MODERN APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY IN THE STEM EDUCATION CENTERS

Abstract

The new challenges set before modern society require a rethinking of approaches to the learning process and require training young people in new curricula aimed at training generalists, whose deep theoretical knowledge will be supported by practical skills. In 2016–2018, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine adopted a number of orders that ensured the formation of a new approach to the educational process in Ukraine. STEM education was introduced, which should support students theoretical knowledge gained during the school process, practical skills, obtained through the practical activities of children in specialized centers equipped with the necessary equipment. In August 2018, on the basis of the communal institution Richelieu Lyceum, an experimental educational and scientific subdivision “Center for STEM-education of Odessa region” was created. In the center of STEM-education in Odessa region, work is underway to introduce new teaching methods, which include mandatory practical work of students in the classroom. In connection with the need to devote more time to the lesson for students to perform practical work on this topic, the methodologists of the STEM-center develop special training programs for students. For students of Richelieu Lyceum attending the STEM-center are offered such electives in the profile “Biology” as: levels of organization of living matter, modern taxonomy of living organisms, human pathophysiology, biotechnology: cell and genetic engineering, laboratory work and others. The educational process is necessarily accompanied by practical work involving microscopes. Individual work of students with microscopes improves the level of knowledge acquired by the child; gives them the opportunity to obtain visual confirmation of the theoretical material that was learned during the lesson; provides the formation of research skills; increases their overall self-esteem and provides further growth of interest in the educational process. Acquisition of practical work skills increases the level of preparation of students and provides them with the opportunity to participate in various competitions, Olympiads, tournaments, defense of scientific papers.