Forms of STEM Education Organization in Primary Schools: What are They? What Does STEM Education Stand For?
What does STEM Education Stand For?
In sub-section 1 of Section 2 of Official Dispatch 909/BGDDT-GDTH 2023, STEM education is clearly described as follows:
STEM Education Content
STEM education is a method that primarily relies on integrated teaching, creating opportunities for students to mobilize and aggregate knowledge and skills in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to develop qualities, competencies, and effectively solve practical life problems.
When implementing STEM education, it is encouraged to integrate additional elements of art and humanities (Art) in certain subjects/educational activities within the program to expand and enhance the effectiveness of practical, cooperative education in various ways to foster students' creativity, aesthetics, curiosity, and empathy (implementation of STEAM education).
STEM education stands for:
- Science,- Technology,- Engineering,- Mathematics
What are the forms of organizing STEM education in primary schools? What does STEM education stand for?
What are the Forms of Organizing STEM Education in Primary Schools?
In sub-section 2 of Section 2 of Official Dispatch 909/BGDDT-GDTH 2023, the forms of organizing STEM education in primary schools are clearly stated as follows:
STEM Lessons
Teaching subjects through STEM lessons is a form of organizing teaching that performs internal or interdisciplinary integration. This is the main form of STEM education implementation in schools to effectively carry out the Primary School Education Program.
The content and requirements to be achieved in STEM lessons closely adhere to the requirements to be achieved in subjects/educational activities in the Primary School Education Program. The duration of the implementation of STEM lessons is built based on the duration of subjects/educational activities related to the STEM lesson in a scientific, flexible way that suits the psychological age of students, not causing overload for students and teachers and is reflected in the school's educational plan as prescribed.
The process of implementing STEM lessons is based on the engineering design process or the scientific discovery process with learning activities that suit the students and use primary school teaching equipment prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, along with students' learning aids in subjects/educational activities, easily found materials available to teachers and students. It is encouraged to use supplementary digital resources, virtual experiments, simulations, and software that can be easily accessed inside and outside the classroom to help students take initiative in their learning.
Student assessment in STEM lessons is conducted as per the regulations on assessment in the Primary School Education Program. Based on the requirements to be achieved in STEM lessons, teachers assess students using main methods such as observation, oral questioning, assessment through learning portfolios, students' products, and activities. During the assessment, it is essential to emphasize process evaluation (continuous assessment) that motivates students' progress, creating confidence and excitement in learning.
STEM Experiential Activities
STEM experiential activities are organized through STEM clubs, STEM days, STEM learning projects, or STEM experiential activities in real-life locations according to the goals, interests, talents, and aspirations of students to create excitement and motivation for learning, contributing to the development of capabilities, qualities, and nurturing students' passion and talents. STEM experiential activities are built into the school's educational plan suitable to the educational institution's conditions and local realities.
STEM experiential activities are designed based on interdisciplinary integrated teaching, covering many fields that require students to mobilize and aggregate knowledge and skills to propose solutions to practical problems efficiently, flexibly, and creatively.
The space and time for organizing STEM experiential activities may extend beyond the school's premises (factories, universities, research institutes, etc.), outside regular class hours/educational activities.
Acquaintance with Scientific and Technical Research
Acquaintance with scientific and technical research is a form of organizing STEM educational activities for students with a talent, interest, and initial enthusiasm for exploring and approaching scientific and technical research to solve real-life problems.
Through the process of organizing STEM lessons and STEM experiential activities, teachers identify gifted students for further nurturing, creating favorable conditions for them to become acquainted with scientific and technical research.
Educational institutions organize STEM educational activities to provide students opportunities to become familiar with scientific and technical research in the form of individual or group research topics/projects, guided by one or more teachers, or in cooperation with other social forces related to the research content (such as family, production facilities, universities, research institutes, science centers, experts, artisans, scientists...).
Based on actual conditions, educational institutions can organize STEM experiential activities, science and technical research exchange days at their units to select research topics/projects for participation in scientific and technical research competitions suitable for primary school students.
What is the Purpose of Organizing STEM Educational Activities in Primary Education?
In Section 1 of Official Dispatch 909/BGDDT-GDTH 2023, the purpose of organizing STEM educational activities in primary education is clearly stated as follows:
- Enhancing awareness among managers and teachers about the position, role, and significance of STEM education in implementing the Primary School Education Program; unifying the content, methods, and forms of organizing STEM educational activities; fostering and improving the management and organizational capacity of teachers in primary educational institutions.
- Effectively implementing STEM educational activities to support and strengthen education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Informatics, and Art; creating excitement and stimulating a love for learning, helping students discover their potential, explore science and technology, promote positive creativity, and apply solutions to solve problems in specific real-life contexts.
- Organizing STEM educational activities that closely follow the goals and requirements to be achieved in related subjects/educational activities, suitable to the psychological and cognitive development levels of students and the conditions of the school; promoting integrated teaching without causing pressure or overload for students and teachers.
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