Exploring STEAM education: strategies for tomorrow's learners
Professor Woo Kam-tim from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology presents a lecture on “Inclusive STEAM Education: Empowering Diverse Undergraduate Learners through Collaborative STEM Projects.”
Keynote speaker Professor Yoshisuke Kumano from Japan draws a picture about the future of STEAM education in Japan.
The Department of Science and Environmental Studies (SES) organised a half-day conference titled “STEAM Education and Beyond” at EdUHK on 5 July. The conference, which was held to coincide with the “STEAM FEST”, served as a platform for international educational researchers, local frontline STEAM teachers, and EdUHK colleagues and students to converge and share their experiences, passion, and vision for STEAM education. Concurrently, several primary and secondary schools managed exhibition booths near the conference venue to showcase their ingenuity in creating learning tools for teaching STEAM.
Professor Yoshisuke Kumano, a specially appointed researcher at the Graduate School of Miyagi University of Education and emeritus professor at Shizuoka University, delivered the first keynote talk titled “Status of STEM/STEAM Learning in Japan: International Perspectives on Preparedness for Society 5.0”. This was followed by Professor Woo Kam-tim from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who presented a lecture on “Inclusive STEAM Education: Empowering Diverse Undergraduate Learners through Collaborative STEM Projects.”
Dr Ong Yann-shiou, an Assistant Professor at the Natural Sciences and Science Education academic unit of the National Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University gave the second keynote speech titled “Productive STEM Learning Environments and How to Design Them”. Two FLASS scholars, Dr Leung Chi-hin from the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts* and Dr Bill Yeung Chi-ho from SES, responded to her speech. Dr Leung shared his findings on “Fostering Creative Music-Making through STEAM Initiatives”, while Dr Yeung presented “The Development of STEM Education in Hong Kong: Insights Obtained from School-based Support”.
Professor Zhan Zehui from South China Normal University says different places in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) should seek common ground among them so as to arrive at a coordinated education development in the region.
Dr Song Yanjie from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology states that while gamified platforms can motivate learning through their highly engaging design, there is also a risk that the overemphasis on gaming might distract students from learning.
Dr Sun Daner from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology uses Bloom’s Taxonomy to explain higher-order thinking skills. She says people in higher-order thinking mode go beyond just recalling or understanding information, but evaluate information and think critically.
Professor Zhan Zehui from South China Normal University opened the afternoon session of the conference with a keynote speech titled “Technology Empowering STEM and Innovative Education”. Two FLASS scholars also delivered lectures in response: “Immersive and Interactive STEM Learning in the 3D Metaverse Platform – Learningverse” by Dr Song Yanjie from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology and “Higher Order Thinking Skills in STEM Education” by Dr Sun Daner from the same department.
In addition to these lectures, sharing session focusing on STEAM education in primary and secondary schools was held in the afternoon. Moderated by Dr Bill Yeung, this session featured Dr Chong Yee-ling from SES discussing “Integrating Microscopy and Artificial Intelligence to Foster Science Learning – A Potential for STEAM Education?”, and Mr Richard Yeung also from SES presenting “From Review to Innovative Approaches: A Conceptual Model for Drone-Integrated Cross-Disciplinary STEM Education in Secondary Schools”. Teachers from local primary and secondary schools also delivered short talks summarising their experiences in implementing STEAM education in their schools.
At the exhibition booth managed by Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School, a visitor wears a VR headset to ‘explore’ a space station.
Canossa Primary School exhibits a board game to teach students about nutrition. Different game cards represent the nutrient content of various foods. Students must make choices based on the information on the cards to ensure they obtain the required nutrients.
Ms Chan Wing-yee, left, and Ms Mo Tsz-ching, right, share how Canossa Primary School has worked closely with SES since 2019 to promote STEAM education in the school’s general studies curriculum through government-sponsored Quality Education Fund Thematic Network project. Ms Chan is a Primary School Mistress (Curriculum Development) at her school while Ms Mo is a member of the school’s STEAM team.
An exhibition was held alongside the conference, where frontline primary and secondary school teachers learnt how their counterparts utilised virtual reality, AI technology and other innovative ideas to create teaching tools that enhance learning effectiveness. The exhibits included a VOTANIC-based VR-assisted learning tool, which students designed using their creativity and programming skills. Another school showcased a teaching kit aimed at raising students’ awareness about earthquakes and how earthquake-resistant buildings can protect lives. Yet another participating school demonstrated a board game designed to teach students the importance of nutrient intake and how to choose healthy foods in their daily lives.
All six schools participating in the exhibition are close partners of SES in promoting STEAM education. They include Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School, Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui Primary School (Branch), Canossa Primary School, Ma On Shan Methodist Primary School, Lingnan Dr Chung Wing Kwong Memorial Secondary School, and Kowloon City Baptist Church Hay Nien (Yan Ping) Primary School.
Please click here to read related article about STEAM FEST.
Note*: The Department of Cultural and Creative Arts has transitioned from FLASS to join the Faculty of Humanities in September.
