holistic teaching requires interdisciplinary collaboration between STEM teachers and vocational teachers, as well as organizational structures that facilitate this. Teachers' collaboration supports students' sense of meaning in STEM subjects, as it qualifies the inclusion of relevant practice across vocational and STEM subjects. The article concludes that practice-based holistic STEM teaching, which is based on concrete vocational experiences, not only increases motivation and learning among students but also contributes to more inclusive and meaningful teaching that can engage a broader range of student types. https://journals.oslomet.no/index.php/yrke/article/view/5891STEMholistic teachingpractice-orientationpractice-basedparticipation opportunitiescollaboration
spellingShingle Henrik Hersom
Felicia Lind Benthien
Practice-based holistic STEM teaching in VET
Scandinavian Journal of Vocations in Development
STEM
holistic teaching
practice-orientation
practice-based
participation opportunities
collaboration
title Practice-based holistic STEM teaching in VET
title_full Practice-based holistic STEM teaching in VET
title_fullStr Practice-based holistic STEM teaching in VET
title_full_unstemmed Practice-based holistic STEM teaching in VET
title_short Practice-based holistic STEM teaching in VET
title_sort practice based holistic stem teaching in vet
topic STEM
holistic teaching
practice-orientation
practice-based
participation opportunities
collaboration
url https://journals.oslomet.no/index.php/yrke/article/view/5891
work_keys_str_mv AT henrikhersom practicebasedholisticstemteachinginvet
AT felicialindbenthien practicebasedholisticstemteachinginvet