Exploring a Contextualized STEM Integration in Chemistry Education Laboratory: Insights from Pre-Service Teacher Training

Carla Morais; Gildo Girotto Junior; Cidália André

doi:10.20897/ejsteme/17213

Research Article

2025, 10(1), Article No: 18

Exploring a Contextualized STEM Integration in Chemistry Education Laboratory: Insights from Pre-Service Teacher Training

Carla Morais ¹, Gildo Girotto Junior ² ^* , Cidália André ¹

¹ CIQUP - IMS, Science Teaching Unit, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, PORTUGAL ² UNICAMP, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, BRASIL
^* Corresponding Author

https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/17213

Published in Volume 10 Issue 1: 08 Oct 2025

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Abstract

Empowering students with a robust Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, while equipping their teachers with comprehensive training, fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are important aspects of innovation, social progress, and advancement. The main objective of this study is to investigate how a STEM-lab activity - an experimental chemistry laboratory activity integrated with Arduino prototyping - implemented within a teacher education program can promote the development of professional knowledge that enables the development of activities aligned with the STEM approach among pre-service teachers. Twenty Portuguese pre-service physics and chemistry teachers participated in the study. Pre- and post-activity tests, incorporating closed and open-ended questions, were used to assess participants' perceptions. Data analysis included quantitative assessment of conceptual gains and qualitative content analysis of reflective responses. The results suggest that the activity fosters a reflective process among pre-service chemistry teachers, enabling them to integrate STEM components with a socio-scientific contextual approach and encouraging critical consideration of adapting STEM activities for greater applicability and effectiveness in secondary education. While this approach significantly enhances pedagogical effectiveness, challenges persist in identifying aspects related to engineering and using Arduino prototyping.

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AMA 10th edition

In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Morais C, Junior GG, André C. Exploring a Contextualized STEM Integration in Chemistry Education Laboratory: Insights from Pre-Service Teacher Training. European Journal of STEM Education. 2025;10(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/17213

APA 6th edition

In-text citation: (Morais et al., 2025)
Reference: Morais, C., Junior, G. G., & André, C. (2025). Exploring a Contextualized STEM Integration in Chemistry Education Laboratory: Insights from Pre-Service Teacher Training. European Journal of STEM Education, 10(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/17213

Chicago

In-text citation: (Morais et al., 2025)
Reference: Morais, Carla, Gildo Girotto Junior, and Cidália André. "Exploring a Contextualized STEM Integration in Chemistry Education Laboratory: Insights from Pre-Service Teacher Training". European Journal of STEM Education 2025 10 no. 1 (2025): 18. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/17213

Harvard

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Reference: Morais, C., Junior, G. G., and André, C. (2025). Exploring a Contextualized STEM Integration in Chemistry Education Laboratory: Insights from Pre-Service Teacher Training. European Journal of STEM Education, 10(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/17213

MLA

In-text citation: (Morais et al., 2025)
Reference: Morais, Carla et al. "Exploring a Contextualized STEM Integration in Chemistry Education Laboratory: Insights from Pre-Service Teacher Training". European Journal of STEM Education, vol. 10, no. 1, 2025, 18. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/17213

Vancouver

In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Morais C, Junior GG, André C. Exploring a Contextualized STEM Integration in Chemistry Education Laboratory: Insights from Pre-Service Teacher Training. European Journal of STEM Education. 2025;10(1):18. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/17213

Keywords

STEM, pre-service teachers, chemistry education, Arduino prototyping

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