Engineering Design-Based Mathematics Activities: Ratio and Proportion Sample

Abstract

In STEM education, the engineering design process serves as a pedagogical strategy to connect science and mathematics concepts. While STEM approaches are increasingly favored in science courses, the role of mathematics in integrated STEM activities is often overlooked, despite its foundational importance across STEM disciplines. This manuscript investigates the implementation of engineering design activities in a middle school mathematics course using an integrated STEM approach. Conducted during the 2022-2023 academic year, the study involved 21 seventh-grade students from a private school in Turkey's Black Sea region. The activities were designed for the learning outcomes of the seventh grade Ratio and Proportion subject. The activities required students to apply ratio and proportion concepts as integral components of the engineering design process. At the end of the process, it was observed that the activities could support the concepts of ratio and proportion from the perspectives targeted in the learning outcomes, students were able to effectively use the content related to mathematics and science for design, and their active participation in the lesson increased.