"Technology, Society and Museums" forum was successfully held / Science Education and Museums

A preliminary study of literacy-oriented teaching via the building blocks elements of Gigo// LI Weiyu, ZHONG Mingren, LIU' Lanyu First-author's Address Department of Science Communication in Pingtung University, E-mail: waiter851106@gmail.com

Abstract This study explored the effectiveness of literacy-oriented teaching using the building blocks0 elements of Gigo. The researchers utilized the scientific knowledge to develop a team-work course,

’ and continued to discuss problems with children s group during the course. The course was divided into two parts: simple machine and mammalian skeleton. The first part employed the Gigo blocks elements to teach the principles of gears and levers to child, and then asked the groups to try to create their idea of a simple machine themselves. In the second part, the groups had to observe and understand how a mammalian skeleton functions, and then had to use gigo blocks elements to imitate the appearance and function of it. Every child had to discuss his or her idea in a peer group, the researchers would join them when a difficulty occurs. An investigation after the course showed theat children enjoyed the course, and they thought they can learn more in team work using Gigo blocks. Literacy-oriented teaching is becoming more and more important in science courses, and there are various materials can be used for this sort of teaching. We hope our preliminary study offers science teachers one more possibility for literacy-oriented teaching.

Keywords literacy-oriented teaching, gigo blocks, simple machines, mammalian skeleton