Abstract:

Integrating hands-on and inquiry-driven pedagogical strategies into vocational education is essential for preparing learners to engage with real technological challenges. Maker Education and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) provide strong, complementary pathways for supporting student autonomy, creativity, and positive problem-solving attitudes in technology-rich learning environments. This study presents the instructional design and classroom implementation of an AI-enhanced gas detector prototyping activity developed for vocational STEM learners.

The activity followed a PBL sequence, beginning with an authentic safety-related problem scenario and progressing through collaborative exploration, design planning, iterative prototyping, troubleshooting, and reflective evaluation. Within this framework, maker activities, such as circuit construction, sensor experimentation, microcontroller programming, and simple AI-enabled decision logic, offered learners concrete opportunities to connect theoretical concepts with hands-on application.

Focusing on learning design, the study examines how objectives were translated into scaffolded tasks, how teacher facilitation supported inquiry, autonomy, and teamwork, and how the integration of AI-enhanced tools contributed to the activity’s real-world relevance. Reflections from implementation highlight the importance of low-cost hardware ecosystems, structured prototyping phases, accessible AI tool platforms, and guided reflection activities that promote meaningful engagement and responsible technological use.

This study offers practical insights for educators seeking to integrate Maker and PBL approaches into vocational STEM environments. It illustrates how thoughtfully designed, problem-centered prototyping experiences can create motivating and authentic learning contexts that encourage students to develop constructive problem-solving attitudes.

Keywords:

Maker Education, Problem-Based Learning, Vocational Education, STEM Learning, Prototyping, AI Tools, Learning Design.