Implementing the STEM Learning Units to Promote Problem-solving and Innovation Skills for Elementary School Students

Abstract

This research develops the prototype of STEM learning units to promote problem-solving and innovation skills in small-sized schools for elementary school students and teachers. The research was divided into three phases. The first phase began with exploring the situation, problems, and needs of STEM education. The second phase involved developing a prototype of STEM learning units. The third phase involved studying the results of using STEM learning units. This involved experts, school principals, supervisors, in-service teachers, and students in the central and eastern regions in Thailand. Research instruments were a structured interview form, questionnaires, and an evaluation form. The research results show that the STEM learning units to promote problem-solving and innovation skills for small-sized schools consisted of six components and seven teaching and learning steps. The results reveal that STEM learning units that were developed based on the engineering design process and local problems were suitable for elementary school teachers to utilize in every level of elementary school students. The result of the teaching and learning with learning units satisfied all students.

Presenters

Pornsook Tantrarungroj
Instructor, Educational Technology and Communications, Chulalongkorn University, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon [Bangkok], Thailand

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Science, Mathematics and Technology Learning

KEYWORDS

STEM Education, Small-sized Schools, Problem-solving Skill, Innovation Skill, Engineering Design