Where Is It Best to Sit in Class? Description of an Experience Based on STEM Problem Solving in a School Context

Abstract

This study aims to describe the design and development of a STEM problem-solving activity involving mathematics and physics content. It is an activity whose starting point is a question based on a real problem: to identify the areas of the classroom where the intensity of sound is higher. In this way, the problem involves the physics of sound. However, in addition, by trying to give an answer to the initial question, students have the opportunity to develop progressively more complex mathematical models from already known mathematical concepts and procedures. The analysis of the results of the implementation based on the identification of the learning opportunities and the catalyst elements that generate them, allows us to state that the activity encourages students to enrich their mathematical models by incorporating new mathematical concepts such as the function of two variables. We conclude that the design of the activity and the choice of data acquisition technology are key, but also the interaction between the students and the teacher.

How Do Science Content Misconceptions Occur in Primary School Teachers with Teaching Certificates?

“…The misconception experienced by teachers on the concept of sound is that sound comes from air pressure and there is also an assumption that sound comes from collisions between particles. Scientifically, sound comes from vibrating objects (Pejuan et al, 2012;Volfson et al, 2021;Ferrando et al, 2023). In the case presented in the test, namely when taking water from a gallon through a dispenser, water will come out of the gallon and there will be air entering the gallon.…”

Effectiveness of PBL STEM to Improve Problem Solving Skills

“…The STEM activities increased their interest in STEM fields even if they must solve a problem. PBL STEM can improve students' abilities because for the first time it had a positive effect for the students to understand the integration every aspect of STEM field and realize the activities such as the scientist design process (Ferrando et al, 2023;Karahan et al, 2015b). They made their designs, presented the ideas and bring out their motivation to be successful in the application of STEM activities.…”

“…One of the skills required is problem-solving skills. Problem solving can be described as identifying a problem and solutions choice among many other alternatives (Ferrando et al, 2023). In addition, solutions should be under the guidance of some valid arguments.…”