The vision of science, technology, and innovation among children and adolescents in Córdoba, Colombia

Abstract

The socioeconomic development of nations depends on advances in science, technology, and innovation. It is in this context that a society that values and constructs favorable meanings around these elements manages to remain at the forefront of an increasingly globalized world. This study aims to analyze the perceptions of science, technology, and innovation held by children and adolescents enrolled in school in three municipalities of Córdoba, Colombia. An exploratory-interpretive study with a qualitative approach and phenomenological-hermeneutic design was conducted. 32 participants participated in focus groups. The results yielded significant constructs around science as a principle of knowledge, technology as a medium between what is learned and what is lived; and innovation as a space for projecting and transforming the future. The constructs developed by children and adolescents are influenced by the characteristics of the social, ethnic, and school environment in which they operate. This should be considered in future research and the development of educational plans that allow for a practical and consistent approach to STEM.