We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of Culturally Relevant STEM Education: Children’s Eco-Friendly Invention Ideas Using Kakishibu in Japan and Australia
AI summary Read the abstract
A culturally relevant STEM workshop had primary school children in Japan and Australia explore eco-friendly applications for Kakishibu as alternatives to single-use plastics, with most children proposing sustainable product ideas shaped by their local plastic-use context. This educational research demonstrates that culturally grounded science engagement can build early awareness of microplastic pollution and motivate children to seek bio-based alternatives.
Abstract In this chapter, we outline the influence of an experimental, hands-on Kakishibu STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workshop designed for primary school children and their families, guided by the principles of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP). The chapter commences with a literature review on CRP, with particular emphasis on STEM education. Subsequently, the development process of culturally relevant STEM education workshops centred on Kakishibu is introduced, incorporating CRP and a utility value intervention involving worksheets on self-generated invention ideas involving Kakishibu. The workshops were conducted in both Japan and Australia, where the relevance of Kakishibu and policies on single-use plastic bans vary. A qualitative analysis was performed on the collected worksheets from eco-friendly and sustainability perspectives. The findings reveal that the majority of children proposed eco-friendly applications for Kakishibu; however, the context of single use plastics in everyday life had a discernable effect. Additionally, some children advocated a systems approach to broader plastic issues. Consequently, it is suggested that the intersection of multicultural relevance and single-use plastic alternatives may produce a synergistic effect. Given that children employed an anthropocentric perspective rather than focusing on the foundational philosophy of Kakishibu, it is necessary to emphasise shifting the concept of “culturally relevant” from everyday life to the cultural philosophical background.
More Papers Like This
Socio-technical Experiments with Kakishibu: Student-Led Innovation with Businesses
AI summary Read the abstract
Japanese high school students developed Kakishibu-based alternatives to plastic products — including paper bags, agricultural mulch, and food packaging — through collaboration with companies and universities, demonstrating that traditional materials can address microplastic and PFAS pollution. This case study highlights student-driven socio-technical innovation as a scalable model for reducing primary microplastic inputs from single-use plastics.
Development of STEM-based worksheets on recycled plastic panels to enhance student creativity
AI summary Read the abstract
A STEM-based worksheet integrating plastic recycling into product design significantly improved creativity among 124 high school students, with N-gain scores of 0.62–0.70 across fluency, flexibility, and originality measures. This approach demonstrates that embedding plastic waste challenges into project-based learning can simultaneously build environmental awareness and higher-order thinking skills.
Enhancing Student Creativity Through Plastic Waste Integration in Visual Art Education
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that integrating plastic waste as an art material in Indonesian middle school classrooms significantly boosted student creativity scores from 54% to 87%, while simultaneously fostering environmental awareness and 21st-century competencies in resource-constrained educational settings.
The role of the arts and crafts subject in education for sustainable development
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a qualitative study on the role of arts and crafts education in a Norwegian interdisciplinary teaching project focused on marine litter, using participatory observation and the Visual Art Based Participatory Method to analyze student outputs from grades 5-10. Results indicate that creative making processes in arts and crafts uniquely enable students to express and process emotional responses to marine plastic pollution beyond standard curriculum competence goals.
The role of ecobrick workshops in raising plastic pollution awareness and encouraging intent for behavioral change
AI summary Read the abstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of ecobrick workshops in raising plastic pollution awareness and promoting sustainable behaviors among students from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan. Participants showed a significant increase in awareness and perceived ability to reduce plastic waste, though willingness to practice ecobrick-making at home remained lower than classroom engagement.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.