scholarly journals A CASE STUDY OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION IN LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 242-264
Author(s):  
Loh Su Ling ◽  
Vincent Pang ◽  
Denis Lajium
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Integrated Stem ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Lower Secondary Schools

Background and Purpose: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the formal school curriculum can be described as a STEM-related individual subject; as a learning package offering learning pathway for STEM elective subjects and as an integrated STEM learning approach. This study focuses on the needs assessment of STEM education as a learning approach among lower secondary school teachers in a local district in Malaysia. The current and desired situations were analysed as well as the causal factors which guide the choice of any intervention programs to address the actual needs.   Methodology: Three schools were selected through heterogenous purposive sampling. The teachers from each school were selected through criterion sampling based on predetermined criteria.   31 teachers from the lower secondary level who teach STEM related subjects as well as the head of panel and departments of the STEM subjects, were selected as the participants. Focus group and one-to-one interviews were conducted with the participants after receiving their consent.   Findings: There is a gap between the desired situation and the current situation in the implementation of integrated STEM education. The implementation of STEM education at the lower secondary level can be facilitated through various means such as a comprehensive STEM education professional development or training for teachers, collaborations between STEM subjects teachers through lesson studies or professional learning community, and working together with local STEM expertise or community of practice.   Contributions: The findings provide relevant information and guidance on the selection of intervention for the integrated STEM education in addressing the needs. It also initiates the planning of the integrated STEM education programs which focuses on the gaps as the means to achieve the desired results.   Keywords: STEM education, needs assessment, case study, gap, interventions   Cite as: Loh, S. L., Pang, V., & Lajium, D. (2021). A case study of needs assessment of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in lower secondary schools. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 242-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp242-264

scholarly journals Harnessing the Challenges of Covid-19 Ethics on Students Learning in Chemistry

2021 ◽  
pp. 70-75
Author(s):  
Julie N. Nnoli
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
Null Hypothesis ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Learning Abilities ◽  
Chemistry Students ◽  
Anambra State ◽  
E Learning ◽  
At Home

This paper discusses the challenges of covid-19 ethics on students’ learning of chemistry in secondary schools in Anambra State and how to harness the challenges. Three research questions and one null hypothesis guided the study. A descriptive survey design was used. Three hundred (300) SS3 chemistry students drawn from 45 secondary schools out of 258 public schools in Anambra State formed the sample for the study. Twenty (20) item structured questionnaires on a four-point rating scale developed by the researchers were used for data collection. A reliability coefficient of 0.85 was established using Cronbach Alpha techniques. After the administration of the instrument to the respondents, the data obtained were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research question and z-test to test the null hypothesis at the significance level of 0.05. The results obtained showed that male chemistry students have greater challenges on covid-19 ethics than their female counterparts. They are faced with the following challenges of covid-19 ethics that hinder the inculcation of chemistry learning. Lack of interest in STEM education (chemistry) due to persistence lockdown, lack of E-learning abilities, lack of ICT knowledge, lack of computer or android phone to study at home and tired of being locked indoors. There is no significance difference between male and female chemistry students’ level on covid-19 ethics in the learning of chemistry in Anambra State. It was recommended that students should be encouraged to develop interest in chemistry, have access to ICT gadgets and computers, engage in E-learning abilities and inculcate more study habit at home. This should help the government and chemistry teachers to assist in ameliorating the predicaments in STEM education.

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