Evaluation of STEAM Methodologies in Undergraduate Applied Mathematics Courses

Abstract

In recent years, STEAM practices have become very popular, especially in higher education. The shift from STEM (Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to STEAM, which includes Arts, added a new paradigm to education, with the goal to emphasize students’ creativity and intellectual curiosity. In this paper, the case study within the ERASMUS+ project FUTUREMATH is presented. This case study includes analysis of implemented STEAM methods in four undergraduate courses. The paper focuses on analyzing both students’satisfaction in the adoption of STEAM methodologies, and the role of this approach for their better understanding of complex mathematical topics. The findings of this research lead to the conclusions that students accepted the new approaches very well, and that STEAM approach helped them in relating calculus topics with the topics in their academic majors. This work outlines good STEAM practices in working with students, as well as it addresses future needed improvements.