Promoting STEM-Creative Skills in High School Students: Renewable Energy in Island Regions
DOI:
10.29303/ujcs.v6i3.1173Published:
2025-09-30Issue:
Vol. 6 No. 3 (2025): SeptemberKeywords:
Creative thinking, STEM, Renewable Energy, Wind Turbines, ArchipelagoArticles
Downloads
How to Cite
Downloads
Metrics
Abstract
This community service activity aims to increase students' understanding of renewable energy through a STEM education approach at SMA Negeri 57 Maluku Tengah. In this activity, students are invited to design and build a simple windmill model, which not only introduces basic physics concepts but also encourages their creativity and critical thinking skills. The main results of this activity show that students experienced an increase in knowledge and practical skills related to renewable energy. In addition, they also showed an increased interest in science and technology, as well as the ability to collaborate in groups. The main conclusion of this activity is that a project-based approach in STEM education is effective in developing 21st-century skills in students, as well as the importance of integrating the concept of renewable energy into the curriculum to prepare the younger generation to face environmental challenges in the future. This activity also emphasizes the need for teacher training to support the implementation of better STEM education. Thus, strengthening STEM education that focuses on renewable energy can be a strategic step in preparing students to face increasingly complex environmental challenges.
References
Alfonso-Benlliure, V., Meléndez, J. C., & García-Ballesteros, M. (2013). Evaluation of a creativity intervention program for preschoolers. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 10, 112–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2013.07.005
Ang, T. Z., Salem, M., Kamarol, M., Das, H. S., Nazari, M. A., & Prabaharan, N. (2022). A comprehensive study of renewable energy sources: Classifications, challenges and suggestions. Energy Strategy Reviews, 43, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2022.100939
Anwar, R., Elbashir, A. M., Magdy, R., Ahmad, Z., & Al-Thani, N. J. (2024). Effectiveness of STEM based workshop for deaf education: Exploratory study. Heliyon, 10(16), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36012
Avendano, L., Renteria, J., Kwon, S., & Hamdan, K. (2019). Bringing equity to underserved communities through STEM education: implications for leadership development. Journal of Educational Administration and History, 51(1), 66–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220620.2018.1532397
Bakar, N. A. A., Mu’in, N. A., & Kamaruddin, N. M. (2022). Design and development of savonius turbine for STEM Education. Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 28(2), 334–347. https://doi.org/10.37934/araset.28.2.334347
Batlolona, J. R., Diantoro, M., Wartono, & Latifah, E. (2019). Creative thinking skills students in physics on solid material elasticity. Journal of Turkish Science Education, 16(1), 48–61. https://doi.org/10.12973/tused.10265a
Boice, K. L., Jackson, J. R., Alemdar, M., Rao, A. E., Grossman, S., & Usselman, M. (2021). Supporting teachers on their STEAM journey: A collaborative STEAM teacher training program. Education Sciences, 11(3), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11030105
Bojulaia, M. (2025). Understanding creative pedagogy of Saudi high school STEM teacher: A case study of Mawhiba and public science classes. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 9, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2025.100495
Bryan, L., & Guzey, S. (2020). K-12 STEM education : an overview of perspectives and considerations. Hellenic Journal of STEM Education, 1(1), 5–15.
Cheryan, S., Siy, J. O., Vichayapai, M., Drury, B. J., & Kim, S. (2011). Do Female and male role models who embody STEM stereotypes hinder women ’ s anticipated success in STEM ? Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2(6), 656–664. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550611405218
Conradty, C., Bogner, F. X., Conradty, C., & Bogner, F. X. (2018). From STEM to STEAM : How to monitor creativity from STEM to STEAM : how to monitor creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 30(3), 233–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2018.1488195
Cook, K. L., & Bush, S. B. (2018). Design thinking in integrated STEAM learning: Surveying the landscape and exploring exemplars in elementary grades. School Science and Mathematics, 118(3–4), 93–103. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssm.12268
Eroglu, S., Bektas, O., & The, O. (2022). The effect of stem applications on the scientific creativity of 9th-grade students. Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health, 8(1), 17–36.
