Interdisciplinary project based-inquiry: Empowering students to solve global problems

Erin E. Krupa; Margaret L. Borden; Hiller A. Spires; Marie Himes

doi:10.29333/ejmste/16396

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Erin E. Krupa ¹ ^* , Margaret L. Borden ¹ , Hiller A. Spires ¹ , Marie Himes ¹

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¹ North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of an interdisciplinary project-based inquiry global project on 9^th grade students’ science content knowledge and engagement using a mixed-methods research design. Data sources included pre/post tests on science content, pre/post survey on student motivation, and student focus groups interview data. Results indicate there were significant increases in student science content knowledge and significant increases in their feelings of empowerment. Three themes emerged from the focus group interviews: (1) collaborating during the pandemic, (2) motivation through sharing their ideas, and (3) motivation to learn science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content to solve global problems. Discussion focuses on the ways project-based learning help students feel motivated, even in a virtual learning environment.

Keywords

project-based learning
project-based inquiry
science content knowledge
student motivation
empowerment

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 21, Issue 5, May 2025, Article No: em2639

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/16396

Publication date: 20 May 2025

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How to cite this article

APA

Krupa, E. E., Borden, M. L., Spires, H. A., & Himes, M. (2025). Interdisciplinary project based-inquiry: Empowering students to solve global problems. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 21(5), em2639. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/16396

Vancouver

Krupa EE, Borden ML, Spires HA, Himes M. Interdisciplinary project based-inquiry: Empowering students to solve global problems. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2025;21(5):em2639. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/16396

AMA

Krupa EE, Borden ML, Spires HA, Himes M. Interdisciplinary project based-inquiry: Empowering students to solve global problems. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2025;21(5), em2639. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/16396

Chicago

Krupa, Erin E., Margaret L. Borden, Hiller A. Spires, and Marie Himes. "Interdisciplinary project based-inquiry: Empowering students to solve global problems". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2025 21 no. 5 (2025): em2639. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/16396

Harvard

Krupa, E. E., Borden, M. L., Spires, H. A., and Himes, M. (2025). Interdisciplinary project based-inquiry: Empowering students to solve global problems. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 21(5), em2639. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/16396

MLA

Krupa, Erin E. et al. "Interdisciplinary project based-inquiry: Empowering students to solve global problems". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 21, no. 5, 2025, em2639. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/16396