Teachers’ positioning in the early stages of STEAM-based school reform

Abstract

This qualitative case study in Finland examined how teachers position themselves toward STEAM education during the early stages of a whole‑school reform. Data was collected from primary and secondary subject teachers (N=30) using a questionnaire with open-ended questions and SWOT matrices. Through content analysis with a positioning lens and triangulated themes, we identified five narrative positions: resource‑critical realists, cautious reflectors, support-seeking beginners, collaborative enablers, and developer-innovators. Teachers may adopt overlapping positioning when they negotiate their agency and ownership towards the STEAM education approach in their school. Teachers valued STEAM’s potential for student engagement, transdisciplinary learning, and strengthening the school’s brand and profile, but highlighted time, material resources, suitable spaces, and curriculum or assessment alignment as key constraints. Participants without prior experience requested low‑threshold entry, concrete models, and mentoring, while experienced teachers emphasised peer support, leadership recognition, and opportunities to co‑design and scale practices. Findings suggest that successful STEAM reform in schools requires bottom‑up acknowledgment, strategic leadership, reserved time for co‑planning, and scaffolded professional development that builds a shared vision. We conclude that reforms should deliberately recognise and accommodate all positions, using them to facilitate support and pathways from STEAM’s potential to everyday practice.