Genek, S. E., & Küçük, Z. D. (2020). Investigation of scientific creativity levels of elementary school students who enrolled in a stem program1-2. Elementary Education Online, 19(3), 1715–1728. https://doi.org/10.17051/ilkonline.2020.734849
Hebebci, M. T., & Usta, E. (2022). The effects of integrated STEM education practices on problem solving skills, scientific creativity, and critical thinking dispositions. Participatory Educational Research, 9(6), 358–379. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.22.143.9.6
Hisyam, M., Ismail, B., Furkan, M., Salleh, M., & Akmal, N. (2019). The issues and challenges in empowering STEM on science teachers in malaysian secondary schools the issues and challenges in empowering STEM on science teachers in Malaysian secondary schools. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9(13), 430–444. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v9-i13/6869
Izquierdo-Sanchis, E., Martín-Ezpeleta, A., & Echegoyen-Sanz, Y. (2025). Home or school? the impact of social environmental factors in the creativity performance of primary education children. Journal of Creative Behavior, 59(3), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.70052
Janelli, M., & Lipnevich, A. A. (2021). Effects of pre-tests and feedback on performance outcomes and persistence in Massive Open Online Courses. Computers and Education, 161, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2020.104076
Kampen, P. Van, Banahan, C., Kelly, M., Mcloughlin, E., & Leary, E. O. (2004). Teaching a single physics module through Problem Based Learning in a lecture-based curriculum. American Association of Physics Teachers, 72, 829–834. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1645280
Karwowski, M. (2011). It doesn’t hurt to ask... but sometimes it hurts to believe: polish students’ creative self-efficacy and its predictors. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 5(2), 154–164. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021427
Leasa, M., Batlolona, J. R., & Talakua, M. (2021). Elementary students’ creative thinking skills in science in the Maluku islands, Indonesia. Creativity Studies, 14(1), 74–89. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2021.11244
Leasa, M., Seriholo, S., Papilaya, P. M., & Batlolona, J. R. (2025). Research-based learning: creative thinking skills of primary school pupils in science learning. Journal of Turkish Science Education, 22(2), 318–337. https://doi.org/10.36681/tused.2025.016
Lesseig, K., Slavit, D., Nelson, T. H., Lesseig, K., Slavit, D., Holmlund, T., Jumping, N., Lesseig, K., Slavit, D., & Nelson, T. H. (2017). Jumping on the STEM bandwagon : How middle grades students and teachers can benefit from STEM experiences Jumping on the STEM bandwagon : How middle grades students and teachers can bene fi t from STEM experiences. Middle School Journal, 48(3), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/00940771.2017.1297663
Lin, C., Hu, W., Adey, P., & Shen, J. (2003). The influence of CASE on scientific creativity. Research in Science Education, 33, 143–162.
Liu, J., & Green, R. J. (2024). Children’s pro-environmental behaviour: A systematic review of the literature. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 205, 107524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107524
Makhmalbaf, A., & Yi-Luen Do, E. (2007). Physical environment and creativity: comparing children’s drawing behavior at home and at the bookstore. Education, Psychology, Environmental Science, Art, 1–22.
Maltese, A. V, Melki, C. S., & Wiebke, H. L. (2014). The Nature of experiences responsible for the generation and maintenance of interest in STEM. Science Education, 98(6), 937–962. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21132
Marozzo, V., Crupi, A., Abbate, T., Cesaroni, F., & Corvello, V. (2024). The impact of watching science fiction on the creativity of individuals: The role of STEM background. Technovation, 132, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2024.102994
Maslin, K., Murcia, K., & Blackley, S. (2024). ‘Can you show me?’: Children demonstrating creativity through focus during STEM online learning. Issues in Educational Research, 34(4), 1429–1450.
Othman, O., Iksan, Z. H., & Yasin, R. M. (2022). Creative Teaching STEM Module: High School Students’ Perception. European Journal of Educational Research, 11(4), 2127–2137.
Pambudi, N. A., Firdaus, R. A., Rizkiana, R., Ulfa, D. K., Salsabila, M. S., Suharno, & Sukatiman. (2023). Renewable energy in Indonesia: current status, potential, and future development. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(3), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032342
Patston, T. J., Kaufman, J. C., Cropley, A. J., & Marrone, R. (2021). What Is creativity in education? a qualitative study of international curricula. Journal of Advanced Academics, 32(2), 207–230. https://doi.org/10.1177/1932202X20978356
Pecen, R., & Nayir, A. (2010). Promoting STEM to young students by renewable energy applications. Proceedings - International Symposium: Modern Electric Power Systems, MEPS’10, 13(3), 62–73.
