Dubai, UAE: Imagine a classroom that is fun where the pupils are involved and where learning moves away from the old concept of chalk and talk.
Atlab STEM Academy, the sole distributor of LEGO Education, brings a new hands-on approach to learning by imparting knowledge to the pupils in an innovative way through play and problem solving.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These four subjects are taught separately in schools. However, STEM education integrates them and emphasizes the application of knowledge to real-life situations.
“This will transform education from a typical teacher-centric classroom to a child-centered one by encouraging a curriculum that is driven by problem-solving, discovery and exploratory learning,” said S. Senthil Kugan, General Manager of Atlab.
He was speaking at a workshop held today at the Dubai Private School Academy to help educators experience the flavor of STEM and to understand its potential to foster 21st Century skills in children. The workshop highlighted STEM integration for various curriculums in schools.
“The major challenge of implementing STEM is that the resources and the model which can be integrated to work with the schools and their respective curriculums should be in place,” said Senthil. Atlab STEM academy developed the activities mapped to various curriculum with the kids, teacher guides and resources which enable them to run as a part of the school, rather than as an after school activity.
Today, technology means computers and the Smartphone. Technology is no longer for ‘geeks’. Science is all around us, from the diversity of nature to the fossil fuel that powers our cars. Engineering today tackles the challenge of global warming. Mathematics we use to balance our household budget and in dealing with our investments. In short, STEM pervades every aspect of our lives.
As the UAE encourages a national innovation strategy with the growth of the education sector playing a vital role, educators believe that it is time to shift old mindsets and bring in new concepts in learning that will drive innovation across the board.
Atlab is all set to deploy complete STEM classrooms in two public schools in the UAE for the first time, as part of an initiative by the UAE Ministry of Education to lure more Emirati children into science and technology fields. Their low performance in these subjects has been worrying educators for a long time now. STEM education provides experiential learning, which research has proven is the best way to bridge the skills gap in the job market and to prepare students for the future.
The two public schools who will be piloting the STEM classrooms are Al Ibdaa Model School and Omar Bin Al Khattab Model School.
At Al Ibdaa Model School the elementary Cycle 1 pupils will be the first to try out the STEM classrooms while at the Omar Bin Al Khattab Model School Cycle 2 and 3 students will be the ones to get a taste of STEM.
The UAE is setting up the stage for innovation stimulating environments, encouraging schools and universities to consolidate the methods of research, investigation and exploration in the new generations.
STEM education will encourage pupils into the fast-changing fields of technology and engineering. It is beneficial to every pupil, whether the interest lies in Science, Literature or Arts, as the child develops problem solving abilities, as well as collaborative and critical thinking skills.
A variation of STEM is STEAM that includes an ‘A’ for art and design. Artistic design is now an important part of STEM education as creativity is an essential part of innovation.
A STEM class is based around finding a solution to a real-world problem and emphasizes inquiry-based learning. Many of the lessons involve building models and simulating situations. A lesson would ensure that students understand the connection to the real world.
The STEM units for Primary School (Grade 1 to 5) will include activities such as Robotics and Basic Programming as well as activities to foster life Skills such as Social Responsibility and Environmental Science.
In Middle School Level (Grade 6 to 8) the activities include aero modeling, making Balsa gliders, Structures, Robotics with EV3, Green Energy and Animation and Data-logging.
In High School Level (Grades 9 to 10), the activities will range from Simple and Powered Machines, Robotics and Programming, to 3D Printing, data analysis and prediction, technological design, atmospheric sciences and problem solving.
Atlab STEM Academy has partnered with LEGO Education, Pitsco, Pasco to bring this new concept of learning that is mapped to the curriculum to deliver as a part of School programme rather than after school activity.
Delhi Private School Academy, based in Academic City, is the first school to have taken a bold step and integrated STEM education into its curriculum. “We believe in constructivist education,” said Sandhya Awasthi, principal of the school. “It has brought joy to learning,” said the principal. In a constructivist classroom, the focus shifts from the teacher to the pupils. In this model, the students are urged to be actively involved in their own process of learning.
The STEM based learning programme can be integrated and mapped to suit any curriculum. From UK’s
IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum to the Indian curriculum, CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education, all have benefited from the use of STEM methodology.
© Press Release 2015
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