Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine creative thinking and learning in arts-infused education by using the invention kit Makey Makey as a platform for Human-Centred Design Instrument (HCDI). Data were collected from 249 adolescents (n = 249) from a Hong Kong secondary school in a participatory design format. They were selected for the STEAM project, which is provided through the school curriculum to examine the level of attitude change towards creativity through the creation of human-centred musical instruments for different age cohorts, including children (aged 3–6), adults and elderly people (aged over 65). The research objectives were concerned with the development of collaborative creative thinking through an HCDI and with how students combined and transformed new knowledge for everyday application with meaning – a breakthrough in musical instrument design for human needs. Questionnaires, observation and interviews were conducted to examine the students’ level of creative thinking. Based on a modification of the creativity measurement framework from the Runco Ideational Behavior Scale (RIBS), a significant increase in the attitude change of students’ creativity was shown from the paired-sample t-test in the dimensions of originality, flexibility, fluency and elaboration through the STEAM project.
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Acknowledgements
I wish to thank the principal, Mrs. Laura Green, vice-principal, Ms. Helen Yu, and the head of the academic team, Mr. Henry Siu, at Good Hope School (Secondary Section) for their support. Thanks also to my Research Assistant, Mr. Elvis Tsang. Also, I would like to thank the valuable comments and suggestions from the reviewers.
An Explanation of Why your Manuscript Should Be Published in the Journal for STEM Education Research
This manuscript should be published in the JSER because this article is about STEAM education and students’ creativity. This article is both cutting edge and the first of its kind in this field. It fits really well with the aims of the journal about study of students’ learning, psychological, and cognitive development in STEAM education. Also, the role of Arts-infused education is obscure. This article will be a good exemplar to examine how STEAM relates to the RIBS scale in creative thinking as a research assessment tool.
An Explanation of any Issues Relating to Journal Policies
This manuscript investigated the pedagogical implications such as the changing role of teacher designer and student researcher in curriculum design and established the new practices within technology-rich learning environment by using Makey Makey as a human-centred design instrument. This study will have a significant global impact in STEAM education with an innovative pedagogy and objective measurement in creativity.
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This study was approved by the Human Ethical Review Committee (HERC) of the University. A consent form was provided and signed by the participants and their parents before the research was conducted.
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The researchers do not have any conflict of interest with the product, Makey Makey in this study.
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Chen, C.W.J., Lo, K. From Teacher-Designer to Student-Researcher: a Study of Attitude Change Regarding Creativity in STEAM Education by Using Makey Makey as a Platform for Human-Centred Design Instrument. Journal for STEM Educ Res 2, 75–91 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41979-018-0010-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41979-018-0010-6