STEM through Street Sports for Young Adults

Abstract

This study explores the impact of an Integrated STEM (iSTEM) curriculum, which combines Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education with Street Sports Activities (SSA), on Lebanese youth aged 18-24. The main aim is to address the lack of interest and confidence in STEM among young adults, hence this research evaluates the influence of iSTEM and SSA on participants' self-esteem and perceptions of STEM. The findings revealed a significant improvement in self-esteem, with participants transitioning from low or neutral confidence levels before the program to a 100% confidence post intervention. Similarly, the iSTEM curriculum significantly enhanced participants' perception of STEM with post survey indicating that 98% of participants correctly identified STEM concepts and reported a strong interest in pursuing further STEM education or careers. Therefore, This study suggests that integrating STEM education with creative and relatable activities like SSA can transform how youth comprehend and engage with STEM, contributing to the development of a skilled young adults.