STEM in lower secondary schools - A strategic orientation for connecting general education and vocational education.

(Dong Nai) - In recent years, STEM education has been identified as one of the important solutions to develop scientific thinking, technological capabilities, and creative skills for high school students. In this spirit, the Eastern College has proactively collaborated with junior high schools in the area to organize direct STEM teaching at these schools, gradually deepening STEM education and linking it to local educational practices.

This activity is identified by the school as a long-term task, linked to the development strategy and social responsibility of the vocational education institution. Through close coordination with junior high schools, the teaching staff of the Eastern College directly participates in developing content and organizing the teaching of STEM topics suitable for the general education curriculum, the psychological characteristics of the age group, and the practical conditions of each school.

Over the past period, collaborative STEM teaching activities have been implemented in 6 secondary schools with 20 classes, attracting more than 700 students. The topics are designed in an interdisciplinary approach, combining science , technology, engineering, and mathematics, and linked to relevant issues in daily life and production. Through this, students access knowledge in a lively and visual way, gradually developing scientific thinking and the ability to apply knowledge to practice.

A highlight of this initiative is its experiential learning approach. Students participate in group work, experiments, model building, problem-solving, and presenting their learning products. The direct involvement of lecturers from the Eastern College not only contributes to improving the professional quality of STEM lessons but also provides opportunities for secondary school teachers to exchange experiences, learn from each other, and access new teaching methods.

Through practical implementation, many students showed clear interest in the lessons, actively participated in activities, and boldly proposed ideas. Initial assessments indicate that participating students believe STEM lessons help them understand the material more deeply and create motivation for learning science and technology subjects.

From a development orientation perspective, the leadership of Eastern College has determined that coordinating STEM education with junior high schools is not only aimed at supporting general education, but also a strategic step in strengthening the connection between vocational education and general education.
According to Mr. Bui Dinh Ninh, Party Secretary and Principal of the Eastern College, STEM education needs to be implemented in a practical and effective manner, focusing on the learner, while also linking it with career guidance and vocational education for students from the lower secondary level onwards.

In the coming period, Eastern College will continue to expand its collaborative STEM education programs at junior high schools, diversifying content and organizational forms, while increasing investment in faculty, learning materials, and teaching aids. Based on the school's leadership orientation, STEM education will be considered one of the key solutions to contribute to improving the quality of education, promoting career guidance, and training human resources to meet the development requirements of the locality.

The students are enthusiastic about the lessons taught by their teacher at Eastern College. Photo: Thu Ha - Duy Khanh

Thu Ha - Duy Khanh

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/giao-duc/202601/stem-trong-truong-trung-hoc-co-so-dinh-huong-chien-luoc-ket-noi-giao-duc-pho-thong-va-giao-duc-nghe-nghiep-7762bbc/