‘Be Unique to me’ (STEM) project aims to provide solutions, develop designs, scientific thinking skills and design-oriented work with easily accessible materials by associating STEM applications with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics while solving the problems that our students encounter in daily life.

Daily life problems are brought together with our students based on a scenario. If you encounter this problem, how would you solve it? This question actually helps students empathize with the story character.

Goal

How should we use daily life problems in STEM education?

• The problem-based learning process should enable our students to focus on learning while understanding the problem and searching for a solution to this problem.

• While solving the problem they face in the context of daily life, they should follow a path to gain STEM skills

• Developing scientific thinking skills.

• To be able to produce solutions to the problem situation with simple materials.

• He / she should be able to associate mathematics and science while making designs.

• Must improve the skills of using ICT.

Working process:

The implementation process of our Project

A problem situation was given to our students in the studies of our ‘Be Unique to me (STEM)’ project for the adaptation of disabled individuals to social life. Fatma is a first-grade primary school student with an orthopaedic disability. She was having difficulty writing because she lost her arm in an accident. Classmates came together to find a solution to this situation. Duties: Developing a design solution to Fatma’s problem.

Getting Attention:

The problem situation is given.

Exploring:

Individuals with physical disabilities are asked to identify the difficulties they may encounter at school, and to collect data related to this by observing.

Explanation:

Difficulties faced by a disabled person during the day are discussed. The social dimension of helping disabled people is explained.

Deepening

Students identify the materials for their designs and plan how to do this.

Improvement:

Students exchange ideas with their group mates on how to improve and finalize their designs.

Interdisciplinary Relations:

Science. It puts itself in the shoes of other individuals with different characteristics and respects the differences of individuals. Recognizes the body, studies and learns the functions of organs.

Maths. Compares and sequences natural numbers.

Engineering. Explains the basic processes needed for the solution of current life problems., including design and prototype development.

Technology. Thanks to technology literacy, it demonstrates the ability to access information, select, use and troubleshoot existing technologies, and develop ideas and theories by actively discovering real-world problems.

Art. Uses the formatting steps while creating visual art work

Results

STEM applications will enable our students to learn, access information and develop technological skills, empathize when they encounter real-life problems, problem solving skills, design and prototype appropriate to the problem situation, and take their place in the society as self-confident and responsible citizens. Within the scope of the project, students will increase their academic success by communicating effectively, sharing information and presenting their designs to each other, even if remotely, during the pandemic process.

Teachers participating in the Project

Erhan Halhallı – Project founder– Konya Ereğli Abdurrahim Primary School

Yurdanur Önder Öz – Project founder– Faruk Verimer Primary School

Aynur Akhundova – Project partner – Jeyirli Kend Umumi Orta Middle School

Emine Altınbaş – Project partner – 80. Yıl Eşrefpaşa Primary School

Güler Bayramova – Project partner – Ak.Z.Aliyeva 7 numaralı Middle School

Hayriye Tuğba Kılıç – Project partner – Fevzipaşa Primary School

Nalan Yavuz – Project partner – Mehmet Kemal Dedeman Primary School

Rabia Kılınç – Project partner – Kadriye Primary School

Zekiye Sibel Üstündağ – Project partner – Koç Primary School

Nurcan Büyükbayram – Project partner – Şehit Mehmet Acar İmamhatip Middle School

Nurhan Boyacıoğlu – Project partner – Nezahat Aslan Ekşioğlu Primary School

About the author: Nurhan Boyacıoğlu

I graduated from Atatürk University Faculty of Education, Teaching German. I work as a classroom teacher. Scientix ambassador and stem applicator.