An embodied approach to STEM - celebrating student research

Mette Elsnab Olesen - Image via Department of Science Education (IND), All Rights Reserved

Let’s celebrate the outstanding work of my former master's student, Mette Elsnab Olesen, whose thesis provides new insights into how STEM teachers understand and implement embodied approaches in their instructional practices 🎓

Through semi-structured interviews with six STEM teachers, Mette mapped out different ways teachers conceptualise embodiment in their practice - something that hasn't been done before in the Danish context. Her research revealed patterns in how teachers think about and implement embodied STEM education – while also shedding light on the cultural and practical barriers that often stand in their way.

But there is more! Mette used these insights to develop a framework to help teachers identify and implement different embodied aspects in their teaching. It’s very cool to see Mette translating her research into practical tools to improve STEM education 💪

Our department has just published a feature about her work (in Danish) that offers additional insights into her research journey and findings. You can also read Mette's full thesis, "En kropslig tilgang til STEM" (in Danish).

It's super rewarding to see how the KASTEM master program enables teachers like Mette to conduct research that bridges theory and practice in STEM education – while also generating new knowledge about embodied cognition approaches 🤓