The Role of Critical Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education to Create Pathways into STEM for Racially Minoritized Communities

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22044994
AutoresMariana Alvidrez (0000-0001-9302-819X, New Mexico State University, autor correspondente), Jessica Rivera (0000-0002-8609-0080, The University of Texas at San Antonio), Marisol Diaz (California State Polytechnic University, autor correspondente)
Ano2024
Volume14
Fascículo11
Páginas1208
Data de publicação2024-11-02
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEducation Sciences (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2227-7102 • E-ISSN: 2227-7102
EditoraMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/educsci14111208
OpenAlexW4404046832
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas26

This longitudinal study examines the long-term impact of critical pedagogy on the academic and social development of students from a marginalized Mexican American borderland community, with a specific focus on their trajectories in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Drawing on in-depth interviews with three students who participated in a critical pedagogical approach during their formative elementary years, this case study explores how power, agency, and curiosity were cultivated in the classroom and how these elements influenced the students’ pursuit of higher education and careers in STEM ten years later. The findings reveal that an equitable distribution of power and the fostering of student agency through critical-based pedagogies empowered students to engage critically with their learning and to challenge systemic barriers. Furthermore, this study highlights the role of early curiosity in sustaining students’ interest in STEM, despite encountering obstacles in higher education environments dominated by market-driven influences. By situating this research within the broader context of critical pedagogy and its emphasis on social justice, the study underscores the transformative potential of education in shaping the futures of minoritized students in STEM disciplines

Critical theory · Developmental psychology · Early childhood · Early childhood education · Mathematics education · Pedagogy · Political science · Sociology · Community Health and Development · Early Childhood Education and Development · Psychology · Youth Development and Social Support