by Aireen Babe Monte
“Technology is not just mobile phones. Technology is used in solving problems”, Dr. Yeungyong emphasized.
Included in his proposed itinerary for the 14-day visit in Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Dr. Chokchai Yeunyong, an assistant professor in Science Education program, Khon Kaen University (KKU), Thailand and currently the vice president of the Science Education Association of Thailand (SEAT), shared his expertise about STEM Education; Conceptualizations and Research Issues and Trends. Hosted by the College of Education- Department of Science and Mathematics Education, the event was a success.
The lecture formally started with a welcome address given by the dean of the College of Education, Dr. Josefina M. Tabudlong. She emphasized the dynamic partnership of MSU-IIT and KKU which paved way on various opportunities such as exchange of keynote speakers. She also mentioned that this talk is very timely because inputs are very needed by teacher specifically in catering the 21st century learners through STEM education.
With Dr. Yeungyong’s interest in enhancing teachers to develop STEM learning activities in school setting, he effectively conveyed the purpose of his visit. He enthusiastically shared a conceptualization of what a STEM Education looks like. He emphasized the STEM education (1) involves integration of science, technology and mathematics; (2) is student-centered, (3) is collaborative; (4) focused on processes, (5) occurs within the curriculum and (6) and is project based or problem based. To top it all, he shared the process on planning STEM lesson in the classroom; identification of social issue, identification of potential solutions, need for knowledge, decision – making, development of product, test and evaluation of solutions and socialization and completion which proved very applicable in the Philippine setting.
There were about 100 participants who actively participated the said public lecture. This includes the different faculty members from the College of Education (CED), Integrated Developmental Schools (IDS), the teachers from the Department of Education (Dep-Ed), and the CED students.
The public lecture was ended with an interesting open forum where teachers and students shared their thoughts and inquiries to the guest speaker on the implementation of STEM lessons in the classroom setting.