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This paper reports the results of a study on the implementation of the Ethical Dilemma STEAM Teaching Model in secondary schools in Jakarta, Indonesia. This interdisciplinary curriculum approach employed ‘ethical dilemma story pedagogy’ in a STEAM education project designed to engage students in values-based chemistry learning. Drawing on the arts, specially written ethical dilemma stories posing real-world environmental problems engaged students in exploring their value systems. Students reflected on the pros and cons of ethical dilemmas related to the everyday use of artificial fertilizers, disposal of used cooking oil and detergent waste, and environmental pollution caused by plastic waste. The purpose of the study was to investigate the potential of the Ethical Dilemma STEAM Teaching Model to empower Indonesian secondary school students with both chemistry knowledge and transdisciplinary capabilities for resolving environmental problems. The researchers conducted an interpretive case study of four high-school chemistry classes to understand students’ learning experiences and outcomes. Data were obtained from students’ reflective journals, semi-structured interviews, and classroom observations. The results demonstrate that students engaged in deep chemistry learning while simultaneously developing critical reflective social thinking, collaborative decision-making skills, and increased awareness of the need to protect the environment in order to support sustainable development. The study revealed that chemistry education can play a strategic role through ethical values learning in empowering students to become agents of change for environmental sustainability. Further research is warranted into the efficacy of the Ethical Dilemma STEAM Teaching Model for empowering students in sustainability education across a broad range of science-related topics and sociocultural contexts.

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of applying a socio-critical problem-oriented approach in environmental issues to develop students' critical thinking skills in chemistry learning. The qualitative methodology is conducted in which participants critically analyze articles relating to the effect of acids and bases in the environment. Participants are 36 grade 11 chemistry students from a high school in Jakarta, Indonesia. Data are collected by interviews, reflective student journals, teacher notes, observation sheets, worksheets, and critical thinking skills tests based on the five SCIT 1020 critical thinking indicators: problem identification, conceptual understanding, finding relationships between concepts, developing assumptions, and drawing conclusions. The results show an improvement in students’ critical thinking skills, motivation, and involvement in the learning process, providing support for using a socio-critical and problem-oriented approach to science learning. The socio-critical and problem-oriented can be used as an alternative approach to chemistry learning or other subjects that is applicable and contextual in daily life and the environment and can be used to increase student activity in the classroom and critical thinking skills on learning process.

This study aimed to develop 22nd century skills through the integration of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) project in chemistry learning. The study involved the thirty-three students of 11 year. The STEAM integration was implemented in the teaching of colloidal system through a project-based learning. The study employed qualitative approach to explore the integration of STEAM in chemistry and students’ 22nd century skills development. Data were collected through classroom observations, interviews, reflective journals, and chemistry concept test. Students designed an innovation project with the integration of STEAM in developing smoke absorber as the solution of the smoke pollution. The data were then analysed based on the themes pattern found in multiple data sources. It shows that STEAM improved students’ critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication skills, and caring of environmental problems (5C), in addition to information, media, and technology skills. However, this study remains challenging since STEAM integrated chemistry learning requires more empowering student, time resources, and learning contexts in order to explore and to raise the students’ environmental awareness.

The aim of this study was to develop students’ chemical literacy through the STEAM learning approach integrated with dilemmas stories on acid and base topics. The study was conducted in the 2018/2019 academic year and involved the thirty-six students of year 11. The research employed qualitative method to explore students’ chemical literacy through classroom observation, reflective journals, student interviews, researcher notes, and chemical literacy tests. This study used four chemical literacy components according to Shwartz et. al., namely scientific and chemical content knowledge, chemistry in context, high order learning skills, and affective aspect. The STEAM (science, technology, engineering art, and mathematics) integrated with dilemmas stories implemented through five stages, namely value reflection, problem solving, project development, monitoring and evaluation, and transformation. The overall results of the study showed that students were 8.33% at very good levels, 86.11% at good levels, 5.56% at fair levels, and there were no more students who were at poor level and very poor level. The challenges faced in this study are time management, engaging student, and public issues related to chemistry that in accordance with the topic of learning. STEAM integrated with dilemmas stories provides opportunities for students to develop chemical literacy through value reflection, problem solving, and STEAM project.