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Using a Makerspace approach to engage Indonesian primary students with STEM
Susan Blackley
Curtin University, Australia
Yuli Rahmawati, Ella Fitriani
Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia
Rachel Sheffield and Rekha Koul
Curtin University, Australia
This paper examines the learning experiences of 291 Year 5 and 6 Indonesian primary school students, across four schools in North Jakarta, who participated in an integrated STEM project that used a 3-phase Makerspace approach: exposure, engagement and experimentation, and evaluation and extension. The Wiggle Bots project involved these students employing their skills and knowledge of technology and science to create a 'bot', and then completing a survey that examined their confidence, engagement, identification and application of science knowledge. The results indicated that a Makerspace approach was very effective in engaging students in the STEM space, and students were also challenged to work collaboratively in groups mentored by pre-service teachers. With the application of STEM knowledge and skills, we also posit that the Makerspace approach is effective in the acquisition and demonstration of 21st century skills: problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, collaboration, and communication.
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| Authors: Dr Susan Blackley, a Senior Lecturer, is the Director of Student Engagement in the Faculty of Humanities at Curtin University, Australia. Her research interests are STEM education, robotics, digital professional portfolios, and professional identity. She is a passionate advocate for STEM education and is the convenor of the AARE STEM Education Special Interest Group and the chair of the HERDSA STEM Education Special Interest Group. Email: susan.blackley@curtin.edu.au Dr Yuli Rahmawati is a lecturer in the Chemistry Education Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia. Her interests are teaching and cultural identity, ethnochemistry, green chemistry, transformative education, social emotional learning, and STEM education. Email: yrahmawati@unj.ac.id Ms Ella Fitriani is a lecturer in the Chemistry Education Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia. Her research areas are educational technology, chemistry education, and science education. Email: ella.fitriani@unj.ac.id Dr Rachel Sheffield is a senior lecturer in the School of Education at Curtin University, Australia and is a passionate science educator. She researches and publishes in STEM education and professional identity, and has won several Faculty, University and National awards for teaching excellence, and an Executive Endeavour Fellowship undertaken in Laos. Email: rachel.sheffield@curtin.edu.au Dr Rekha Koul is a Senior Lecturer in School of Education at Curtin University, Australia. She has three decades of teaching and research experience. Her expertise lies in the development, refinement and validation of questionnaires; investigations of the effects of classroom environments on student outcomes; evaluation of educational programs; teacher action research and evaluation of curriculum. Email: r.koul@curtin.edu.au Please cite as: Blackley, S., Rahmawati, Y., Fitriani, E., Sheffield, R. & Koul, R. (2018). Using a Makerspace approach to engage Indonesian primary students with STEM. Issues in Educational Research, 28(1), 18-42. http://www.iier.org.au/iier28/blackley.pdf |