Development of Learning Materials to Foster Problem-Solving Skills Using STEAM Education in Elementary Schools

Abstract

With the arrival of the Society 5.0 era, STEAM education is attracting attention, and the Sixth Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan (2021) includes STEAM education for the first time as a science and technology policy, and efforts are underway in school education. In addition, programming education in elementary schools has been made compulsory from 2020, and this has led to the enhancement of programming education in general education. However, there are few practices that incorporate measurement and control technology as part of programming education in elementary schools. In this study, we developed measurement and control technology learning materials for elementary schools that can be practiced as STEAM education. Using kinetic art as a learning material, we proposed a learning content of making a peacock that moves by measurement and control and conducted a class for 6th grade elementary school students. After the class, we conducted a questionnaire survey of the students and their homeroom teachers to verify the usefulness of the learning materials and the class.