The Role of Digital-Media-Based Pedagogical Aids in Elementary Entomology: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach

Su-Ju Lu, Ya-Hui Chen, Hazel Huang and Ying-Chieh Liu ()
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Su-Ju Lu: Department of Digital Technology Design, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei 106033, Taiwan
Ya-Hui Chen: Long Pu Elementary School, Sanxia District, New Taipei City 237021, Taiwan
Hazel Huang: Department of Marketing & Management, Durham University Business School, Durham DH1 3LB, UK
Ying-Chieh Liu: Department of Industrial Design, College of Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 320338, Taiwan

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-14

Abstract: It has been challenging for city school pupils to learn about insects, given the lack of live insects. To overcome this challenge, the objective of this study is to propose the use of emerging digital media, namely three-dimensional printing (3DP) technologies, to create reusable, fake, “live” insects. In this study, we designed two 3D-printed pedagogical aids to support elementary entomology. The first aid was a set of cards showing photos of the 3D-printed insect prototype, which could help the learners in close observation of the insect body’s regions and parts, and the second 3D-printed aid was a construction kit mimicking physical insects, which were made of an enlarged 3D-printed insect prototype. The two aids were used in our field experiment to examine the effectiveness in learning and motivation. A total of 153 pupils were grouped into three groups (one using the existing multimedia e-book, one using the first 3DP aid, and one using the second aid). The results confirm that the digital media application—in this case, 3DP technologies—were able to compensate for the lack of the live insects. These results raised our confidence in using a customized size 3D-printed insect prototype to enhance rudimentary entomology inside the classroom. If the 3DP technologies are used properly, they could offer an innovative and sustainable solution.

Keywords: digital media; innovative pedagogical aids; sustainable solutions for elementary learning; 3D-printed insect prototype; learning motivation; learning achievement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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