We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Marine plastic pollution in kindergarten as a means of engaging toddlers with STEM education and educational robotics
Summary
This paper explores using marine plastic pollution as a topic to engage preschool children with STEM education and robotics through experiential learning. Environmental topics like plastic pollution can serve as motivating contexts for early science and technology education.
In recent years, education has increasingly focused on children's acquisition of digital skills and abilities, which leads to the need to create new educational methodologies capable of engaging students in computational thinking activities. The research interest of this paper focuses on how preschool children can be more involved in STEM and educational robotics through authentically experiential learning on the topic of marine plastic pollution. It examines toddler engagement through an integrated STEM scenario using the programmable robot Bee-Bot and encourages children to solve problems in many possible ways, assessing the strengthening of their necessary skills. The teaching intervention took place during the 2021-22 school year in a Kindergarten in the city of Ioannina. During the planning and implementation phase of the program, action research and field study are applied, while the sociocultural approach to teaching natural sciences, educational robotics, new technologies, engineering, the arts and mathematics. The research framework is completed with the evaluation process and the students disseminating the project learning outcomes.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Ecología robótica desde el litoral: resultados de un programa fortalecedor de las habilidades para la ciencia
A STEAM-based robotics program was used with students on coastal beaches to study and address the problem of shoreline plastic waste. The program combined science education with hands-on environmental monitoring, demonstrating that educational robotics can help raise awareness about marine litter among young people.
Report of a robot competition on the problem of garbage in the sea and verification of learning effects
This report describes an underwater robot competition held in Japan focused on marine garbage collection as a way to engage students in ocean sustainability. The competition combined education about plastic pollution in the sea with hands-on robotics, promoting STEM learning alongside environmental awareness.
Pembimbingan siswa SD sekitar lokasi pantai wisata Kastela untuk smart berplastik
Not relevant to microplastics research; this paper describes an educational program teaching Indonesian elementary school students about waste sorting and sustainable waste management through interactive play-based methods.
Microplastics in the Environment: Raising Awareness in Primary Education
This study developed and evaluated a microplastics education program for primary school children, finding that age-appropriate lessons about plastic pollution could meaningfully increase students' environmental awareness. The authors argue that early education is a key component of long-term plastic pollution reduction strategies.
School science activities with contributions from STEM practices: A study to address complex problems in elementary school classes, in the case of microplastics and their harmful effects
Researchers developed a theoretical and explanatory framework identifying which aspects of STEM education can strengthen the design of school science activities addressing complex problems such as microplastic pollution in elementary school settings. The study proposes a model for integrating STEM practices into classroom activities to build students' capacity to engage with real-world environmental challenges.