Cultivating Collaboration and Problem-Solving Skills through Project-Based and Inquiry-Based Learning: Implementation and Evaluation in a STEM Competition Team Participation

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Published: Apr 19, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/codiste.9923
Keywords:
Inquiry Based Learning Project Based Learning
Elina Karagiannidou
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9714-1164
Abstract

This paper is a good practice that examines the skills developed by a group of four elementary school students (of the 4th and 5th grade of the Greek Primary School) during their participation in a STEM competition for the first time. Specifically, it analyzes the skills cultivated throughout the process, focusing on problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking as key factors for successful engagement in STEM projects. An open-ended inquiry-based approach was implemented, with a seven-month intervention period. The students were already familiar with Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) and Project-Based Learning (PBL), and they presented their project to a panel of judges, earning distinctions for their work.

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