Students’ Applying STEM Knowledge in Learning on the STS-STEM Education Wave Learning Unit

Abstract

This study aims to explore Grade 11 activity of student on Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) with the integration of learning about wave based on Science Technology Society (STS) approach [8]. The participants were 50 students in Demonstration Secondary School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. The methodology is in the respect of interpretive paradigm. The teaching and learning about wave through STS approach carried out over 5 weeks. The Wave unit through STS approach was developed based on framework that consists of five stages including (1) identification of social issues, (2) identification of potential solutions, (3) need for knowledge, (4) decision making, and (5) socialization stage. To start with, the question “How to change wave energy to electricity” was challenged in the class in order to improve students to find the problem of how to design wave energy to electricity from Clean Energy form force wave. Students were accepted to apply scientific and other knowledge to design of wave energy to electricity. Activity of students on STEM were collected during their learning by participant’ observation and students’ tasks. Them did on STEM were classified when they applied their knowledge for designing the wave energy to electricity. The findings indicated that students cooperatively work to solve the problem when applying knowledge about the content of Science and Mathematics and processing skill of Technology and Engineering. It showed activity that students held the integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to design their possible solutions in learning about wave energy to electricity. The paper also discusses implications for science teaching and learning through STS in Thailand.