Proposal for a STEAM education program for creativity exploring the roofline of a hanok using GeoGebra and 4Dframe

Abstract

This research was conducted to confirm the feasibility of a STEAM education program in which the mathematics, physics, and Korean traditional arts underlying the hanok roofline are investigated using educational tools of GeoGebra and 4Dframe. This paper contends that this program has the potential to engage students in knowledge restructuring regarding the perception of the hanok’s architectural beauty, Newton's concept of gravity, and mathematical functions. The Octagonal Pavilion in Tapgol Park in Seoul, South Korea, a representative hanok, was used as an educational resource. GeoGebra is used to determine that the roofline of the Octagonal Pavilion generally follows the formula of the catenary curve and then the roofline is modelled using 4Dframe. The catenary form of the roofline of the hanok is linked to the Korean sense of beauty in the pursuit of naturalness under the influence of gravity and organically harmonizes with the environment. The class described in this study, in which the curve of the roofline of the Octagonal Pavilion is explored using GeoGebra and 4Dframe, can help develop creative and critical thinking in students in the context of STEAM education. The findings of this study have the potential to expand the scope of STEAM education to include content for creative education.