Abstract
This research aimed to improve students’ understanding of engineering design thinking in the context of teaching energy concepts in physics. The study involved 30 Grade 10 students from the Demonstration School of Khon Kaen University (DSKKU). Employing a mixed-methods approach, activities were developed to cultivate students’ engineering design thinking skills through integrated STEM education. The findings revealed that fostering engineering design thinking in the realm of physics energy concepts contributed to a dynamic learning environment that encouraged students to tackle real-world problems using the STEM approach. The analysis categorised the innovative ideas generated by students into three primary groups: wind-powered solutions, water-powered solutions, and waste-powered solutions. The evaluation of student outcomes integrates empathising with problems, prototyping, and problem definition within the study’s STEM education framework. 1) Empathise: Understanding diverse problems, causes of the problem, and impact of the problem scored 2.3 (SD = 1.0). 2) Define: identification or selection of the problem that needs innovative design to solve and identification of problem constraints scored 2.1 (SD = 1.1). 3) Ideate: The demonstration of ideas aimed at solving the problem scored 1.9 (SD = 0.8). 3) Prototype: Demonstration of conceptual principles for learners to create innovative prototypes scored 2.2 (SD = 1.0). 4) Test: demonstration of conceptual principles for learners to test prototypes, evaluation, and improvement of prototype innovation based on identified problems scored 1.9 (SD = 1.2). These results signify the successful integration of empathising with problems, prototyping, and problem definition in enhancing students’ engineering design thinking skills.
Presenters
Jiraporn TupsaiTeacher, Science Education, KhonKaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Chokchai Yuenyong
Associate Professor, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Science, Mathematics and Technology Learning
KEYWORDS
Engineering design thinking, STEM education, Physics education
