STEM education helps students explore and create

Teachers and students of Hoang Trach Primary School with STEM products created by students.

STEM is an educational program that equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills related to 4 fields: science - technology, engineering, mathematics, according to an interdisciplinary approach. The STEM model contributes to training a generation of students with adequate knowledge and skills to keep up with the trends of the 4.0 industrial revolution. In phase 1, in the 2023-2024 school year, the Department of Education and Training (GD&DT) of Thanh Hoa has piloted implementation in 5 localities, including: Thanh Hoa city and districts of Quang Xuong, Tho Xuan, Thuong Xuan, Thach Thanh, each locality deploys at least 5 primary education institutions. Phase 2, from the 2024-2025 school year, will be implemented in all educational institutions in the province.

Organizing STEM experience activities, Hoang Trach Primary School (Hoang Hoa) held a STEM Festival with the theme "Traditional Tet", in which students were guided to practice wrapping Chung cakes, drawing, water puppetry...

Teacher Le Dinh Tho, vice principal of the school, shared: “Integrating STEM into subjects, teachers guide students to apply it in practice to create STEM products according to the requirements of the lesson, making students very excited. Thereby, it also contributes to fostering students’ passion for science and creativity.”

From the lessons learned, under the guidance of the teacher, Le Bao An, class 3A, Hoang Trach Primary School, was able to make items such as houses, bouquets of flowers... from cardboard. Bao An shared: "Through the STEM lesson, I feel very happy and excited when I make beautiful products by myself to give to my parents, decorate my study corner or display in the school's technology classroom."

Depending on the characteristics of each subject and the conditions of facilities, organization budget... schools choose appropriate forms of STEM education organization such as teaching science subjects according to STEM lessons, organizing STEM experiential activities, organizing scientific and technical research activities...

Teacher Le Dang Thanh, Principal of Nhu Ba Sy Secondary School (Hoang Hoa), said: “The school has also paid attention to and applied STEM education in teaching. In particular, in the 2018 General Education Program, STEM education has been focused on the subjects of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Technology, Information Technology... In addition to learning STEM lessons integrated into subjects, students can also participate in extracurricular activities... organized by the school. From there, it helps to form creative thinking in each student”.

However, in the process of implementing STEM education in schools, many schools still face difficulties in terms of facilities and funding for implementation, especially schools in rural and mountainous areas.

Ms. Pham Thi Hong, Vice Principal of Truong Trung Primary School (Nong Cong) shared: “Deploying STEM in schools, the school still faces some difficulties such as limited facilities and funding, due to the local economic conditions still being difficult, so calling for socialization to organize STEM Festival is very limited. Besides, teachers are not really familiar with this new form of education”.

To effectively implement the STEM education program in the province, the Thanh Hoa Department of Education and Training is actively advising local authorities to overcome difficulties in facilities, invest in modern teaching equipment; encourage schools to proactively connect scientists at universities and colleges with STEM education activities; organize training and coaching to improve teachers' qualifications and skills in teaching STEM...

Article and photos: Linh Huong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/giao-duc-stem-giup-hoc-sinh-kham-pha-sang-tao-245377.htm