Abstract
Integrated STEM education provides students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics foundational knowledge that linked to their real world. Paradoxically, the definition and application of integrated STEM have still remained elusive because the application of integrated STEM involves flexibility and contextualization. Integrated STEM requires the application of knowledge and practices from multiple S-T-E-M disciplines to learn about or solve problems in the real-world. This study explored how teachers perceived integrated STEM education and their willingness of integration of STEM disciplines in teaching students about developmental challenges in Vietnam. We interviewed 238 secondary school teachers who participated in the two STEM education trainings organized in Daknong (Central Highlands) and Danang city (Vietnam Central) by the Second Secondary Education Development program (SSEDPII) implemented by Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB). The result revealed a total of 8 ways of defining integrated STEM education by secondary education practitioners after the three-day training. Although there were different understandings of teachers on STEM education, around half of them believed integrated STEM education cultivate problem solving skills for students in the real world, and more than 80% of teachers expressed their willingness in integrating several developmental issues into their STEM subject lessons such as pollution, recycle materials and renewable resources. Our findings provided meaningful insights on how secondary school teachers see and understand STEM integration and how they concern about the developmental problems. These findings indicate the views for educational innovation which in turn contributes to sustainable development in Vietnam.
Author Information
Thi Phuoc Lai Nguyen, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Sakiko Tanaka, Asian Development Bank, Vietnam
Thi Yen Nhi Pham, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Thi Huy Nguyen, Ministry of Education and Training , Vietnam
Thanh Khiet Tran, Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam
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