The STEAM Design Process & Starfish Maker

Equitable hands-on STEAM learning that builds future skills through real-world problem-solving.

The STEAM Design Process supports students in over 800 schools across Thailand to develop future skills through hands-on learning connected to real life. Designed to fit any context, even with limited resources, it promotes creativity and problem-solving without relying on expensive equipment, enabling equitable access to quality STEAM education.

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Global Collection 2026

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Overview

HundrED has selected this innovation to

HundrED Global Collection 2026

Updated April 2026

Web presence

2017

Established

55K 2023

58K 2024

76K 2025

1

Countries

All students

Target group

We hope to shift the way people think about education, moving from a focus on memorization to building skills that help students adapt and take ownership of their learning. Our goal is to prepare them for lifelong learning and active participation in society. We want to see classrooms become spaces where ideas can be explored and tested, where students feel confident to face real-world challenges. Our approach is designed to be practical and easy to apply without requiring high budgets or expensive equipment. Through this, we aim to reduce educational inequality in a meaningful way. Ultimately, we envision a future where every school, regardless of location or available resources, can nurture creativity, perseverance, and critical thinking in students, transforming schools into places that develop problem-solvers who are ready to take action for their communities.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

This innovation was born from a commitment to turn the vision of future skills into everyday classroom practice. We saw an opportunity to create learning environments that actively encourage creativity and hands-on experiences to prepare students for real-world challenges. We developed the STEAM Design Process as an accessible tool for teachers to effectively nurture problem-solving and reflective thinking. We intentionally designed this framework to be highly adaptable and require minimal resources. This ensures that all schools, whether in large urban centers or remote areas, can easily implement it within their specific contexts. We firmly believe that every child deserves equal access to developing future-ready skills.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

In practice, this innovation operates through a continuous five step cycle of Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, and Reflect and Redesign. Activities typically begin with students exploring real problems in their community. Instead of teachers providing the answers, students brainstorm solutions during the Imagine phase. They organize their tasks and gather local materials for the Plan phase, and then build prototypes during the Create phase. The crucial final step involves testing their work and finding areas for improvement through Reflect and Redesign. This process integrates easily into schools with minimal disruption to existing schedules. It helps transform ordinary classrooms into lively makerspaces where children are at the center of exploring, experimenting, and making their own decisions.

How has it been spreading?

Starting as a pilot at Starfish School in Chiang Mai, the initiative has expanded nationwide through partnerships with public and private schools, local authorities, and the Ministry of Education. The process is now implemented in over 800 schools across Thailand, reaching more than 80,000 students alongside teachers and community members.
Recognition as a pilot innovation school by the Ministry of Education turned the school into a national learning hub. Educators and organizations visit regularly to observe the process in practice, creating a peer-led expansion into school districts across the country.
A significant milestone in this growth is the partnership with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which has brought the STEAM Design Process into its network of schools. The focus is on developing teachers and school leaders to implement hands-on, learner-centered practices in ways that are sustainable within their own contexts.

How have you modified or added to your innovation?

To keep our innovation relevant, we have enhanced the process by encouraging schools to link the STEAM Design Process with actual local challenges rather than keeping it as an isolated classroom project. For instance, we support schools in using this framework to address community issues, such as upcycling waste materials to create added value or generate local income.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

If your organization, school, or team is interested in applying the STEAM Design Process to community projects, classroom challenges, or systemic implementation, please contact us at info@starfishedu.org for consultations or professional development workshops. We also welcome educators to visit our pilot school to see the process in action and learn how to establish makerspaces across diverse contexts.

Impact & scalability

Impact & Scalability

Starfish Education equips students with 21st-century skills through a hands-on STEAM Design Process that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. Implemented in 400+ Thai schools, it bridges learning with real-world problem-solving. Its low-resource, adaptable model shows strong impact and global scalability.

HundrED Academy Reviews

The STEAM Design Process & Starfish Maker fosters future-ready skills through a practical design cycle, empowering students across Thailand. Impact is clear across academic, emotional, and social dimensions, supported by evidence from 400+ schools.

Successfully implemented in 400+ Thai schools, the STEAM Design Process & Starfish Maker's model is adaptable across diverse contexts—urban or rural, high- or low-resource. Its minimal tech requirements and government support make it highly scalable across education systems.

- Academy member

Academy review results

Impact

Scalability

Exceptional

High

Moderate

Limited

Insufficient

Exceptional

High

Moderate

Limited

Insufficient

Media

During Thailand's Children's Day celebrations, we brought the STEAM Design Process into the community, giving children the chance to think, build, and solve problems with their own hands. Because we believe every child, wherever they are, deserves an equal opportunity to develop the skills that will carry them into the future.

Schools across the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration network have brought the STEAM Design Process to life by creating their own Makerspace environments using locally available materials. These images from a range of schools show how the same framework can take root across very different contexts, while still creating meaningful learning for every child.

This book compiles experiences from more than 90 schools across different regions that have implemented the STEAM Design Process in ways tailored to their unique contexts. It enables teachers to adapt their teaching methods while helping students learn effectively and develop 21st-century skills.

Parents who understand the STEAM Design Process can use a learning box to transform spaces at home into a makerspace, enabling all family members to enjoy learning together.

The STEAM Design Process gives students the freedom to learn, allowing them to work in small groups based on their interests. At the same time, they practice self-management, collaboration, and communication skills.

In the capital city, where resources are more accessible, there are still many students who need greater learning opportunities. With their imagination, students can transform inexpensive, locally available materials into creations of higher value. They feel joy and pride in being able to make their projects from start to finish.

In remote areas where resources are limited, students use locally available scrap materials, such as leftover fabric, together with tools provided in the makerspace to create their desired projects through the STEAM Design Process. The items they design and build can also be practically used in their daily lives.

The STEAM Design Process creates meaningful learning experiences for learners by starting from problems or personal interests, followed by imagination, planning, hands-on creation, and reflection with redesign. Students produce outcomes that meet their needs, connecting their learning and interests with real-life experiences.

Implementation steps

Ask: Identify Real-world Problems

Learners identify problems or challenges within their communities by asking critical questions, observing their surroundings carefully, and discussing issues together. This step helps them understand the context deeply before moving forward to find possible solutions.

Imagine: Brainstorm Creative Solutions

Students collaborate to generate ideas through open brainstorming. They explore different methods, approaches, and possibilities for solving the problem while keeping their thinking flexible and creative, without being limited by resource constraints at the early stage.

Plan: Strategic Structuring

Students transform their ideas into practical strategies by creating action lists, designing clear work steps, and identifying materials that can be sourced locally. This planning process helps ensure that their ideas can be implemented effectively in real situations.

Create: Hands-on Prototyping

Learners build prototypes or conceptual models using available tools and materials. They turn their plans into tangible outcomes through hands-on action, developing creativity, problem-solving abilities, and a maker mindset through real practice.

Reflect & Redesign: Iterative Improvement

Students test their prototypes in real situations, reflect on what worked and what did not, and refine their designs to achieve better results. This important step strengthens perseverance, critical thinking, and the ability to continuously improve their work.