A professional development program innovation for enhancing science student teachers' creation of STEM project by biomimicry through the community learning pathways
Abstract:
This research aims to 1 ) analyze science student teachers current situation
and problems in doing STEM education projects 2) develop innovative professional
development programs to enhance the creation of STEM education projects with
biomimicry and study its implementation and 3) introduce innovative professional
development programs to enhance the creation of STEM education projects to
agencies and target groups. This research employed research and development
combined with the applied mix method. This research consisted of 3 phases. Phase
1: analyze science student teachers current situation and problems in doing STEM
education projects. Data was collected through focus group discussions with
stakeholders and analyzed through data interpretation. Phase 2: Develop an
innovative professional development program to enhance the creation of STEM
education projects with biomimicry, study the results of its implementation, and
study the supporting factors and obstacles. The 29 science student teacher
participated in the professional development program. Data were collected using the
STEM project creative assessment form and interview. Descriptive statistics and
content analysis were used with data triangulation techniques. Phase 3: introduce
innovative professional development programs to enhance the creation of STEM
education projects to agencies and target groups. The results of the three phases
were found that 1) the current situations and problems in doing STEM education
projects of science student teachers had limitations in thinking about STEM project
topics, insufficient integration of knowledge, unmatched STEM project to the
community context 2 ) The professional development programs to enhance the
creation of STEM education projects were based on the principles of Biomimicry to
solve problems. The steps consisted of problem definition, natural data discovery,
emulation, design, sharing, prototype, testing, and evaluation. The innovativeจ
professional development programs were successful in enhancing science student
teachers STEM education projects. Innovative professional development programs
have been successful in enhancing science student teachers' STEM education
projects. and 3) introducing innovative professional development programs to
agencies and target groups were satisfied by most target groups with all aspects.
They had knowledge, understanding, and application of knowledge at the highest
level.