This chapter aims to demonstrate how adopting a mathematics education

research perspective on Fermi problems can contribute to and enhance the practice

and understanding of STEM education. To achieve this, we first discuss mathemat-

ical modelling from a mathematics education perspective and then briefly elabo-

rate on modelling as discussed in STEM education. Our attention is then directed

towards the inherent coupling of Fermi problems to mathematical activities and

contents of the mathematical curriculum, in particular, estimates, estimation and

mathematical modelling in mathematics education research. We present a framework

for connecting recent advances in the research on Fermi problems to teaching and

learning in STEM education and discuss the example of The tin foil boat challenge.