Encouraging Primary Students' Environmental Awareness by Using STEM Inquiry-based Learning

Abstract

The Circular Economy (CE) has emerged as an essential idea in the worldwide response to unsustainable resource consumption and waste management, and educators have incorporated this scenario into the theme in classroom. At the same time, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is an essential approach for educating students with the necessary skills for a competitive workforce in the twenty-first century. Several academics are currently attempting to integrate inquiry-based learning, which is one such technique whose efficacy is higher in science-based education. Furthermore, technological integration has been used in scientific courses. This research examined the implementation of combining inquiry-based learning with STEM education using ICT technology in citizen science activities to promote the circular economy for fourth-grade students in a university-based demonstration school located in the northeastern part of Thailand. The results of this study include aspects of students' conceptual understanding about types of plastic and their awareness of the environment. We found that students had a significantly increased conceptual understanding regarding types of plastic. Moreover, the students expressed positive attitude towards plastic waste management awareness. These findings support the notion that ICT technology could assist students in better understanding science concepts and attitudes, especially when integrated with a STEM inquiry-based learning method in the citizen science activity.