Abstract of Ruetai Chongsrid

Fun Science @Home Innovative and Interactive Online STEM learning during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ruetai Chongsrid, Sopida Pananusorn, Pankamon Sornsuwan, Witchanan Ngamthin

National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract

As the global economies, societies, and public health have been bearing the brunt of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the educational sector in Thailand has also been adjusting itself in response whereby the compulsory learning mode has provisionally been restricted to online learning at home for students at all levels to contain the local rising contagion of COVID-19. NSTDA has then developed and designed innovative STEM activities for an online science camp on the basis of the 3 fundamental factors.

I. Student Desirable, in conjunction with employment of Design Thinking and Empathy principles, emphasizes 7 points of consideration of content influencing young learners' interest in participation in online science activities: a) contains up-to-date information with cutting-edge technology, or latest discoveries, all of which help broaden their horizons in science: b) provides them with a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere while learning: c) is challenging enough, not too easy nor too difficult for them to participate in: d) relates to their living context, community, natural resources, and local wisdom: e) allows them to engage in hands-on experiments and self-discoveries, not just lectures: f) helps stimulate their creativity which leads to practical innovations: and g) is relevant and applicable to what students actually study at school to help improve their grades.

II. Technology Feasible centers on online learning technology and efficient programs for communication and interaction between students and the learning platform, including logistics technology to facilitate delivery of learning materials to students to conduct trial experiments at home.

III. Business Viable underscores the online STEM camp’s budget management, financial support from both government and private sectors and from students’ parents, especially the cost-effectiveness of organizing the online STEM camp for the possibility of continuation of the program.

Thus far, since the emergence of COVID-19, NSTDA has developed 60 STEM online learning clips, 12 online STEM camps and a total of 544 student participants. The majority of student participants anticipated future continuation of the program with their positive feedback at a 96.67 percent satisfaction rate on grounds of its practicality and applicability, enjoyment in learning, interest and curiosity stimulating content, easily grasped knowledge transfer by instructors, and enjoyable interactive applications during online STEM learning.

Keywords:online learning, STEM education, COVID-19, design thinking