Decision-Making during Elementary Technological/Engineering Design-Based Learning

This research examines the decision-making subskills and informed decision-making strategies employed by third-grade STEM students during a technological and engineering (T/E) design challenge implemented through the Technological/Engineering Design-Based Learning (T/E DBL) pedagogical framework. Using a quasi-mixed method embedded multiple case study design, this study analyzed student responses to structured 2-1-1 prompts and unstructured Interactive Engineering Journals (IEJs) that documented their design process. Post-intervention, a stratified sample of 18 students—six from each of three third-grade classes—was selected for IEJ analysis, determined by the Spring 2025 Virginia Measures of Academic Progress Growth Reading Assessment (MAP) scores. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the decision-making skills and strategies utilized by third graders during T/E design challenges. Findings revealed that third grade students demonstrated a wide range of decision-making subskills and informed decision making strategies. These results underscored the role of T/E DBL in fostering decision-making skills, providing valuable insight into how young learners develop and apply decision-making in STEM contexts.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum and Instruction

Department dc:contributor.department

Education, Vocational-Technical

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Larson, Elizabeth Amy Paddock

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Wells, John Gaulden

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Williams, Thomas O.
• Fortune, Donna J.
• Mukuni, Joseph Siloka

• Integrative STEM Education
• Technology and Engineering Design-Based Learning
• Elementary Education
• Decision-Making

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:45401

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140845