eSTEM Immersion to Purdue University (19 May - 28 May 2023)
A group of 10 NIE students and one faculty staff, Assistant Professor Ong Yann Shiou, visited Purdue University to learn how STEM education is conducted in the United States. The group brought home valuable insights and ideas for STEM learning in Singapore.
The eSTEM Team from NIE at Purdue University
The Centre for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of Stem (CATALYST) hosted our visit. CATALYST recognises the importance of STEM in the world today and aims to provide educators with the resources, support, and professional development required for high quality K-12 STEM education and research.
Our 10-day visit was packed with meaningful activities and interactions with the local community. Professor Bill Walk and Professor Lynn Bryan coordinated our trip and welcomed us warmly when we arrived. We were treated to a picnic at Happy Hollow Park with the faculty and staff of CATALYST and their families. We enjoyed a wonderful evening with lots of food and great conversation. The subsequent days were packed with school visits and visits to STEM-related industries in the West Lafayette region.
At Happy Hollow Park with our hosts from Purdue University
Visit to Benton Central Senior-Junior High School
We visited Benton Central Junior-Senior High School that caters to students from grade 7 through grade 12. The school has a modern campus with well-maintained facilities that includes classrooms, specialized labs, a library, a greenhouse, an auditorium, a gymnasium, and athletic fields. The campus provides a conducive environment for learning and extracurricular activities.
During our visit, it was evident that the school values the integration of STEM education. By observing lessons in engineering, agriculture, and biology, we witnessed the school's commitment to providing students with hands-on and engaging learning experiences. The flexibility of STEM lessons was particularly notable, as students were allowed to pursue projects of their own interest, focusing on learning objectives rather than rigidly incorporating all four areas of STEM. This approach allows for customization based on desired outcomes and empowers students to explore their passions within the STEM field.
Furthermore, the insights gained from comparing STEM activities in the United States and Singapore emphasized the importance of accessibility and relevance in STEM education. The United States' integration of STEM into the curriculum and addressing day-to-day issues stands in contrast to the one-off standalone workshops often found in Singapore. In Benton Central, they create engaging and meaningful STEM experiences for their students by fostering partnerships with industries, bringing experts into the classroom, and providing authentic learning opportunities. The value of real-world connections and opportunities for incorporating STEM in classrooms was exemplified by the partnerships between external organizations and schools in the United States. These experiences will allow students to utilize their problem-solving skills beyond the classroom setting and gain valuable real-world experience. By collaborating with local organizations and participating in community events, Benton Central Junior-Senior High School fosters a sense of responsibility and civic engagement among its students.
Overall, our visit to Benton Central Junior-Senior High School showcased a commitment to holistic education, community involvement, and the integration of STEM education. The school's emphasis on real-world experiences, flexibility in lesson design, and collaboration with local organizations will undoubtedly contribute to the development of well-rounded and engaged students prepared for future success.
Pictures at Benton Central Senior-Junior High School
Visit to Subaru Indiana Automobile (SIA) Plant and Design Studio
We paid a visit to one of Subaru’s largest manufacturing plants outside of Japan. The SIA plant began production in 1989 and is responsible for the assembly of Subaru vehicles for the North American market. The plant emphasizes environmental sustainability and has implemented various measures to minimize its impact on the environment. These include energy-efficient manufacturing processes, waste reduction, and recycling initiatives. Throughout the tour, our guide provided us with detailed explanations about the manufacturing techniques, quality control measures, and innovative technologies employed at the SIA plant.
The plant also frequently engages local schools and has set up a design thinking lab to engage students students in their logical thinking process through a series of activities such as simple coding and Lego games. The Lego game stimulates the production line within the Subaru plant and engages students in a sequential thinking process that allows them to draw links to what they have observed and learned during the tour.
Visit to Biztown
Junior Achievement (JA) BizTown is an educational program developed by JA. It is designed to provide elementary and middle school students with a hands-on learning experience in a simulated town environment where students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a simulated economy, taking on various roles and responsibilities within different businesses and organizations. They might work in positions such as CEOs, employees, customers, and even government officials. The program aims to teach students about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, work readiness, and economic concepts.
Biztown by Junior Achievement emphasizes the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration, and contextualizing problems to reflect real-world issues. By participating in JA BizTown, students can develop important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making through an early exposure to a simulated working environment.
Visit to Celery Bog
We also paid a visit to the Celery Bog Nature Area. This repurposed piece of land offers a hands-on learning experience for students and nature enthusiasts to understand wetland ecology, biodiversity, and environmental conservation. It serves as an outdoor classroom, allowing visitors to observe and study various plant and animal species in their natural habitat.
Designing our own STEM lessons
The STEM trip has highlighted the importance of guiding students to think critically and tackle problems rather than presenting the answers directly to them. Teachers should try their best to encourage innovation, resilience, and problem-solving skills by fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration and idea-sharing in the classroom. All ideas should be appreciated even if the actuation is not viable as building confidence is as important as teaching students thinking skills.
