Preschool and early primary school age children learning of computational thinking through the use of asynchronous learning environments in the age of Covid-19

Across all levels of education, Natural Sciences is a scientific field that is gaining considerable research interest. However, in recent years a growing interest in the introduction of Science in Preschool Education can be seen among scientists, as they realize that the children’s first experiences will be the cornerstone of the relationship they are going to develop with this scientific field in the future. It is accepted that children approach and understand the new knowledge taught in the classroom in the context of what they already know. Their pre-existing beliefs and experiential knowledge are the foundations upon which the new concepts will be merged. Based on these perceptions, children approach, "decode," and understand new knowledge through the interaction of the two cognitive systems, the pre-existing and the taught new enriched cognitive patterns. The kindergarten environment cannot remain isolated and uninfluenced by the developments in a constantly changing world. The goal of Kindergarten is to properly prepare its students to become active citizens of their country by helping them get all the necessary skills. In this way, the STEM and STEAM approach seems to be progressively gaining ground in Preschool Education. Various researchers emphasize the importance and positive outcomes of implementing a STEM education program in Kindergarten, as children can acquire at an early age all the necessary resources that will play a decisive role in their later life. According to the above, this study is a literature and article review with its primary purpose to verify the above assumptions. More specifically, this article showcases the importance of teaching Science in Preschool Education and its practicability at this age group. There is also a presentation of the holistic educational STEAM approach. The main goal of this presentation is to emphasize the contribution of this educational approach towards a more effective teaching of Science in Kindergarten and in-depth learning and understanding of natural concepts by preschoolers.

Section: Steam In Preschool Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The teaching of Natural Sciences in kindergarten based on the principles of STEM and STEAM approach

Kastriti

Kalogiannakis

Psycharis

et al. 2022

“…(4) Mathematics studies patterns and relationships between quantities, numbers, and shapes. These scientific fields intertwine creatively, as Engineering uses concepts from Science and Mathematics and technological tools (Papadakis et al, 2021;Skaraki & Kolokotronis, 2022). The NSF also describes the term STEM in a broad sense as " the totality of the sciences (physics, biology, geology, atmospheric and ocean sciences), mathematics, statistics and ICT, social, behavioural, and economic sciences, as well as all aspects of engineering and technology" (NRC, 2011).…”

Section: Stem Definitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine plastic pollution in kindergarten as a means of engaging toddlers with STEM education and educational robotics

Tallou¹

2022

In recent years, education has increasingly focused on children's acquisition of digital skills and abilities, which leads to the need to create new educational methodologies capable of engaging students in computational thinking activities. The research interest of this paper focuses on how preschool children can be more involved in STEM and educational robotics through authentically experiential learning on the topic of marine plastic pollution. It examines toddler engagement through an integrated STEM scenario using the programmable robot Bee-Bot and encourages children to solve problems in many possible ways, assessing the strengthening of their necessary skills. The teaching intervention took place during the 2021-22 school year in a Kindergarten in the city of Ioannina. During the planning and implementation phase of the program, action research and field study are applied, while the sociocultural approach to teaching natural sciences, educational robotics, new technologies, engineering, the arts and mathematics. The research framework is completed with the evaluation process and the students disseminating the project learning outcomes.

“…Augmented Reality (AR) is an emerging form of experience through which the actual word (RW) is enhanced using a computer's content, linked to specific locations or/and activities. Over the last few years, AR applications have become portable and widely available on mobile devices (Skaraki & Kolokotronis, 2022). AR has become visible in audiovisual media (e.g., news, entertainment, sports) and has penetrated other aspects of our lives such as e-commerce, travel, and marketing in noticeable and fascinating ways.…”

Section: Augmented Reality and Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of the mobile application Actionbound in the teaching of local history

Skaraki

Kolokotronis

2022

Self Cite

Technology in the 21st century forms an indispensable part of the everyday life of all ages. Today, portable devices are used daily for multiple purposes (entertainment, recreation, health, productivity, physical exercise etc.), while games found on portable devices based on a player's location have started to burgeon as well. Education could not remain uninvolved in these developments. Over the last few years, technology has been used more to foster students' education through programs and applications. The gamification of education looks to maximize student engagement. This current study aims to plan and create an educational teaching scenario as part of the teaching of the History subject. Using the multimedia tool Actionbound, students are guided into the place of interest (monastery). The school subject of history becomes more entertaining as students move into space through GPS locations, questions, tests, and rewards. Therefore, students are no longer passive receptors of new knowledge and information but explorers who discover their new knowledge by taking an active role in the teaching process.