Games as STEAM learning enhancers. Application of traditional Jamaican games in Early Childhood and Primary Intercultural Education

Abstract

Background: Despite its social importance, the learning associated with STEAM thinking (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) we consider is not fully developed in classrooms. Objectives: This research proposes to promote STEAM skills through game-based learning.. Design: These were used to design an integrated educational proposal, called the Micro Play Project (MPL), following the principles of game-based learning and an intercultural approach focused on Ethnomathematics. Setting and Participants: This MPL was implemented in a Spanish school with small groups of students from Pre-school and Primary Education, dedicating three sessions to each of the four games, which were recorded on video. Data collection and analysis: Studying the Jamaican culture, we discovered that the game is a relevant cultural sign in Jamaica, we compiled and analyzed its traditional games, generating a catalog, from which we selected four games, for their potential to develop STEAM learning at school.Qualitative-interpretive research was carried out through a case study and content analysis, using a proprietary tool. Results: they are diverse skills, artistic, scientific and mathematical manifested when playing, such as: musical sense, detection of similarities, ability to turn, identification of shapes, estimation of distances, formulation of hypotheses and establishment of relationships by criteria, which have confirmed the didactic potential of these games, in an environment of ethnomathematical intercultural education. Conclusions: The validity of the MPL as a didactic method to develop STEAM learning is deduced from the results. We hope to strengthen and spread this method by making new elaborations and applications of MPL.