"My Child Might Be Thinking About Something Beneficial to Humanity": Enhancing Parental Perspectives on Engineering Education in Early Childhood

Ata-Akturk A., DEMİRCAN H. Ö.

JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, 2024 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/02568543.2024.2379854
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Psycinfo, DIALNET
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This qualitative case study explores how parental involvement (PI) in early engineering education (EEE) of 5- to 6-year-old children provided through a school-based program reflected on Turkish parents' perspectives regarding three themes: 1) engineering, 2) EEE, and 3) PI in EEE. Data were collected from 13 parents through pre- and post-interviews and reflective journals. Findings revealed that, after their involvement in the program activities, parents tended to define engineering as related to problem-solving and facilitating daily life and perceive the contributions of EEE to children more comprehensively. After participating in the program, parents reported a more expanded perception of alternative ways of supporting their children's EEE through PI. Findings also indicated that parents' perceived life contexts might constitute a barrier to PI in EEE, and parents need more guidance on providing effective scaffolding for their children's EEE.