Using Paper Circuits in Elementary Schools to Promote Understanding of Sustainable Commuting
5Annually, the Canarian Agency for Research, Innovation, and the Information Society (ACIISI) commemorates the XVI Weeks of Science and Innovation in Canaria, Spain to promote science and technology throughout the islands. The main objective of this project was to raise awareness of the importance of the sustainable development objectives applied in the island context by carrying out a maker challenge involving a paper electrical circuit that sparked the idea of a more sustainable island among participating elementary school students. The one-day "Light up your idea for sustainable islands" exercise connected 1,026 elementary schoolers from Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, two Canary Islands in Spain, to explore and share ideas regarding more sustainable islands, thereby constructing an electrical circuit. Two weeks prior to the student session, teachers participated in a Zoom-based training workshop led by researchers. The student’s Zoom session consisted of drawing ideas, constructing a paper circuit, and engaging in a discussion. The activities were highly inspiring for the participants, who realized how their paper circuits contributed to the development of sustainable ideas. The implications of providing Do-It-Yourself (DIY) activities for promoting understanding of sustainability in island development and enhancing elementary schoolers’ interest in STEAM-related subjects are highlighted. Finally, some of the challenges associated with implementing paper circuits in school settings with video conferencing tools and recommendations for future directions are discussed.