Creating the Integrative STEM Lesson Unit Plan for 11th Grade Students
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2026
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SDU University
Abstract
This study investigates the development, implementation, and evaluation of an integrative STEM lesson unit plan for 11th grade chemistry students across three secondary schools in Almaty, Kazakhstan a private school, a state school, and a specialized school. The study addresses three research questions concerning the development of an effective STEM unit plan, its impact on academic performance, and the challenges associated with its integration. Grounded in constructivism, the Zone of Proximal Development, inquiry-based learning, and the 5E Instructional Model, the research employed a mixed-methods design combining a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test with semi-structured online interviews. A total of 117 students participated in the pedagogical experiment, and 15 chemistry teachers were interviewed. Research instruments were validated by five experts using Kendall's W analysis (W = 0.82 and W = 0.79, both p < .05). Paired samples t-tests confirmed statistically significant improvement in all six groups (p < .05). ANCOVA revealed significant advantages for the experimental group at the state school (F(1) = 9.34, p = .004) and the specialized school (F(1) = 9.14, p = .004). Qualitative findings indicated positive impacts on student engagement, motivation, and 21st-century skill development, while four systemic barriers were identified: infrastructural limitations, curriculum rigidity, inadequate teacher preparation, and student resistance. The study concludes that integrative STEM education has genuine and statistically demonstrable potential to enhance chemistry learning in Kazakhstan, and that successful implementation requires sustained investment in teacher professional development, school infrastructure, and curriculum reform.
Description
Keywords
STEM education, integrative unit plan, chemistry teaching, 11th grade
Citation
Adilzhan A / Creating the Integrative STEM Lesson Unit Plan for 11th Grade Students / SDU University / Department of Pedagogy of Natural Sciences