Building Elective Subject Groups in High Schools: Increasing Recruitment Sources for STEM Majors

GD&TĐ - The connection in career guidance between junior high school - high school and university aims at the goal of 1 million STEM students by 2030.

From the early career guidance work of universities with secondary school students, it shows that there is a change when 10th grade students start to choose subjects such as Physics, Technology - Industry, Agricultural Technology... more and more.

Career guidance from secondary school

8th grade students of Nguyen Luong Bang Secondary School (Lien Chieu, Da Nang ) directly observed for the first time the experiment on lightweight concrete and drainage concrete, conducted by lecturers and students of the Faculty of Construction Engineering, University of Technical Education, Da Nang University. Students were divided into small groups with the task of designing a paper load-bearing column model following the guided steps and presenting their products.

For the 9th grade class of Nguyen Luong Bang Secondary School, to increase personal experience, the University of Technical Education divided them into 6 small groups. Of which, 2 groups participated in experiential activities at the Faculty of Electricity - Electronics; 2 groups at the Faculty of Mechanics; the remaining 2 groups were assigned to the Faculty of Chemical Technology - Environment and the Faculty of Construction Engineering.

In addition to the introduction of the school's training majors, students are advised on which subjects they need to study well in high school if they want to pursue that major. They also conduct experiments and practice on real models and equipment under the guidance of faculty members.

Similarly, Le Hong Phong Secondary School (Hai Chau, Da Nang City) allows students to register for practical experience and take short courses on STEM according to their wishes at the Technical Pedagogical School, Da Nang University. In grades 8 and 9, these students learn and experience STEM by designing and assembling age-appropriate products such as wirelessly controlled car models using theoretical applications of Math, Physics, Fine Arts, etc. combined with technical materials.

At the end of the experience, Nguyen Duc Hung said: “After a month of learning about how to install and operate robots, I realized that I had to spend more time studying Math, Physics, and Technology well. According to my university teachers, if you want to pursue a career in machinery, equipment, and innovation, these are the basic subjects. I was very excited to learn and install and operate the model car myself.”

A group of students who love technology, robots... from Hy Vong Boarding School (Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang) participated in an experience at the University of Science and Technology, Da Nang University. Thanh Hoang and 48 other students participated in a robot making class, experienced how to operate a robot arm at the Engine and Automobile Experimental Center. The experience helped Hoang have a more realistic view of what subjects are needed to study well in the mechanical engineering industry, real-life work, and job opportunities after graduation.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Lam - Principal of Le Hong Phong Secondary School said that the 2018 General Education Program requires students to receive career guidance from secondary school. According to Mr. Lam, this career guidance must meet two goals. First of all, students have the opportunity to experience some basic careers to understand their strengths and suitable careers.

Having a sense of career will help students choose which group of subjects to study when entering grade 10 of high school to meet their future career orientation. In addition, career guidance in secondary schools aims to stream students according to educational models suitable to their abilities and family economic conditions after graduating from secondary schools.

“Career guidance at the secondary school level needs to be carried out early by schools and parents to help students understand what major and what career is suitable for them so that they can make the right choice of subjects when admitted to grade 10 of high school, avoiding having to change subjects after one year of study,” said Ms. Ho Thi Thao Nguyen - Vice Principal of Tran Phu High School.

Students of Hope Boarding School operate a robot arm at the Engine and Automobile Experiment Center, University of Science and Technology, University of Danang. Photo: NTCC

In-depth consultation after passing grade 10

Every year, Binh Son High School (Binh Son, Quang Ngai) has about 55% - 60% of students admitted to grade 10 register for groups of subjects that are natural sciences. Of these, about 50% will follow a technical direction with a group of subjects that include Industrial Engineering, Physics or Information Technology.

About 27% of students choose a group of subjects that includes Physics, Chemistry or Chemistry, Biology; with this group of subjects, there will be an additional subject of Agricultural Technology. Students who are inclined to study in economic fields will have an additional subject of Economic and Legal Education in their group of subjects.

According to Mr. Pham Thach Sinh - Principal of Binh Son High School, the school consulted the subject groups for admission of some universities, counted the number of students registering for the subject groups of previous years and balanced the actual number of teachers of the school to build the group of subjects for selection.

In consulting on registration for selected subject combinations, Binh Son High School conducts in-depth consultation for students and parents, emphasizing criteria such as learning ability and future career orientation.

“Parents need to refer to the admission plan posted on the websites of the universities their children plan to attend to know which subjects will be used for admission. In the new program, students will take a graduation exam with 4 subjects, so parents and students must consider which career to choose and which subjects to choose accordingly.

We also emphasize that if you choose wrongly and want to change, you can only choose again after one school year and students must study on their own to supplement their knowledge to complete the assessment," Mr. Sinh informed.

Since implementing the 2018 General Education Program, in consulting on subject groups for students admitted to grade 10, Vo Chi Cong High School (Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang) has always conveyed information about the human resource needs of the STEM block with specific jobs for students and parents to refer to.

This is also the career orientation that the school persistently implements, in the context of imbalance in human resource structure when STEM is not as attractive as economics, information technology... In the graduation exam subject registration, every 12th grade of the school has 2-3 students choosing Industrial Technology as an elective subject.

We do not build Physics, Chemistry, Biology into the same group of elective subjects because it will be too much for students when studying in depth. In fact, the number of schools using this combination of subjects for admission is not too many, so it does not affect students' future admission opportunities. - Mr. Pham Thach Sinh.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/xay-dung-nhom-mon-lua-chon-trong-truong-thpt-tang-nguon-tuyen-cho-nganh-stem-post737120.html