A CASE STUDY OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION IN LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Authors

  • Loh Su Ling Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Perempuan Sandakan, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1513-838X
  • Vincent Pang Centre for Teaching Excellence and Academic Quality Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia
  • Denis Lajium Faculty of Psychology and Education Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5389-2781

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp242-264

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the formal school curriculum can be described as a STEM-related individual subject; as a learning package offering learning pathway for STEM elective subjects and as an integrated STEM learning approach. This study focuses on the needs assessment of STEM education as a learning approach among lower secondary school teachers in a local district in Malaysia. The current and desired situations were analysed as well as the causal factors which guide the choice of any intervention programs to address the actual needs.

 

Methodology: Three schools were selected through heterogenous purposive sampling. The teachers from each school were selected through criterion sampling based on predetermined criteria.   31 teachers from the lower secondary level who teach STEM related subjects as well as the head of panel and departments of the STEM subjects, were selected as the participants. Focus group and one-to-one interviews were conducted with the participants after receiving their consent.

 

Findings: There is a gap between the desired situation and the current situation in the implementation of integrated STEM education. The implementation of STEM education at the lower secondary level can be facilitated through various means such as a comprehensive STEM education professional development or training for teachers, collaborations between STEM subjects teachers through lesson studies or professional learning community, and working together with local STEM expertise or community of practice.

 

Contributions: The findings provide relevant information and guidance on the selection of intervention for the integrated STEM education in addressing the needs. It also initiates the planning of the integrated STEM education programs which focuses on the gaps as the means to achieve the desired results.

 

Keywords: STEM education, needs assessment, case study, gap, interventions

 

Cite as: Loh, S. L., Pang, V., & Lajium, D. (2021). A case study of needs assessment of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in lower secondary schools. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 242-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp242-264

Author Biographies

  • Loh Su Ling, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Perempuan Sandakan, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia.

    Loh Su Ling graduated with BSc (Hons) from the University of Malaya (UM) majoring in Microbiology in 1996.  In 1997, she obtained her Diploma in Education from the same university before started teaching in secondary school mainly biology, general science and mathematics.  She furthered her studies in 2015 and obtained Masters in Education in 2015 from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). She completed her PhD in science education from the same institution in 2020.  Her doctorate studies focus on the context evaluation of the STEM education in the local secondary schools.

  • Vincent Pang, Centre for Teaching Excellence and Academic Quality Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia

    Vincent Pang obtained his Masters of Art from the University of East Anglia and his PhD from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.  His areas of expertise are curriculum evaluation, testing and assessment, and higher education.  Currently his research interests are in education for undocumented and stateless children, higher education and evaluation in education.

  • Denis Lajium, Faculty of Psychology and Education Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia

    Denis Lajium holds a BSc with Education (Chemistry) from the University Technology Malaysia (UTM), M.A (Science Education) from the Universiti Sains Malaysia and obtained his PhD at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. He is now a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. His research in interest is mainly in chemistry education including chemistry learning environment, learning of chemistry concepts, mental modelling and STEM education. The main research methodologies are phenomenological study, case study and grounded theory with the applications of NVIVO.

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Published

2021-01-28

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1: Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

A CASE STUDY OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION IN LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS. (2021). Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS), 6(1), 242-264. https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp242-264