Visualizing Integrated STEM Practices: Pulley System & Orchestra

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvPdPaxiAVA

To truly understand STEM practices, we must look beyond individual skills and view them through an integrated lens. This is the heart of "Situated STEM Learning"—the idea that understanding how to apply knowledge is just as important as the knowledge itself.

But how do we visualize this integration?

1. The Pulley System Kelley and Knowles (2016) propose a "block and tackle" pulley framework. Imagine Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math as four separate pulleys. Together, they lift a heavy "load"—which is Situated STEM Learning (authentic, real-world problem solving). The "rope" connecting them represents the community of educators and students collaborating to make this lift happen. It reminds us that successful STEM requires a community working in harmony.

2. The Orchestra Another way to view this is through the metaphor of a grand orchestra.

  • The Conductor: The student or professional working on a project, deciding which cues to give.

  • The Sections: Strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion represent the four STEM disciplines.

What I love about this metaphor is that it debunks a common myth: that all four disciplines must be present in every single lesson. Just as a composer chooses specific instruments for a desired sound, a STEM professional chooses which practices to apply based on the specific phase of the project.

References

  • Kelley, T. R., & Knowles, J. G. (2016). A conceptual framework for integrated STEM education. International Journal of STEM Education, 3(11).

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