Teaching STEAM and Engineering Education Through Project-Based Learning: Fostering Creativity and Innovation in Students

Teaching STEAM Education and Engineering through Project-Based Learning fosters creativity and innovation among Grade 12 students. The approach involves a structured process with six steps, initiating with problem identification and the collection of information and concepts related to the problem. Subsequently, students move on to the design phase, followed by testing, evaluation, and revision of the solution or workpiece, encapsulated in the stages of Testing, Evaluation, and Design Improvement. The final step culminates in the presentation of solutions. This problem-solving and presentation approach is organized according to the study stream concept, incorporating the engineering design process. The research model employed is classroom action research at Sarasas Witaed Rangsit School, Thailand, during the first semester of the academic year 2023, involving a total of 123 students. The findings demonstrate that the stream-based learning approach, coupled with the engineering design process, effectively stimulates the creativity and innovation of Grade 12 students. Notably, teachers are advised to emphasize the significance of critical situations by introducing challenging conditions for students. The students' analytical skills are evident as they assess the context through brainstorming, design various pieces, plan the implementation process, select appropriate testing methods, evaluate their workpieces, make improvements, and ultimately present and refine their own creations. The results highlight continuous development in students’ creativity and innovation. The most prominent behavioral expression observed throughout the learning process is creative collaborative behavior, while the least expressed behavior is openness and courage to explore.