Pont-Niclòs, I., Martín-Ezpeleta, A., & Echegoyen-Sanz, Y. (2024). Scientific creativity in secondary students and its relationship with STEM-related attitudes, engagement and work intentions. Frontiers in Education, 9, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1382541
Premraj, D., & Thompson, R. R. (2019). Key factors influencing retention rates among historically underrepresented students groups in STEM Fields. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 0(0), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/1521025119848763
Santika, W. G., Urmee, T., Simsek, Y., Bahri, P. A., & Anisuzzaman, M. (2020). An assessment of energy policy impacts on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 in Indonesia. Energy for Sustainable Development, 59, 33–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2020.08.011
Shivaraju, P. T., Manu, G., Vinaya, M., & Savkar, M. K. (2017). Evaluating the effectiveness of pre- and post-test model of learning in a medical school. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7(9), 947–951. https://doi.org/10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0412802052017
Siew, N. M., Chong, C. L., & Lee, B. N. (2015). Fostering fifth graders’ scientific creativity through problem-based learning. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 14(5), 655–669. https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/15.14.655
Sims, R. E. H., Rogner, H., & Gregory, K. (2003). Carbon emission and mitigation cost comparisons between fossil fuel , nuclear and renewable energy resources for electricity generation. Energy Policy, 31, 1315–1326.
Thomas, D. R., & Larwin, K. H. (2023). A meta-analytic investigation of the impact of middle school STEM education: where are all the students of color? International Journal of STEM Education, 10(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00425-8
To Khuyen, N. T., Van Bien, N., Lin, P. L., Lin, J., & Chang, C. Y. (2020). Measuring teachers’ perceptions to sustain STEM education development. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(4), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041531
Tolleson, A., & Zeligman, M. (2019). Creativity and Posttraumatic Growth in Those Impacted by a Chronic Illness/Disability. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 14(4), 499–509. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2019.1632769
Trang, N. T. T., Oanh, D. T., Binh, P. T., Ninh, T. T., Anh, M. T. H., Dung, L. Van, & Duc, N. M. (2021). Practical investigating of STEM teaching competence of pre -service chemistry teachers in Vietnam. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1835(1), 0–11. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1835/1/012069
Tumira, Putranto, L. M., Wijaya, F. D., Priyanto, A., & Savitri, I. (2022). Generation expansion planning based on local renewable energy resources : a case study of the isolated Ambon-Seram power system. Sus, 14, 1–21.
Tumiran, T., Putranto, L. M., Irnawan, R., Sarjiya, S., Nugraha, C. F., Priyanto, A., & Savitri, I. (2022). Power system planning assessment for optimizing renewable energy integration in the maluku electricity system. Sustainability, 14, 1–25.
Tuyet, T. L. T., Thi, K. N., Duc, H. T., Giao, X. T. T., Thi, N. V., Tuong, V. H. K., Nhu, U. D. T., & Mai, A. L. T. (2024). STEM education in primary schools of Southeast Asian countries: An analysis of scientific publications in the Scopus database from 2000 to 2022. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 20(4), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/14432
van Broekhoven, K., Cropley, D., & Seegers, P. (2020). Differences in creativity across Art and STEM students: We are more alike than unalike. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 38, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100707
Varghese, A. F., & Senan, D. C. (2021). A STEM approach to teach wind power at elementary level. Journal in Arts, Commerce, Education & Social Sciences, X(3), 14–17. https://doi.org/10.22183/RN
Vieira, M., Kennedy, J. P., Leonard, S. N., & Cropley, D. (2025). Creative Self-Efficacy: Why It Matters for the Future of STEM Education. Creativity Research Journal, 37(3), 472–488. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2024.2309038
Wan, Z. H., So, W. M. W., & Hu, W. (2021). Necessary or sufficient? The impacts of epistemic beliefs on STEM creativity and the mediation of intellectual risk-taking. International Journal of Science Education, 43(5), 672–692. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2021.1877368
Weng, X., Chiu, T. K. F., & Jong, M. S. Y. (2022). Applying relatedness to explain learning outcomes of STEM Maker Activities. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.800569
Yalçın, V., & Erden, S. (2021). The Effect of STEM Activities prepared according to the design thinking model on preschool children’s creativity and problem-solving skills. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 41, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2021.100864
Yang, W., Liang, L., Xiang, S., & Yeter, I. H. (2025). Making a Makerspace in early childhood education: Effects on children’s STEM thinking skills and emotional development. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 56, 101754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2025.101754
Yudha, S. W., & Tjahjono, B. (2019). Stakeholder mapping and analysis of the renewable energy industry in Indonesia. Energies, 12(4), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12040602
Author Biographies
Jamaludin, Universitas Pattimura
John Rafafy Batlolona, Pattimura University
Carolina Sri Athena Barus, Universitas Pattimura
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jamaludin, John Rafafy Batlolona, Carolina Sri Athena Barus

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.