Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) self-efficacy refers to students’ belief in their ability to succeed in STEM-related tasks. Although parental involvement is known to positively influence students’ STEM self-efficacy, the relation between different types of parental involvement (e.g., discussions and activities) and students’ STEM self-efficacy across various age and gender groups remains understudied. This study examines the nuanced, age- and gender-specific associations between parental involvement and students’ STEM self-efficacy among primary and secondary students in Hong Kong, a high-performing education system where girls’ performance in Science and Mathematics were higher or similar to boys on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018 and 2022 respectively. Data from 712 students (49% female) from 6 primary and 6 secondary schools were collected via an online survey. Students’ demographic information, parental involvement, and STEM self-efficacy were analysed to address the research questions. Multigroup structural equation modelling revealed that primary students’ STEM self-efficacy benefited from parental STEM-related activities, while secondary students benefited from parental STEM-focused discussions. The relationship between parental involvement and STEM self-efficacy was consistent across genders in both age groups, indicating a consistent benefit of parental STEM involvement for both male and female students. The results of this study underscore the critical role of parental involvement in fostering students’ STEM self-efficacy and suggest that educational programs should include age-appropriate parental involvement elements to foster students’ self-efficacy development in STEM. Copyright © 2025 The Author(s).

Coding is a crucial foundation for young children's cognitive development that enhances their logical and computational thinking skills for long-term learning. This study examines how young children in Hong Kong acquire coding skills through integrated STEM activities. In an innovative educational program enacted in a technology-rich 'Creative Lab' with augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and a 3D printer, the study focuses on three children aged 6–8. An explanatory case study approach was employed to collect data from classroom observations and teacher interviews. Observations targeted children's learning progress in coding activities, while the interview unpacked the applied teaching repository. The findings reveal that young children developed early coding skills using various technologies to create and apply symbols. Three strategies scaffold children’s skills enhancement stemmed from situated learning theory: 1) integrating learning content in an authentic context, 2) leveraging learners' intuitive knowledge through inquisitive practice, and 3) providing immersive learning resources. Copyright © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

This chapter explores the importance of STREAM education by adopting a school-based curriculum exemplar to elucidate the numerous benefits of linguistic, creative, and interdisciplinary development. In this curriculum exemplar, students invented and modified their Micro:bit devices, adopting the Design Cycle to assist individuals with diverse abilities. The STREAM project presented in this chapter exemplifies how STREAM education serves as a niche for cultivating positive humanistic values, exceptionally caring, empathy, and equal opportunity. The integration of ‘Reading across the Curriculum’ (RaC) has further enhanced their learning experience, promoting self-directed learning and fostering an understanding of equal opportunities and barrier-free society. The chapter highlights the transformative power of STREAM education in shaping students into well-rounded individuals with positive humanistic values prepared to make an affirmative impact in society. Copyright © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Huixuan Xu; individual chapters, the contributors.

Background: The number of artificial intelligence (AI) literacy studies in K-12 education has recently increased, with most research focusing on primary and secondary education contexts. Little research focuses on AI literacy programs in early childhood education. Objectives: The aim of this mixed-methods study is to examine the feasibility of an AI literacy program called AI4KG and explore how it might affect kindergarteners' perceptions of robots and attitudes towards engineering and science. Methods: A total of 26 child-parent dyads recruited from a Hong Kong kindergarten were involved in this study, consisting of 26 children (Mage = 4 years, SD = 0.28) and their parents. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through surveys and interviews designed to explore children's perceptions of robots and attitudes towards engineering and science, and parents' perceptions of the AI4KG intervention. Results: It is found that children have increased their perceptions of robots after the AI literacy program, but the AI4KG curriculum had no significant effects on kindergarten children's engineering and science attitudes. Most parents (22 out of 26) agreed that their children's AI knowledge, AI skills, and AI attitudes have been enhanced after learning through the AI4KG curriculum. Conclusions: This study suggests that the AI4KG curriculum is potentially effective in promoting early AI literacy and favourable attitudes towards the technology, but further research is needed to develop age-appropriate measures and assess its long-term impact on children's education and career paths. Copyright ©2024 Wiley.

This study trialed a pedagogy of “To Play and Learn, To Inquire, To STEM and Code”. Supplementary with seven hands-on activity worksheets and 19 coding product templates and samples, the pedagogy was designed to expose students to the construction of electric circuits with Micro:bit in STEM classrooms for developing knowledge of electric circuits and problem-solving skills. The pedagogy was implemented as a 280-minute teaching in eight lessons for 23 selected Grade 5 classes, which involved 369 students from nine primary schools at Hong Kong. The results of pre-post-test validate the success of the pedagogy in students' statistically significant growth in all three topic-specific knowledge points. The results of questionnaire survey demonstrate the impact of the pedagogy on students' statistically significant growth in their awareness of and their confidence in applying the target problem-solving skills. The results of focus group interviews confirm that students were satisfied with the experiences and outcomes of the pedagogy in developing topic-specific knowledge and problem-solving skills. This study reveals that the pedagogy is well received by students; noticeably effective to enhance students' knowledge of electric circuits; and potential to promote their development of problem-solving skills. Future directions to extend the pedagogy for senior primary curriculum are discussed. Copyright © 2022 Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.

Background and aims: Mathematics is one of the critical elements of STEM education. However, the importance of mathematics has not been fully emphasized in the practice of STEM education (Martín‐Páez et al., 2019). Promoting STEM education in mathematics education is one of the focal points of the Hong Kong school curriculum (CDC, 2017). In this study, we introduced an innovative STEM learning activity in the classroom based on the topic of 3D shapes in the primary mathematics curriculum. The aim was to provide an example of a school-based mathematics curriculum integrated with STEM education and offer teachers the design and development of STEM pedagogy.Methodology or process(es) undertaken: Focusing on the learning objective of recognizing the concept of 3D shape, we designed an interdisciplinary STEM learning activity in grade two in a Hong Kong primary school. Students learned the concept of a cylinder in the Funny Zoetrope Project. A curriculum consultant, a mathematics teacher and a visual art teacher collaborated to implement the whole teaching design within seven lessons (five mathematics lessons and two visual art lessons). A series of learning booklets were designed for teaching and learning. Regarding the process of preliminary preparation, teaching arrangement, course implementation, and after-class feedback, the STEM learning activity was incorporated into the school-based mathematics curriculum.Results and conclusions: The STEM learning activity based on the mathematical topic provides students with opportunities to see, know and understand the mathematical concept in STEM education. Students experience interdisciplinary learning during the process of making a zoetrope. They learn to integrate and apply knowledge and skills they have learned in mathematics and visual art. Some generic skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and self-assessment skills are also developed. Copyright © 2022 7th STEM in Education Conference.