Design of teaching aids in STEAM education and fuzzy hierarchical analysis of their educational effect

Focusing on problem-based learning (PBL) and the multi-disciplinary teaching of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), we developed the evaluation tool of teaching aids in STEAM education to help students practice creative thinking and solution-finding. The fuzzy theory and the analytical hierarchy process were integrated for the evaluation of the acceptance of using robots in STEAM education. The fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) was developed with the help of experts in education and industry who defined the goal, criteria, and alternatives (factors) of using teaching aids in STEAM education. FAHP was applied to the evaluation of three robots designed for STEAM education in this study. The result of the evaluation showed that the use of the designed robots in STEAM education was important in five criteria (structure, function, economy, aesthetic, and creativity). Among the alternatives, logic, creativity, simpleness, Avant-garde, and innovation were important for robots to be used for STEAM education. This indicated that artistic elements were important in the integration of them in STEAM education. The developed FAHP and questionnaire were useful in evaluating the acceptance of teaching aids in STEAM education. For the evaluation of the use of other teaching aids, the result of this study provides a basis and a reference for how teaching aids can be used for STEAM education.