The shortage of graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), has led to numerous attempts to increase students' interest in STEM. One emerging approach that has the potential to improve students' motivation for STEM is integrated STEM education. Nonetheless, the implementation of this new instructional strategy is not straightforward due to the lack of consensus about instructional practices in integrated STEM. This paper contributes to this challenge by providing a well-defined framework for instructional practices in integrated STEM in secondary education, based on the results of a systematic review of existing literature. The framework contains five key principles: integration of STEM content, problem-centered learning, inquiry-based learning, design-based learning and cooperative learning. The proposed framework has several benefits, including its applicability in the classroom and the possibility to describe integrated STEM on multiple dimensions. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to investigate the effects of integrated STEM on students' cognitive and affective learning outcomes.

BE02-KA200-000462 A c c e p t e d E u r o p e a n J o u r n a l o f P s y c h o l o g y o f E d u c a t i o n EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF AT-RISK STUDENTS 2 At-risk at the gate: Prediction of study success of first-year Science and Engineering students in an open-admission university in Flanders Any incremental validity of study strategies?

A plethora of studies have shown that procrastination is associated with deleterious consequences. Recently, some authors argued that for some students, purposefully delaying tasks might be a beneficial strategy that is positively related with desired outcomes. To measure purposeful delay, the Active Procrastination Scale (APS), developed by Choi and Moran (2009), discriminates between four subcomponents (i.e., outcome satisfaction, preference for pressure, intentional decision and ability to meet deadlines). The objective of the present study is threefold: (1) to corroborate the factor structure of the original APS instrument; (2) to empirically examine whether purposeful delay is associated with better achievement; and (3) to identify a subpopulation of students for whom purposefully delaying tasks is an effective strategy. Using a large sample of 1605 science and engineering students, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) supported a three-factor rather than a four-factor structure of the APS. Furthermore, results of the regression analyses showed no evidence for the beneficial effect of purposeful delay on student achievement. Finally, we were unable to identify a particular type of student for whom purposefully delaying tasks resulted in increased achievement. Critical considerations on the construct validity of the APS are discussed in greater detail.

No abstract

We are increasingly exposed to complex societal and technological problems. Qualified Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professionals are needed to solve these problems and cope with contemporary demands such as sustainable energy and efficient healthcare [1]. It is not surprising then that the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report (2016) predicted a job gain in STEM fields for the following years [2]. However, we do not only need STEM professionals who can solve these problems. We also need people with a certain level of basic STEM literacy. All citizens, even non-STEM professionals, should have the skills and competences necessary to deal with the challenges of our information-based and highly technological society [3]. STEM-literacy, i.e., the awareness of the nature of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and the familiarity with fundamental concepts from each discipline, should be an educational priority for all students [3], [4].