Examining the Impact of STEAM Education Reform on Teachers’ Perceptions about STEAM in Uzbekistan

Abstract In an effort to reform education, Uzbekistan has adopted STEAM education as a basic principle of educational reform. However, as these efforts are largely being made from a top-down manner, knowledge about STEAM education in schools and informal settings is not yet well known. This paper introduces Uzbekistan’s general education status and shares findings from surveys and interviews with in- and pre-service teachers, and professors about STEAM education. In addition, newspaper articles and government documents about STEAM education were analyzed to understanding how education reforms are being established. STEAM education is explored as a potential tool for helping to improve science teaching and learning in the Uzbekistan education system. Using survey responses and interviews, this paper shares how teachers think of STEAM education and makes suggestions for how the government can more effectively achieve reform goals related to STEAM education.