Resumen de Interdisciplinary Electrochemistry STEM-Lab Activities Replacing the Single Disciplinary Electrochemistry Curriculum for Secondary Schools
Mageswary Karpudewan, Noor Haslina Daman Huri
Transforming the chemistry curriculum to an interdisciplinary perspective is essential for preparing students to meet interdisciplinary career demands and to brace themselves for the challenges of complex environmental and health issues. The study introduces four interdisciplinary electrochemistry STEM-lab activities as an alternative to the single disciplinary electrochemistry laboratory curriculum. The electrochemistry STEM-lab activities are designed considering the learning objectives stated in the curriculum specifications. This enables teachers to seamlessly replace the single disciplinary curriculum, which emphasizes the mastery of chemistry concepts, with the interdisciplinary curriculum that stresses applying the concepts in solving complex multidisciplinary real-world problems. The interdisciplinary curriculum allows students to learn electrochemistry concepts considering the mathematics, engineering, and technology disciplines. During the interdisciplinary electrochemistry STEM-lab activities, secondary school students exhibited collaborative teamwork and communication skills. The activities engage them in science and engineering practices, and engineering design thinking. The activities enforce crossing the boundaries between the STEM disciplines to understand the application of principles to manufacture products in industry. Eventually, the activities engender a meaningful learning context that enhances cognitive and affective outcomes.
