Advancing High School STEM Education: Implications for Engineering Technology

A novel STEM education approach focused on competency-based education was implemented in a college preparatory high school. This high school is intended to provide students access to a nearby higher education institution, with the intent of aiding the students in obtaining STEM based education. This program prepares the students to move into the university environment by encouraging faculty collaboration with the high school, coursework promoting creativity and problem-solving skills, and the use of case studies in classroom instruction. These case studies are grounded in real-life scenarios students can expect to encounter in a professional setting. This study focuses on the implementation of the program through the first-year experiences of teachers and administrators through semi-structured interviews. The results presented highlight study findings and shed light on challenges in establishing a student-focused STEM learning environment while exploring new pedagogies, developing an innovative curriculum, and teaching.