STEM THINKING

Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman
SEAMEO STEM-ED1

Probably the most importantskill that children learn ishow to learn. …
Too often we give children
answers to remember rather
than problems to solve.
This is a mistake.
— Roger Lewin

Developing STEM thinking
involves cultivating a mindset that
integrates the principles ofScience, Technology, Engineering,and Mathematics to solve real-world
problems, understand complex
systems, and innovate.

Strategies to Foster STEM Thinking•••••••

Interdisciplinary LearningEmphasis on Problem-Solving
Developing High-Order ThinkingCollaborative Learning
Reflective PracticeIntegrating Technology
Applying Real-world Connection

The STEM Learning Project funded by the Department of Education, Western Australia

STEM in Elementary Education

YearKindergarten

Pre-primaryTitle

Driving question

Creepy crawly castle

How can we encourage minibeasts to visit andlive at our school?

I like quiet, I like noise

Where and when should we use loud voices orquiet voices in our school?

Swooping birds

How can we protect ourselves from swooping
birds?

Animal rescue

How can we design and make a model of astructure that animals can use to cross a roadsafely?

Chairs for bears

How can we make a chair that is comfortable,
safe and the right size for our toy?

Water flow

How can we effectively transport water from asource to where it is needed?

The STEM Learning Project funded by the Department of Education, Western Australia

YearTitle

Driving question

Year 1Growing foodHow can we optimise the growth of our plants?

Our magnificent thing

What problem in your life could you solve bybuilding something with reused materials?

Year 2

Rice baby

How can we make a device to keep our babiessafe?

Cryptic code

How can we make a bilingual sign?

Every bird needs a home

How can we improve or create habitat at ourschool that will encourage local species of birds tovisit, live and breed?

Little Red Hen’s robot
friendHow can robots help us?

Waste warriors

How can we reduce waste at our school?

The STEM Learning Project funded by the Department of Education, Western Australia

YearTitle

Driving question

Year 3Cool lunch

How can we design a lunch container thatwill help protect food from being spoilt?

Plastic pollution

What can we do to reduce the pollution
caused by plastics?

The long walkHow can you design shoes using recycledmaterials?

Honey bees

How can we raise awareness about theimportance and the plight of the honey bee?

Mini robot garden

How can we use automation to sustain agarden?

Year 4

Our new playgroundHow can playground equipment be designed
to be engaging and exciting?

The STEM Learning Project funded by the Department of Education, Western Australia

Year
Year 5

Year 6

Title

Driving question

Biosecurity

How can we protect Australian foodproduction?

Evacuation robot

How can we design an evacuation route andprogram a robot to safely guide students fromtheir classroom to a muster point in the eventof an emergency?

Bushfire risk warnings

How do you determine the risk of a bushfire
occurring in order to issue an appropriate
warning?

Caring for country

How can we restore native vegetation
disturbed by natural events or human activity?

Living off-grid

How can we develop simple and sustainableliving solutions?

Travel choices

How can we engage the school community inmaking better travel choices?

The STEM Learning Project funded by the Department of Education, Western Australia

STEM is naturally unplugged
How to teach Computational Thinking
together with STEM Thinking?

ScienceEngineering

From: https://www.wxxi.org/highlights/engineering-stem-challenges/

CT with STEM Approach for Primary Education•Worksheet 3.1 – Colouring Activities + Experiments•Worksheet 3.2 – Colouring Activities + STE(A)M•Worksheet 3.3 – Decomposition•Worksheet 3.4 – Algorithmic Thinking•Worksheet 3.5 – Pattern Recognition•Worksheet 3.6 – Neural Networks

Algorithmic Thinking
1.Make a copy of the worksheet above. Cut out thesteps of making an airplane.
2.Glue the six correct steps, in order, onto aseparate piece of paper.
3.Make an actual paper plane following thesesteps.
1.Have another student fold other types of airplanes,
without other students seeing how the plane isfolded.
2.Show the finished paper plane to other students.
3.Unfold the folded plane back into a single page
4.Let other students try to fold the paper to theairplane again by observing the folded line on thepaper.
5.Let the student discuss how they thinkPattern Recognition/Machine Learning

1.Identify elements that make you recognise the animal in thesepictures as elephants. List down those elements.
2.Identify behaviour of the elephants, what do they usually do.

https://www.firstcry.com/intelli/articles/teach-your-kidsabout-elephant-body-parts/

Foster STEM & Computational Thinking?
• Interdisciplinary Learning• Developing High-OrderThinking• Collaborative Learning• Reflective Practice• Integrating Technology• Applying Real-world
Connection• Emphasis on Problem-Solving

Thank You