STEM in chemistry

The development of students' problem-solving skills is vital for cultivating a future-ready workforce, particularly in the domains of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Despite its importance, many students face difficulties in connecting classroom learning to...

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Main Authors: Mokhzani Ibrahim, Nurul Atikah Mohd Badli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: LUMA Centre Finland 2025-02-01
Series:LUMAT
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.helsinki.fi/lumat/article/view/2445
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author Mokhzani Ibrahim
Nurul Atikah Mohd Badli
author_facet Mokhzani Ibrahim
Nurul Atikah Mohd Badli
author_sort Mokhzani Ibrahim
collection DOAJ
description The development of students' problem-solving skills is vital for cultivating a future-ready workforce, particularly in the domains of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Despite its importance, many students face difficulties in connecting classroom learning to real-world contexts, a challenge that is particularly pronounced in chemistry due to the abstract nature of concepts such as the three levels of chemistry representation (macroscopic, microscopic, and symbolic). The integration of STEM principles into teaching approaches, such as the blended problem-based learning (BPBL) approach, which combines face-to-face and online learning, has shown promise in bridging this gap. By incorporating elements of STEM into the BPBL approach, this study explores how these disciplines can enhance problem-solving skills and facilitate deeper understanding. Specifically, this research investigates the effect of the BPBL_S Module—a module that integrates BPBL with the Socratic method—on students' problem-solving abilities in the three representation levels of chemistry concept. Employing a design and development research approach, the study involved 25 students and one teacher, selected through clustered random sampling. Data were collected through observations, student documents, and interviews, and were analysed thematically. The findings suggest that the BPBL_S Module significantly improves students' problem-solving skills by enabling them to apply STEM concepts to chemistry, thus enhancing their ability to justify solutions comprehensively across macroscopic, microscopic, and symbolic levels. This study underscores the potential of the BPBL_S Module as an effective STEM-based teaching aid to better prepare students for the problem-solving demands of the future workforce.  
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spelling doaj-art-a3ed8d786e2c47f78adf9b8ce1dd608a2025-02-03T11:38:31ZengLUMA Centre FinlandLUMAT2323-71122025-02-0112410.31129/LUMAT.12.4.2445STEM in chemistryMokhzani Ibrahim0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8944-5019Nurul Atikah Mohd Badli1https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5201-7293Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, MalaysiaUniversiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia The development of students' problem-solving skills is vital for cultivating a future-ready workforce, particularly in the domains of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Despite its importance, many students face difficulties in connecting classroom learning to real-world contexts, a challenge that is particularly pronounced in chemistry due to the abstract nature of concepts such as the three levels of chemistry representation (macroscopic, microscopic, and symbolic). The integration of STEM principles into teaching approaches, such as the blended problem-based learning (BPBL) approach, which combines face-to-face and online learning, has shown promise in bridging this gap. By incorporating elements of STEM into the BPBL approach, this study explores how these disciplines can enhance problem-solving skills and facilitate deeper understanding. Specifically, this research investigates the effect of the BPBL_S Module—a module that integrates BPBL with the Socratic method—on students' problem-solving abilities in the three representation levels of chemistry concept. Employing a design and development research approach, the study involved 25 students and one teacher, selected through clustered random sampling. Data were collected through observations, student documents, and interviews, and were analysed thematically. The findings suggest that the BPBL_S Module significantly improves students' problem-solving skills by enabling them to apply STEM concepts to chemistry, thus enhancing their ability to justify solutions comprehensively across macroscopic, microscopic, and symbolic levels. This study underscores the potential of the BPBL_S Module as an effective STEM-based teaching aid to better prepare students for the problem-solving demands of the future workforce.   https://journals.helsinki.fi/lumat/article/view/2445three representation levels of chemistryproblem-solvingproblem-based learningblended problem-based learningblended problem-based learning Socratics
spellingShingle Mokhzani Ibrahim
Nurul Atikah Mohd Badli
STEM in chemistry
LUMAT
three representation levels of chemistry
problem-solving
problem-based learning
blended problem-based learning
blended problem-based learning Socratics
title STEM in chemistry
title_full STEM in chemistry
title_fullStr STEM in chemistry
title_full_unstemmed STEM in chemistry
title_short STEM in chemistry
title_sort stem in chemistry
topic three representation levels of chemistry
problem-solving
problem-based learning
blended problem-based learning
blended problem-based learning Socratics
url https://journals.helsinki.fi/lumat/article/view/2445
work_keys_str_mv AT mokhzaniibrahim steminchemistry
AT nurulatikahmohdbadli steminchemistry