Disseminating STEM Subjects and Ocean Literacy through a Bioinspired Toolkit

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Marine Science Education
• Robotics in Education

Background:

• Education is evolving to address sustainability and inclusivity challenges.
• Technology, particularly Educational Robotics, enhances learning and skill development.
• Existing methods need further development for marine-focused STEM education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel bioinspired educational toolkit for marine-themed STEM learning.
• To support sustainability, ocean literacy, and STEM subjects for K-12 students.
• To advance previous work in Educational Robotics applied to the marine environment.

Main Methods:

• Development of a bioinspired educational toolkit with marine-themed activities.
• Integration of established Educational Robotics theories and methodologies.
• Presentation of robot design, Open Educational Resources (OERs) workshops, and a case study.

Main Results:

• The toolkit facilitates marine-themed activities and STEM subject exploration.
• Case study results indicate increased student awareness of climate and environmental issues.
• The toolkit complements students' interest in technology with environmental consciousness.

Conclusions:

• The bioinspired educational toolkit effectively integrates marine science, STEM, and sustainability education.
• Educational Robotics can foster both technological skills and environmental awareness in young learners.
• The toolkit serves as a valuable Open Educational Resource for educators.