Early childhood educators perspectives on batik loose parts for embedded-STEAM learning

Abstract

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) has become a common Issue in Early childhood Education. Loose Parts are materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, taken apart, and put back together in multiple ways. Most loose parts contain a wood stem, rock, or other natural things. This research focuses on early childhood educators' perspective about the use of loose-parts that produced from batik patchwork for embedded STEAM Learning. Educator's perspectives were explored through an in-depth questionnaire and interview toward 30 respondents about STEAM Learning in early childhood education, their perception about the use of batik loose part, and their interest in implementing loose part play using batik patchwork. The research method applied is descriptive qualitative methods. The results of this study indicated that educators' perceptions about STEAM Learning and loose part were still far from the correct concept on STEAM Learning. Even so, respondents showed curiosity toward the possibility of implementing STEAM Learning using The Batik Loose Part. These results are important as references in further research for STEAM- based learning implementation on early childhood, and also loose parts research development.