The Laboratory develops students’ independence

More interesting – for the teacher

« After trying and trying to apply the Steam program, teachers feel that it is much more interesting to work. There are many opportunities to improve and look for news. In terms of professional qualifications, Steam practitioners are ahead, » said V. Mildažienė, a lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Faculty of Natural Sciences. She also teaches to students of the VMU Academy of Education and is an active member of the Lithuanian Biochemical Society.

V. Mildažienė regrets that the education and education system is dominated by chaos, that many teachers are tired, many students – unmotivated, but much depends not only on the people of education policy, but also on each of us.

As an important impetus, she sees a positive attitude to the establishment of Steam methodology among teachers. Steam is not news, but V. Mildažienė is excited to explain: often such education is presented and practiced only in search of the shortest roads, and therefore all the advantages it offers is not revealed.

What is Steam?

It is an acronym from English, meaning five disciplines: Science – natural sciences, Technology – technology, Engineering – engineering, Arts and All Other Sciences – Creativity, Arts and All Other Sciences, Math – Mathematics.

The STEAM program aims to increase the competitiveness of natural and technological sciences and to promote students’ interest in them. This integrated educational model allows you to deal with relevant phenomena or problems in practice and look for solutions at the same time using several disciplines.

There are ten Steam centers in Lithuania. Teachers with students can use their laboratories. « But do Steam centers prepare laboratory descriptions to teachers, but it is not a steam activity. It is a bear service. This is a traditional training, » notes V. Mildažienė.

« It is declared that students are interested in. But they will not be curious because they will just do something new. It is interesting when you allow things to discover yourself and not act by the description. This is a challenge for the teacher. Time, but good things are not fast food, ”says the scientist.

According to her, business training is much needed, and it is also needed for Steam – to integrate knowledge, you first need to have it. Steam excites students’ independence and interest in science and helps to deepen their knowledge.

Opportunities: According to V. Mildažienė and J. Žukauskienė, all of this is available to anyone who wants to. / Photo by Regimantas Zakšensk

It is not necessary for everyone

Another evil that V. Mildažienė sees, is set to make Steam all the teachers without exception.

« There is no need to deviate in the extremes. Not all teachers are able and not everyone needs it. It would be quite simple to involve teachers because they are really very receptive and eager to innovate. Teachers can choose to make their work more interesting. It is a pity that they are now driven almost forcibly. You don’t want to be as hit as I am, ”laughed V. Mildažienė.

Steam provides a lot of improvisation and creation, but you need to put a lot of work. The theory alone is not enough for a teacher. He has to try everything himself. « It’s the same as cycling. Theories can read as much as you want, but until you get to and start driving, you can’t, » she said.

How useful?

« The promotion of science is very important to me. We are very obviously seeing the level of knowledge of future students. It reflects the crisis of society’s values.

She pointed out that the students’ grades really show nothing but the ability of the children to comply with certain rules.

It is declared that students are interested. However, they will not be curious because they will just do something new. It is interesting when you allow things to discover yourself.

« Steam is good at the fact that the goal is not the result, and as faster, but the ability to see, correct your mistake, think, analyze, discuss. Things related to higher level communication. There are many research that shows that Lithuanians find it difficult to recognize liars, lack critical thinking and information flows At the ancient level, there is no motivation to learn: if everything can be asked by artificial intelligence, why bother the brain? ” Asked V. Mildažienė rhetorically.

Steam is a teaching methodology that, she says, would be very useful in this situation.

« Permission to make mistakes, a lot of autonomy, topical topics excite students’ ambitions, arouses curiosity, and have a variety of questions that they can look for by planning and conducting research. This requires the labor market and a variety of misery to civil society.

The consequence of increasing interest in teachers, schools and students in STEAM sciences is improved achievement indicators; More students will choose to take the Steam subjects of subjects, and there will be more people who want to become science and mathematics teachers.

More talented, critically minded and creative students are essentially facilitating the work of teachers at universities and improving the quality of their studies.

Equipment: VMU Steam Didactics Center Laboratory can and must be tested for a variety of practical activities that reveal the possibilities and benefits of the boundless science in one way or another. / Photo by Regimantas Zakšensk

Teachers’ network

Colleagues’ support and methodological aid is a very effective way to improve because of a good example – contagious. The effectiveness of Steam is also enthusiastic about teachers. « There are strange phenomena where, for example, a bully, who has not worked for anything so far, is suddenly involved in the lesson, » the scientist whispered.

There is no need to deviate into extremes. Not all teachers are capable of and not everyone needs it.

There are schools that have created strong scientific teaching bases. There are individual teachers who have already mastered or very interested in Steam. On this basis, an attempt is made to bring together the network of teachers, the Steam Ambassador, so that this good practice can be shared as widely as possible and that its essence is not distorted – to allow students to do their own research and other activities themselves while working in teams, gradually increase their independence, to reduce instructions and instructions. This is called sponsored training (English – Scaffefolding).

However, with such innovations, it is important for teachers to share experiences and ideas, critically evaluate and improve them, to look for the right model, and finally to feel the support and professional assistance of like -minded people. The Steam Teachers’ Network or Steam Association is about to create.

Practice for educators

The Steam Didactics Center and Laboratory, established at VMU Faculty of Science, are intended for working with teachers and teachers’ work with students, as teachers need practical assistance to new teaching methods.

There are many different equipment and capabilities in the laboratory. Water acidity gauges, electronic mixer, centrifugal. It can be distinguished from the solution.

The electrode can be measured by ions, acidity. The main function of the spectrophotometer is to determine the concentration of substances in solutions, to identify different substances according to the properties of their light absorption.

The head of the center J. Žukauskienė lists that in the center, for example, it is possible to program smart home systems, to understand how lighting is adjustable, how smart watering systems work. Practically find out how robots work that suck the floor, what the principle of their operation is. You can also find yourself in a virtual laboratory where you need to complete certain tasks.

Photo by Regimantas Zakšensk

To grow a shift

V. Mildažienė escorts the Laboratory of the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences of VMU. They carry out various research.

« Our goal is to raise a shift for scientists. We need to do it from kindergarten, to continue at school. We are now in a difficult situation. We start installing Steam almost from scratch, » the professor told the way.

One laboratory explores the effect of plasma and electromagnetic fields on plants. « We illuminate the seeds. These are Japanese plasma equipment of our partners. We have already published many scientific articles on how strong plasma and magnetic field change the behavior of the plant. For example, when exposed to seeds, it is easier to achieve better harvest without any fertilizer or to increase biologically active materials, » explained V. Mildažienė.

What is the steam training different from the traditional

Training of natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (and other subjects) is integrated into joint experiential activities (contrary to traditional order when things are taught separately). This aims to form a total knowledge of (holistic) phenomena.

Traditional lectures / lessons -based teaching methods are amended by research, problem training, team and project activities. In addition to understanding the principle of scientific concepts and the principle of research, attractive research activities help to develop a positive attitude towards science.

Steam’s teaching is centered into a student to develop his or her initiative, self -learning skills. The role of the teacher and the teaching methodology are changing.

The importance of the application of knowledge and skills for real life is emphasized, and the topics of teaching are selected and relevant to the daily lives of students (contextuality).

Steam training takes place everywhere, both in school (modular laboratories) and beyond. Forms of both formal and non -formal training apply; The aim is to involve the school community, families, businesses.

Develops scientific literacy, logical and critical thinking; Learners are trained in an integrated career.

Steam’s teaching does not change the traditional teaching of things, but is combined with it.