Characteristics of the Religious Element in STREAM Learning in Elementary Schools

Abstract

One of the learning approaches that can help answer today’s challenges of development is the STREAM learning approach. This contains a religious element that is an addition to the standard STEAM approach. This research consisted of a literature review. 52 studies were found that met the inclusion criteria. Information was obtained from these studies about the development of STREAM learning in elementary schools and its religious characteristics. According to the findings, the characteristics of the religious element in elementary school STREAM learning include: 1) placing students as learning subjects and teachers as facilitators according to the dimensions of religious beliefs and feelings; 2) exposing students to direct experiences, which are in accordance with the dimensions of the religious effect, namely actual religious practices in everyday life; 3) integrating religious values into subjects in schools that are in accordance with the dimensions of religious influence and the practice of religion of each student; 4) presenting concepts in one process that is in line with the dimensions of students’ religious knowledge; 5) linking religious elements to teaching materials or other subject matter in accordance with religious knowledge and students’ religious practice; and 6) adjusting learning outcomes to the interests, needs, and characteristics of the students, because each student’s religious beliefs and religious feelings will be different.
 Keywords: religious, STEAM, STREAM, elementary school learning