Reflections on the TALKING CELLS PROJECT: A STEAM Approach to Learning

https://doi.org/10.21585/ijcses.v0i0.49

Authors

  • Meltem Oksuz Karagoz Erkan Ulu Schools
  • Hazan Buyukakmanlar

Keywords:

STEM, STEAM, 21st Century skills, Technology, Cell, Organelle, Programming, Makes Makey

Abstract

This small-scale action research reports on a design and implementation of a ‘Talking Cells’ project which aims to teach students the subject of “Cell” through an integrated STEAM approach. For this project, the school’s ICT teacher, science teacher and educational technology specialist worked collaboratively to design a series of activities that provided a context for children to solve real-life problems. In total 3 teachers from different subject fields worked as a team on this project with 51 sixth grade students. The students experimented with the ideas by designing solutions for real-life problems that were given to them. The students transformed organelles from cells into objects by using different materials and programming these using digital tools and electronics. The study which took place during lessons totaling 400 minutes, allowed students to experiment with STEAM concepts and skills. The study found that learning through solving real-life problems using programming and STEAM skills had a significant effect on students’ performance.

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Author Biographies

Meltem Oksuz Karagoz, Erkan Ulu Schools

OKSUZ KARAGOZ who works as an Information Technology Teacher and Instructional Technology Specialist, at Erkan Ulu Schools,

She has a double major license degree from Yeditepe University at CEIT and Information Systems and Technologies with 100% scholarship.

Before she started teaching, her past was filled with experiences like movie production and animation.

She is an expert at Educational Technology,, Robotics, Programming, Web Design, Graphic Design and Game Design.

Along with her advanced English, she is currently learning Spanish and Korean.

Hazan Buyukakmanlar

Science Teacher at Erkan Ulu Schools

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Published

2019-05-04

How to Cite

Oksuz Karagoz, M., & Buyukakmanlar, H. (2019). Reflections on the TALKING CELLS PROJECT: A STEAM Approach to Learning. International Journal of Computer Science Education in Schools, 2(5), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.21585/ijcses.v0i0.49

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 5 (2019): IJCSES Working Group Meeting, March 2019, Istanbul, Turkey

Section

Short Teacher Reports
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