STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education has been among the most challenging subjects in online or modular distance learning classrooms. With the complexity of each discipline, teachers must be able to deliver the lessons to students effectively regardless of learning delivery modality.
To help STEM teachers cope with the challenges of teaching STEM subjects, Mapúa University, the leading engineering and technological school in the country, in partnership with the Department of Education, has launched STEM Teach Mapúa 2.0. This free online training program aims to strengthen the quality of STEM education in the country by advancing the skills of junior high school and senior high school STEM teachers.
It is the second time Mapúa has rolled out its online teaching innovation with the initial installment being in 2018. Open to private and public-school teachers in the Greater Manila Area, the four-week program will impart Mapúa’s homegrown knowledge and techniques. It will also discuss tried and tested teaching methods used by the University.
The emphasis on STEM has become more palpable as various think tanks worldwide predict that the demand for science and technology specialists will spike.
The study of Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) and Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) entitled “The Future S&T Human Resource Requirements in the Philippines: A Labor Market Analysis” in 2020 revealed the growth of science and technology jobs. It forecasted that engineering would be in demand domestically, followed by life science, physical sciences, math, and statistics.
“Laying the correct foundation for the STEM education of junior and senior high school students is most crucial right now. The pandemic has hastened digitalization and has increased the demand for digital and other skills in science, technology and engineering,” said Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, president of Mapúa University.
“With our STEM Teach Mapúa 2.0 knowledge-sharing program, we hope to empower fellow educators by reinforcing their knowledge and skills in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. By being so equipped, they can then lay the foundation so we can grow a large pool of topnotch Filipino scientists, tech experts, engineers and mathematicians,” he added.
The online training program consists of seven courses: General Mathematics, Pre-Calculus, Basic Calculus, Physics, Statistics, Chemistry, and Biology. Teacher-participants can access the micro-video lectures and presentations asynchronously and 24/7 through Mapúa’s learning management system Cardinal EDGE (Education in a Digital and Global Environment). Modules also include online assessments.
A total of 638 teachers in the greater Manila area have joined the enrichment program. Registration was on a “first come, first served” basis, and schools have two representatives per subject. It is hoped that the participating teachers will cascade the teaching methodologies to colleagues after completing the program on February 28, 2022.
“With the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, we must equip the Filipino youth with the right foundational knowledge and motivate them to embrace STEM careers so that we can meet human resource requirements in the coming years,” added Dr. Vea.
Known for producing top graduates, Mapúa has been ranked in the top 501-550 universities in Asia in 2022 with a rating of 4 Stars by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). It also offers internationally accredited programs in Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology.