Learning STEM is not just for competing and winning prizes.

(Dan Tri) - "STEM is closely linked to reality and the 2018 General Education Program. This subject is not only for competitions but also helps students think and solve problems."

That was the sharing of Mr. Dang Tuan Cuong, Principal of Tam Thanh Secondary School, Lang Son, at the STEM Education Conference co-organized by the Ministry of Education and Training on the afternoon of December 3. Mr. Cuong brought practical experiences in teaching and learning STEM at his small school in the border area.

It is impossible to have strong STEM students if teachers "stand still"

According to Mr. Cuong, although it is a small school in a border area, from the beginning, the Board of Directors identified STEM (integrated subject) as a subject closely linked to practice and the 2018 General Education Program.

"This is a subject not only for competitions but also to help students have problem-solving thinking, not just a machine or movement," he said.

Therefore, the school builds a curriculum with three main pillars: core subjects, experience and career guidance.

"The school does not just "call out" but also has a clear subject curriculum, class observation and evaluation of results," said the principal.

Students make toys under the guidance of teachers at Tran Duy Hung Secondary School (Photo: My Ha).

One of the important lessons Mr. Cuong learned was the human factor: "It is impossible to have students strong in STEM if teachers stand still."

Therefore, the teaching staff of Tam Thanh Secondary School all have 2 certificates in STEM and AI (artificial intelligence). Teachers are regularly trained, then shared with colleagues and spread throughout the school.

At the same time, the school has set criteria for teaching innovation, STEM innovation, and the application of technology to teaching. Although it is a small school in a border area and cannot immediately have a modern lab, the school has taken advantage of existing labs and invested in machinery according to financial capacity.

From that practical experience, Mr. Cuong commented: "If we consider STEM as a movement, it will certainly come and go. But if we consider this subject as a part of the school's development, with proper investment, with apparatus, resources, connections and evaluation, even a small school can still go the long way."

Sharing the same view on the importance of the teaching staff, Mr. Luu Van Thong, Principal of Cau Giay Secondary School, Hanoi , said that last May, the school was awarded a STEM classroom by General Secretary To Lam. However, the problem is how to effectively operate this model.

Realizing that the decisive factor is human, the Board of Directors focuses on training the teaching staff, in which priority is given to selecting teachers from the natural science and information technology groups and young teachers with the ability to access technology.

"When teachers master the technology and robotic equipment, the school will continue to provide training for core students to spread to all students in the school," said Mr. Thong.

Building 100 STEM rooms in 100 days at lightning speed

Regarding strategic vision, Dr. Thai Van Tai, Director of the Department of General Education, Ministry of Education and Training, said that implementing STEM education content is a mandatory task in the 2018 General Education Program. Since 2020, the Ministry of Education and Training has guided the implementation of this activity in schools.

Teachers and schools have the responsibility to research programs and textbooks to develop learning content, helping students have the opportunity to experience, think logically, think critically, and cooperate during the implementation process.

Therefore, he said, adding content on digital transformation, digital capacity, robotics, and STEM to create human resources is one of the key tasks of the education sector.

High school students in a STEM class (Photo: Ha Thu).

"The education sector's coordination with a number of sponsors to build STEM classrooms is a specific and timely action, helping to spread educational solutions to many localities and schools in the fastest and most effective way," said Department Director Thai Van Tai.

According to plan, after 100 days of "lightning-fast" construction, 100 STEM classrooms are expected to be handed over to schools in 34 provinces and cities by December 31.

Specifically, in each province and city, 3 STEM classrooms including 2 for high schools and 1 for middle schools will be handed over.

These classrooms are designed according to the "lightning-speed - standardization - sustainability" model, fully equipped with advanced equipment such as smart interactive boards, experimental equipment, robots, etc.

“The rapid construction of these classrooms not only has social significance, but is also a strategy for developing future human resources, a place for students to experience and train core teachers, creating an effect on tens of thousands of schools nationwide,” said Mr. Thai Van Tai.

Also according to the Director of the General Education Department, the Ministry of Education and Training has recently issued a number of additional documents, assigning tasks to localities and educational institutions to promote STEM education activities more strongly in the coming period.

From these investments, the Ministry of Education and Training expects to create input sources for university-level STEM majors to have high-quality human resources in line with the development orientation of the country's science and technology sectors in the coming period.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/hoc-stem-khong-chi-de-di-thi-lay-giai-20251203234311389.htm