The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute will bring together teachers and policy makers from the Philippines and other countries in the first DOST-SEI Project STAR International Conference from August 7 to 9 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
The event, which aims to strengthen the country’s science and mathematics programs, will feature esteemed educators Soon Tats Fah from Nanyang Polytechnic International, Singapore; Dr. Frederick Leung, Faculty of Education, University of Hongkong; Dr. Bill Atweh, International Education Consultant, One World Ripples and Professor, Curtin University, Australia; Dr. YoungHwan Kim, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea; Dr. Chun-yen Chang, National Taiwan Normal University; and Director Jocelyn Andaya, Bureau of Secondary Education, Department of Education, among others, as speakers.
Fah will talk about “Design Thinking in STEM Education: The Nanyang Polytechnic Teaching Factory Concept.” Dr. Leung will focus on “Socio-Cultural Images and Environment that Promote Diversity and Gender Opportunity in STEM.” Dr. Atweh will tackle “Beyond Hard Skills: STEM as Social and Emotional Learning.”
Dr. Kim will discuss “Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and STEM Education.” Dr. Chang will present “The Use of Interdisciplinary Contextualization to Solve the Grand Challenges.” Dir. Andaya will highlight “Issues, Challenges and Initiatives of DepEd on Science and Math Education.”
Still expected to confirm participation in the conference is Dr. Maitree Inprasitha of the Department of Mathematics Education, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, who is set to zero in on “Professional and Personal Development Frameworks focusing on STEM Education (Lesson Study, Action Research, etc.).”
The conference is free but interested participants are required to pre-register with DOST-SEI.
“We can only be confident that we’re producing the scientists and engineers our country needs if we’re helping our teachers develop their skills,” DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo said. She is optimistic that the event will encourage more teachers to create and embrace innovative approaches in STEM teaching.
The conference, which is set to be a venue to discuss and share ideas on the current global state of science and math education, will also have paper presentations on instructional materials, teaching innovations, assessment and action research. The theme for this year’s event is “Perspectives in Science and Mathematics Education: Building Connections, Sustaining Innovations and Sharing Pedagogies.”
DOST-SEI, best known for its science scholarship programs, also invests on youth science promotion, education innovations, and science and math teacher training and merit programs such as the Science Teacher Academy for the Regions.
Project STAR is a cluster of capacity building activities aimed to improve the quality of teaching of STEM teachers all over the country by implementing innovative STEM trainings, conducting activities that catalyze professional development for teachers – like awards, recognition, and mentorship; and hosting research activities particularly related to STAR trainings.
The tentative program is available at http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/index.php/programs-and-projects/innovations/256-project-star#science-teacher-academy-for-the-regions-star.
