A meta-disciplinary reflection on a steam school activity: the role of mathematics

This paper aims at providing a meta-disciplinary reflection on the role of mathematics in the design of a STEAM activity for lower-secondary schools. The analyzed case study involves a group of teachers of different disciplines from the same Italian school, who collaboratively designed an interdisciplinary STEAM activity, following a template created by researchers in mathematics education, in the context of an international European project. We analyze data gathered in an interview with the mathematics teacher of the group, conducted to gain insight into the role of mathematics in the design of the activity, from her point of view. Different roles emerged from the teacher’s reflections about the subsequent phases of the project, entailing an evolving relationship between mathematics and the other disciplines.