STEM CONCEPT IN THE WORK OF THE MATERIALS RESEARCH GROUPS OF THE SMALL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Abstract

The article is devoted to STEM-direction, which gained world recognition as one of the main modern reformative tendencies in the natural and technical education field. The experience of cooperation between the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Lutsk National Technical University in the field of extracurricular education is presented in the article. The materials science research program provides an integration of the content and methodology of the natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics, and logical thinking into collaboration and research. The purpose of the curriculum is to develop key and subject competencies of individual by means of scientific research in materials science. Doubtless advantage of the group is a possibility of doing numerous experiments related to the study of the structure and properties of substances and materials. Classes in the materials research group are aimed at developing the ability to analyze the tasks set, apply the acquired knowledge in practice, give the opportunity to formulate the experience, its implementation and processing of the obtained results. Presentations of scientific achievements at competitions develop students’ creative abilities and practical skills. It is established that the STEM approach to after-school learning promotes the effective development of scientific and technical creativity of students. Cooperation of Technical University and Small Academy of Sciences promotes the development of key and subject pupils competencies, the deepening of their knowledge and the development of new skills, professional self-determination. A significant argument for the efficiency is the numerous victories of pupils at competitions of scientific and technical creativity of students, such as “Intel-Eco”, “Intel-Techno”, “Future of Ukraine”, “Crystals”, competition-defense of scientific works of the Academy of Sciences.