Development of Grade 5 Student’s Problem Solving Skills in Science Subjects of Students through STEM Education

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to develop the problem-solving skills of grade 5 students through STEM activities, and 2) to compare the problem-solving skills of grade 5 students before and after studying by using learning management according to STEM education. Participatants in the research were 36 students in grade 5, selected by purposive sampling. Content analysis and statistical analysis methods - means, percentages, and standard deviations were used as a framework for interpreting the data. The results showed that these students had low problem-solving skills before participating in the study, especially if the cause of the problem could not be determined. The students knew how to start gathering more information about the problem; however, they were unable to identify critical issues for next steps. Most students had poor problem-solving skills. While participating in STEM learning activities, the majority of students, 93.75%, showed that they increased their problem-solving skills including the steps to identify problems - definition, cause of the problem, finding a solution, and proof of answer. During STEM implementation, these students were able to take the first step of problem solving by analyzing the situation. The study also offered students to develop analytical skills that helped them understand problems and develop the ways to find the solutions effectively. When considering problem-solving skills at each level, it was found that 83.33% analyzed problem identification, 88.89 % defined the cause of the problem, 77.78% searched for solutions, and 86.11% proved the answer. Problem-solving skill scores after studying were significantly higher than before at the .01 level.