Abstract:

Recently, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education appears to be growing in importance. “STEM could mean increasing the recognition of engineering in K-12 education. Engineering is directly involved in problem solving and innovation, two themes with high priorities on every nation’s agenda” (Bybee, 2010). Nowadays, adding “A” to STEM, STEM has increased the use of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Yakman (2006) indicates that “Arts” contain Physical, Fine, Manual, Language & Liberal Arts, Citizenship, STS. STEAM might help to transfer enthusiasm and support individual self-efficacy from art to STEM and in this way to close a creativity gap (Runco 2017). Creativity cannot only help with problem solving, but also with identifying problems where others have failed to do so (Robinson & Azzam, 2009). So, STEAM can improve creativity. On the other hand, “The NGSS (2013) represent a commitment to integrate engineering design into the structure of science education by raising engineering design to the same level as scientific inquiry when teaching science disciplines at all levels.” In the light of the above, when we design a STEAM-oriented class, we must pay attention to include engineering to help students getting various abilities. Then, in Japan, the subject that is called “Inquiry-Based Study of Science and Mathematics” is newly established. It's said to be in the same direction as STEAM education. However, the preparation for the class of Inquiry-Based Study of Science and Mathematics is not carried out in most schools. In addition, engineering is not well known in Japan. So, the purpose of our study, we design classes that include engineering. In this study, we design the instructional model that include Engineering Design, and survey awareness of STEAM field’s subject. Especially, we focus to reveal relationship between E and other STEAM field’s subjects with using a questionnaire (n=92). In Japan, Engineering education is not popular. Nevertheless, this questionnaire reveals that there is no difference in students’ consciousness between Engineering and other subjects. In addition, Engineering got high score than any other subjects in some items. So, Engineering is needed by not only society but students who have not learned Engineering in school. It says that it’s necessary to develop and conduct classes including Engineering. Other hand, this questionnaire reveals that Arts are not considered as important as other subjects. Now, “Arts” are now treated as secondary subjects. Thus, students are less likely to regard as more important than other subjects and less likely to use “Arts”. We need to support to motivate “Arts” for students and to use “Arts”.

Keywords:

STEM/STEAM education, Engineering Design, Inquiry-Based Study of Science and Mathematics.