Understanding Teacher Candidates’ Critical Curation of STEM+C Instruction Using Equity Pedagogy

This qualitative case study explores the use of critical curation as a tool that supports PK-3 teacher candidate STEM PBL instructional design with attention to equity pedagogy. Curation, a tool that was generated through practice, offers teacher educators the opportunity to link theory with practice. We found that supporting teacher candidate critical curation: (1) developed teacher candidate identity as an instructional decision-maker, (2) became more complex as equity was explored at every stage, and (3) supported integration of STEM concepts within ELA lessons, but that the STEM concepts were often simplified. Results identified areas that need scaffolding while simultaneously noting a set of positive impacts on teacher candidate planning and equity pedagogy.