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Primary school children are in for a treat!
Early STEM education is now embraced as key to preparing children for the tech-driven future. And promising plans are underway to develop an Applied Learning Programme (ALP) to nurture innovation and creativity in the classroom!
STEM Inc. (a unit of Science Centre Singapore) developed very recently, an exemplar module as a sample lesson resource - to show how key principles (of robotics and coding in this instance) could be translated into STEM ALP lessons at the primary level.
Sampling STEM ALP
Educators from STEM Inc. presented this module in a one-day workshop for primary school teachers, covering also, the objectives and intent of ALP.
At the workshop, teachers were exposed to the use of micro:bit to show how technology (like a microcontroller) could enable students to enhance solutions to their authentic problems.
They also came away with a basic understanding of block programming through activity-based learning, which focuses on strategies in developing the desired mindset of students than on technical knowledge.
With the basic knowledge of micro:bit and sample problems statements crafted similar to what students generally came up with, the teachers used materials such as cardboard, colour papers, tissue boxes, masking tape and bottles to create a product.
Products created by the participants during the workshop based on the sample problem statements prepared by educators from STEM Inc.:
A. Water bottle holder to remind the user to drink sufficient water.
B. Device which displays sandwich making instructions in sequence.
C. Step counter which can be worn as a necklace.
D. Pill box to remind the user to take their pills on time.
E. Door contact alert system to remind the user to close their fridge door tightly.
F. Adorable step counter that can be placed in the pocket.
In the process of creating the product, teachers became exposed to the difficulties that their students would also likely face in the classroom – thus preparing them better for class facilitation in future.
The workshop ended with the teachers brainstorming ideas with the STEM educators on how to further enhance existing school programmes.
The teachers clearly had a meaningful and fruitful learning experience given their overwhelmingly positive feedback on the workshop (see below).
As plans to introduce STEM ALP continue to take shape in the near future, the outlook of children’s education looks ever bright!
STEM Education will bring about a whole new era of learning in primary schools – which simply put, would mean there’s no better time than now to be a child, an educator or STEM champion!
