INTRODUCTION OF STEM-EDUCATION THROUGH PROJECT ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOL

Abstract

Literature analysis revealed the basic concepts and provisions, showed the advantages and disadvantages of STEM-education through project activities and created a basis to form a holistic view of how to effectively implement project activities within STEM-education in a modern school setting. The survey of 9th grade students (52 people) highlighted their interests, preferences and identified the level of STEM competencies and established experience and preference in the field of project activities. Based on the survey results, a 9th grade STEM-project program aimed at developing STEM and project competencies was developed. The experimental part of the study included diagnostics of initial knowledge and skills, conducting lessons and extracurricular activities, using the developed program, final diagnostics and subsequent analysis of all results, to the extent of the experimental and control group. Overall, the experimental part of the study showed how project activities can be used effectively in STEM education, and the comparative analysis of the results provided valuable information for improving educational programs using project activities. Recommendations have been developed to expand the use of STEM-education in school education, beyond exclusive project activities and proposed to integrate them with humanities disciplines, using the development of an interdisciplinary approach and the highest priority socially important competencies.