TY - JOUR
T1 - Using packaging material problems to promote student awareness about the role of mathematics in STEM
AU - Seebut, Supot
AU - Wongsason, Patcharee
AU - Jeeruphan, Thanawit
AU - Kim, Dojin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors; licensee Modestum. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)..
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - STEM learning systems in which the roles of all subjects are unequal, may have a detrimental impact on student learning in neglected subject roles. Therefore, STEM learning packages should have sub-activities that assist students to see the interdependence of all disciplines, especially in mathematics. The nature of the content makes it quite difficult to link it to the mission of STEM. As a result, both teachers and learners are not explicitly aware of the role of mathematics in STEM. Mathematics should not be seen as a simple component in the design of STEM activities, but rather as a vital and necessary aspect. STEM activities based on packaging material problems were developed in this study. The goal is to promote student awareness of the role of mathematics in STEM activities. Seventy-one students, aged 16 and 17 years old, participated in a one-day STEM camp. When the activities were completed, it was found that assessment of student awareness of the role of mathematics in STEM activities was positive. Moreover, teamwork was assessed by groupmates. The evaluation results showed that their behavior was satisfactory. These results indicate that the developed activities are useful for STEM learning in classroom contexts that lack clear tasks reflecting the role of mathematics. Interested instructors can integrate this activity into one sub activity in their own classroom STEM learning packages as appropriate.
AB - STEM learning systems in which the roles of all subjects are unequal, may have a detrimental impact on student learning in neglected subject roles. Therefore, STEM learning packages should have sub-activities that assist students to see the interdependence of all disciplines, especially in mathematics. The nature of the content makes it quite difficult to link it to the mission of STEM. As a result, both teachers and learners are not explicitly aware of the role of mathematics in STEM. Mathematics should not be seen as a simple component in the design of STEM activities, but rather as a vital and necessary aspect. STEM activities based on packaging material problems were developed in this study. The goal is to promote student awareness of the role of mathematics in STEM activities. Seventy-one students, aged 16 and 17 years old, participated in a one-day STEM camp. When the activities were completed, it was found that assessment of student awareness of the role of mathematics in STEM activities was positive. Moreover, teamwork was assessed by groupmates. The evaluation results showed that their behavior was satisfactory. These results indicate that the developed activities are useful for STEM learning in classroom contexts that lack clear tasks reflecting the role of mathematics. Interested instructors can integrate this activity into one sub activity in their own classroom STEM learning packages as appropriate.
KW - packaging material problem
KW - STEM education
KW - teamwork behavior
KW - the role of mathematics in STEM
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153863691&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.29333/ejmste/13156
DO - 10.29333/ejmste/13156
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85153863691
SN - 1305-8215
VL - 19
JO - Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
JF - Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
IS - 5
M1 - em2263
ER -