This research aimed to i) determine the validity, reliability, and appropriateness of an integrated project-based learning and STEM teaching and learning module (PjBL-STEM), and ii) evaluate its effects on the scientific creativity of Fifth Graders. The first phase of evaluation involved seven subject matter experts and 30 Fifth Graders. Data were captured through students’ responses to two 5-point Likert scale questionnaires, open ended questions and scientific creativity test. The second phase of evaluation employed a pre- and post-test non-equivalent control group quasi experiment design. A total of 60 Fifth Graders from two primary schools were randomly assigned to a PjBL-STEM group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). The results of the PjBL-STEM evaluation indicated a good content validity and an acceptable reliability with alpha Cronbach's value of .65 to .87. Students showed a moderately high positive perception (m=4.37) towards the PjBL-STEM activities. The positive written responses of students indicated the appropriateness of the module. The result of independent samples t-test established the significant positive effects of the PjBL-STEM on all trait dimensions of scientific creativity. These findings showed that PjBL-STEM provides a reliable, valid, appropriate and effective teaching and learning module to foster the scientific creativity of Fifth Graders. Keywords: fifth graders, project-based learning, scientific creativity, STEM.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of outdoor school ground lessons on Year Five students' science process skills and scientific curiosity. A quasi-experimental design was employed in this study. The participants in the study were divided into two groups, one subjected to the experimental treatment, defined as "eco-hunt" group and the other had no experimental treatment, defined as control group. This study used intact four classes which consisted of 119 students and randomly assigned to the treatment (n = 63) and control groups (n = 56). Students' science process skill was measured by a self-developed Science Process Skills Test and students' scientific curiosity was measured using Children Scientific Curiosity Scale adapted from Harty and Beall (1984). The results showed a significant difference in post-test mean scores between students in "eco-hunt" group and control group in both students' science process skills and scientific curiosity. Follow-up comparisons on the dimensions of science process skills and scientific curiosity were analyzed and discussed. The findings of this study will provide a framework for science teachers to teach students through interesting and meaningful outdoor activities.

This research aimed to determine the effects of Problem based learning (PBL) with cooperative learning (CL) and ‘Numbered Heads Together’ (NHT) on preschoolers’ five trait dimensions of scientific creativity: Fluency, Originality, Elaboration, Abstractness of title, and Resistance to premature closure. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control group design was employed in the research. The sample consisted of 216 six-year-old preschoolers from three randomly selected preschools and assigned to PBL-CL‘NHT’ (n=72), PBL (n=72), and hands-on (TG) (n=72) instructional methods. The Figural Scientific Creativity Test was used as the pre-test (Form A) and post-test (Form B). Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted on the post-test scores with pre-test scores as the covariates to determine whether a significant difference existed across the three methods. The results indicated that preschoolers taught in the PBL-CL‘NHT’ method significantly outperformed their peers in the PBL method who, in turn, significantly outperformed their peers in the TG method in Fluency, Originality, Elaboration, Abstractness of title, and Resistance to premature closure. Large effect sizes were obtained for comparing PBL-CL ‘NHT’ with PBL and TG method. The findings suggest that the PBL-CL ‘NHT’ method has a significant positive impact on fostering preschoolers’ five trait dimensions of scientific creativity. Key words: cooperative learning, preschoolers, problem based learning, scientific creativity, trait dimensions.

This research was conducted to evaluate the learning experience of Grade Ten students from two Malaysian rural secondary schools that adopted the integration of STEM in an Engineering Design Process (STEM-EDP) approach vis-á-vis an outreach challenge program. A total of 89 students undertook a ten hour program which engaged them in designing and building three different prototypes as well as answering higher order thinking questions. Data on students’ learning experience were captured through participants’ responses to a six-point Likert scale questionnaire, teachers’ field notes, and open-ended questions. The questionnaire result reveals statistically significant gains in knowledge or skills about, attitudes toward, and practices on STEM. The STEM-EDP outreach challenge program brought awareness to rural school students of their potential as problem solvers, thinkers, creators, and collaborators. Students were able to simultaneously broaden their boundaries in knowledge and competency even though they experienced difficulties in tackling challenges associated with STEM activities. Findings suggested that the STEM-EDP approach can be applied as a means for fostering creativity, problem solving skills, and thinking skills among rural secondary school students. Keywords: engineering design process, higher order thinking, outreach challenge program, rural schools, STEM.

This research aimed to examine the effects of an integrated STEM project-based with cooperative learning (STEM-PjBCL) approach on fifth graders’ five sub-scales of trait dimension in scientific creativity. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test non-equivalent control group design was employed. A total of 360 fifth graders from four randomly selected primary schools were chosen as sample and assigned to STEM-PjBCL (n=120), PjBL (n=120), and Conventional (CV) (n=120) instructional methods. The Figural Scientific Creativity Test was used as the pre-test and post-test. Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was performed on the post-test scores with pre-test scores as the covariates to examine whether a significant difference existed across the three methods. The results showed that fifth graders taught with the STEM-PjBCL method significantly outperformed their counterparts in the PjBL and CV method in Fluency, Originality, Elaboration, Abstractness of title, and Resistance to premature closure. However, fifth graders taught in the PjBL method did not significantly outperform their counterparts in the CV method in the five sub-scales of scientific creativity. Large effect sizes were obtained for comparing STEM-PjBCL with the PjBL and CV method. The results suggest that the STEM-PjBCL method produces a significant beneficial effect on promoting the five sub-scales of trait dimension of scientific creativity among fifth graders. Keywords: cooperative learning, project-based learning, scientific creativity, STEM, trait dimension.