STEM Education Centre provides comprehensive support for innovative technology education in primary and secondary schools (with photos)
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     To strengthen support for innovative technology education in primary and secondary schools, the STEM Education Centre has been set up at the Arts & Technology Education Centre (ATEC) under the Education Bureau (EDB) to provide schools with more comprehensive support services on STEM (i.e. science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, officiated at the opening ceremony of the STEM Education Centre in Lok Fu, Kowloon, this afternoon (October 26).
 
     In his speech, Mr Yeung said that the Policy Address delivered this month had introduced a number of measures to strengthen the promotion of scientific research and development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong. One of the measures was to set up a STEM Education Centre at the ATEC.  
 
     "The EDB has in the past few years been promoting the development of STEM education with a view to enhancing students' interest in learning science, technology and mathematics; nurturing their abilities in the integration and application of knowledge and skills, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving capabilities; and nurturing versatile talents in STEM-related areas for the economic development of Hong Kong," he said.
 
     "We have been actively taking forward the recommendations and strategies proposed in the Report on Promotion of STEM Education - Unleashing Potential in Innovation, which includes the updating of related curricula to ensure the contents tie in with the latest development of science and technology.

     "Furthermore, we will soon announce the Computational Thinking – Coding Education: Supplement to the Primary Curriculum, which will provide a consolidated description and overhaul the concept of computational thinking and coding education for primary schools, and facilitate the delivery of related topics in lessons in a systematic manner.
 
     "We will continue to provide STEM education-related professional development programmes for teachers. For example, intensive training programmes related to STEM education will be organised for curriculum leaders and middle management of secondary and primary schools in Hong Kong by phases. It will help strengthen the overall curriculum planning in schools, as well as cross-Key Learning Areas and inter-subject collaboration," he added.
 
     The STEM Education Centre is also furnished with Maker Space, which provides advanced equipment and tools for teachers to conduct lessons related to STEM education, and for students to work on related projects. New facilities, such as a full colour 3D printer, 3D scanner, SLA 3D printer, a benchtop CNC milling machine, a vinyl cutter and a laser cutter are provided to allow students to engage in more "hands-on" and "minds-on" investigations as well as design-and-make learning activities.
 
     In addition to professional development programmes for school curriculum leaders and teachers, a wide range of learning activities for primary and secondary students, including STEM-related competitions, will also be organised.
 
     Detailed information on the STEM Education Centre is available on its website (www.atec.edu.hk/stemcentre).

Ends/Thursday, October 26, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:10

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