STEAM combines value education, applies scientific and technological knowledge, and implements humanistic care

In today's era, SDG is an important issue for global development, and STEAM is an important direction to solve the problem of sustainable social development. Mastering scientific and technological capabilities is even more essential. Although STEAM skills are crucial, values ​​education cannot be ignored either. Carmel Bunnan Tong Memorial Secondary School While promoting STEAM education, we pay special attention to humanistic care and empathy. Principal Chan Oi Chi pointed out: "Students need to have empathy and humanistic care in order to create technological products suitable for human beings." He believes that problem-solving abilities, collaboration skills, empathy and concern for sustainable development are all qualities that every student needs to possess. Therefore, the school integrates STEAM education with these issues, and through the exploration of different disciplines and themes, students learn in practice and become talents with knowledge, skills, and contributions to society.

Cross-discipline inspires whole-person development and comprehensively deepens subject knowledge

The school cleverly integrates the STEAM concept into the curriculum of various subjects, and conducts a series of interdisciplinary studies based on the characteristics of different grades, allowing students to consolidate the knowledge and skills of various subjects in the process of practice, while cultivating humanistic care and achieving whole-person development. In the Secondary 2 curriculum, the school combines visual arts, computer and music subjects, allowing students to use their creativity to make exquisite music boxes to express their gratitude to their families. The students used the skills learned in the Visual Arts Department to design a unique casing and used Micro:Bit technology to make these family songs "alive". This creation integrates knowledge from different disciplines and also has cultural heritage. It echoes traditional Chinese culture and allows students to understand filial piety and learn to be grateful. It coincides with the value of "filial piety" advocated by the government.

In the Secondary One curriculum, Science and Geography subjects worked together to build a wind turbine. Students used 3D printing technology to make fan blades, explore the number and angle of the fan blades, study changes in electrical energy, and modify ready-made fan blades. This process stimulated their interest in science and cultivated creative thinking and problem-solving abilities. The geography subject focuses on Hong Kong, analyzing the benefits and limitations of wind power generation, and exploring issues such as windmill site selection and environmental pollution, allowing students to gain a comprehensive understanding of practice and theory, and gain an in-depth understanding of ESG concepts and issues of sustainable social development.

Diverse learning experiences ignite interest in science and innovation

Each student has different talents, so the school arranges small workshops for students who are passionate about STEAM fields according to their different areas of interest to explore their potential through activities. For example, for Form 3 and Form 4 students, the school took them to visit Vitargent Technology Company to learn about cutting-edge biotechnology, especially the use of "genetically modified mackerel and killifish" to test the toxicity of products. Students also had the opportunity to communicate face-to-face with professors and visit laboratories in depth. This trip not only broadened their knowledge, but also inspired their enthusiasm for technological innovation, giving them a deeper understanding of current technological developments.

As for the Secondary One students, the school took them to the Wetland Park to explore the natural ecology. At the end of the trip, the visual arts department will combine environmental education to allow students to transform what they see and feel into creativity and design mascots to protect wetlands. Later, the science department will also teach students to make holographic projectors so that they can project their own works, enhance their environmental awareness, and enhance their artistic creation abilities. Through a series of diverse learning experiences, students have the opportunity to be exposed to different areas of interest in the STEAM field, ignite their passion for STEAM, be exposed to international issues such as environmental protection, broaden their horizons, and cultivate their positive values.

Overseas exchanges broaden horizons and grasp the pace of world development

In addition to local learning experiences, the school arranges for all Form 3 students to participate in overseas exchanges every year, allowing them to look at the world, broaden their academic horizons, and implement humanistic care to stimulate their thinking. Recently, the school took students to Singapore to focus on local STEAM development and environmental conservation. In addition to visiting the science museum and zoo, students also explored the use of local water resources.

The students responded enthusiastically after returning and made videos to share what they learned. This not only opened their eyes, but also prompted them to reflect on the importance of sustainable development to the world. Next, Principal Chan Oi Chi will continue to create opportunities for students, organize more overseas study tours, and conduct in-depth discussions on environmental protection and sustainable development issues. He hopes that every student will have the opportunity to expand their horizons, keep up with the pace of world development, and arouse students' empathy through environmental protection activities to implement the concept of humanistic care.

Encourage competitions to showcase learning results and practice empathy through creation

For students who are talented in the STEAM field and are interested in joining related industries, the school actively encourages and supports them to participate in various competitions and public display platforms. Earlier, the school arranged for students to participate in a joint school science exhibition to showcase their creation "Smart U-shaped riser". They practiced humanistic care in their creation and learned about the development of STEAM in academia and industry. In addition, the school also leads students to participate in off-campus STEAM competitions, such as the 3rd Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area AI Competition. In this competition, the representative students performed well and won the bronze medal in the 2024 Interstellar Exploration InnoBot Middle School Category.

In the future, the school plans to arrange students to participate in a medical report competition focusing on common diseases of the elderly. Students will use AI technology to make preliminary estimates of the elderly's physical condition. Although this is not a professional prediagnosis, it can allow the elderly to understand their own health conditions so that they can seek medical treatment in time or eliminate unnecessary worries. Principal Chan Oi Chi emphasized: "Students need to adopt the mentality of the elderly. From the ease of operation to the comfort of using words, every detail should be full of empathy." He hopes that through STEAM education, students can not only exercise their problem-solving skills, but also cultivate empathy and personal qualities in a subtle way, which will become the key to their conduct in the world.

The course adopts a two-pronged approach to cultivate information literacy

In the age of information explosion, information literacy has become increasingly important. Principal Chan Oi Chi pointed out: "The answers provided by AI may be incorrect or not updated in a timely manner. We encourage students to use a variety of resources, but they must be reminded to be careful for verification and keep in mind that AI has illusions." To this end, the school uses both explicit and implicit courses to cultivate students' information literacy.

In terms of explicit courses, science, computer and civics subjects all cover information literacy to help students understand its importance in daily learning. In terms of hidden courses, the school arranges for student leaders to operate their own IG social platform accounts, allowing them to personally manage social groups and learn to identify the authenticity of online information, such as determining whether posts should be deleted.

In this process, a good atmosphere of mutual influence and inheritance was formed among the students. Senior students lead by example and pass on their experiences to younger students. After the younger students grow up, they share their knowledge with their junior students. Through the interaction between peers, they strengthen each other's understanding of information literacy and promote their personal growth.

Keep pace with the times, improve teaching, and inherit good learning attitudes

Teachers play a vital role in the entire STEAM education. With the rapid development of technology, schools realize that AI may be unfamiliar to teachers, so they organize special workshops to help them explore the application of technology in education and promote the more effective use of technology in various subjects. Principal Chan Oi Chi said: "Chinese subjects often use AI for teaching, and subject groups also share and communicate with each other. The director in charge of STEAM will consult with teachers of each subject when different resources are needed." Teachers learn and make progress together, which not only stimulates interaction among peers, but also promotes the modernization of teaching and learning, allowing students to deepen their understanding of information technology, scientific spirit, and unremitting pursuit of attitude.