DEVELOPING PROBLEM SOLVING CAPACITY FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS THROUGH STEM ACTIVITY “SMART REFRIGERATOR MODEL” IN TEACHING HUMAN AND HEALTH TOPICS (SCIENCE 4)

Abstract

STEM education is a teaching model that ensures comprehensive education, aiming to form and develop students' abilities and qualities in an era of economic and social development. The article uses theoretical research methods to build a STEM lesson process, the "Smart refrigerator model" to develop problem-solving capacity for 4th-grade students. The research uses practical methods. A quasi-experimental comparative study was performed to evaluate the level of development of students' problem-solving capacity through the difference between ability groups using an independent samples t-test. The results showed that the percentage (%) of student groups achieving problem-solving competency components after the experiment had a clear improvement. When participating in activities, students can develop themselves, improve their ability to learn knowledge and design products and understand how to identify and propose solutions. The results show that organizing the STEM activity "Smart refrigerator model" in teaching "People and health" in Science 4 helps students develop problem-solving capacity and other general abilities.