Ruetai CHONGSRID, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand
Pankamon SORNSUWAN, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand
Kornkanok CHONGSOONNERN, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand
Kanogpun SELAR, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand
Salilrat PRASOPRERK, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand
Evidently, the current ongoing issue of the COVID-19 pandemic has been wreaking havoc on economy, society, and public health on a global scale. Thus, having accurate knowledge of the machanism and epidemiology of this lethal coronavirus and eventual practical application from the knowledge gained to daily life contexts are deemed vital and indubitably beneficial to prevention of coronavirus infection.
In response to this alarming viral threat to health. The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) has developed the curriculum and learning materials for the project called ‘STEM and Coding in Action' to serve as a tool for building accurate knowledge and raising awareness of the gravity of COVID-19 prevention among young students. This aforementioned knowledge transfer effort can be achieved via games, and STEM education-based activities. All of which will help shed light to students on the phenominon of the COVID-19 epidemiology where it will allow students to employ and associate their computational thinking with problem-solving based activities and eventually apply their skill to their daily life contexts, which will enable them to assess real-life situations and resolve arising issues systemetically, creatively, efficiently, accurately, and conscionably.
The learning activities are designed for primary school and junior high school. The project are formulated in line with the “Spiral Learning concept” which will lead to acquisition of knowledge, awareness, and skill essential to COVID-19 prevention at both individual and social levels, which comprises the following 3 learning stations
Station 1 is Fun facts about virus and its strains and the epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus. Some examples of this station are the biggest ban, True or False, virus-busting Detective, Viral Structure Mapping with Clear Glass, Who's the Mightier? (Getting to know sizes of virus by means of sorting), Virus Dissection with Water Blooming Flowers, and Viral Packaging, Model, and DNA
Station 2 is Knowing COVID-19 mechanism and its pathogenesis is. There are many activities, such as Knowing Strains of Virus with Coding Bangles, How Much Can Virus Multiply?, Virus vs. Host Cell, a Lengthy Fight with OX Activity, Magic Torch Shining through Respiratory System, and How Does Coronavirus Travel to Lungs?
The last station is the COVID-19 Prevention. Examples of this station are So Far, So Good (tips on 2-meter social distancing), Heroic Alcohol Gel, the Virus Buster, Soapy Wonder, the Virus Killer, Viral Attack by Mysterious Fingerprints , No Sneezing, No Coughing, No COVID-19, The Best of Hand Washing, and Magic Mask Marvel