Integrated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—Problem-Based Learning—Education for Sustainable Development (I-STEM-PBL-ESD) Framework

Unprecedented risks and uncertainties have emphasized the importance of preparing the youth to face real-world challenges. Hence, proactive education for sustainable development is needed. In this regard, the researchers developed the I-STEM-PBL-ESD instructional framework through integrative literature review. This framework integrates classical and innovative techniques in education to promote sustainable development; respond to UNESCO's urgent call to scale up educational interventions that promote quality education; and instill in students of all ages the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to confront real-world challenges. Understanding the processes underlying this framework may help teachers and instructional designers in developing methods for implementing learner-centered action-oriented transformative pedagogy, I-STEM approaches, and problem-based learning; and investigating student learning in areas such as conceptual understanding, creativity, and their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards sustainable development. Additionally, it serves as a study model for investigating the effects of the abovementioned variables. Because this study is limited to the variables listed, more research studies aimed at evaluating the robustness of the I-STEM-PBL-ESD instructional framework and including other variables are recommended.