There were several things on the table: a bamboo skewer, a piece of tape, 0.5 meters of rope and a few packets of soft candy – these were the materials the Changzhou STEM course training group had to use in an experiment. In the experiment, students studied how to make a better housing structure to improve the seismic capacity of a house.
STEM, standing for science, technology, engineering and math, is an inquiry-based learning course, based on real problem-solving, proposed by American scholars. The purpose of the course is to develop the innovative spirit of students, along with practical ability to help students build solid scientific, technical, engineering and mathematical knowledge.
A STEM training course was held at the Changzhou Experimental Junior Middle School from July 17 to 21. Students were able to hear from two foreign lecturers, Krishna Hynes and Samir Moyz, from the Division of the Department of Education Services in Essex and the CLEAPSS team, at the event.
A total of 50 Changzhou Physics and Chemistry backbone teachers attended the training, and it is reported some primary and middle schools in Changzhou have also started to offer the STEM project research. This course aims to help the project reach a deeper level.
