Fostering a Culture of Innovativeness and Entrepreneurship among Early Secondary School Students through STEM and Coding Education Insights from Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Start-up Innovation Camp

Abstract

This research aimed to (1) investigate changes in attitudes towards learning STEM and coding, innovativeness, and entrepreneurial attitudes, and (2) synthesize characteristics and evaluate innovations to address problems after participating in an innovation camp for 180 early high school students. Activities included learning platforms to foster competency and coding through open learning for the public, and innovation camps. Students learned via webinars, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), participated in hands-on camps with experts, and developed innovations to solve problems. Data was collected using attitude surveys towards learning, innovativeness, and entrepreneurial attitudes three times. Data was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and content analysis. Results showed a significant continuous increase in students’ attitudes towards learning STEM and coding, innovativeness, and entrepreneurial attitudes from the first to the third measurement. Innovations that students were interested in solving problems included air pollution (45.45%), medical transport (27.27%), renewable energy (18.18%), and social media and interaction (9.09%). Evaluation results reflected clear problem-solving at a good level, with relatively good evidence seeking and process presentation. Creativity, integration, and impact creation were at an acceptable level.