DEVELOPING GRADE 6 STUDENTS’ COMPETENCE TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THROUGH STEM-BASED INSTRUCTION: A CASE STUDY ON THE TOPIC “ENERGY AND ITS TRANSFORMATION”
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18173/2354-1075.2025-0102Keywords:
competence to apply knowledge and skills; STEM-based instruction; natural sciences; grade 6 studentsAbstract
The Natural Science curriculum emphasizes the importance of developing students’ competence in applying knowledge and skills. This study aimed to propose a framework of competence in applying knowledge and skills through STEM teaching, design the STEM lesson “Energy and its transformation,” and evaluate its impact on the competence development of grade 6 students. The framework and assessment tool were developed through a synthesis of literature and iterative expert consultation; the lesson plan was designed to align with the objectives of the curriculum and the proposed framework. A pedagogical experiment was conducted at Trung Vuong Secondary School (Thai Nguyen province) with one experimental class and one control class. Data sources included teachers’ assessments of students’ competence in applying knowledge and skills (comprising five competence components, nine criteria, and three proficiency levels) and the results of a 45-minute knowledge test administered to both classes after the experiment. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent-samples T-tests, and effect size calculation. The findings showed that students demonstrated growth across all competence criteria, with the largest improvements in identifying foundational knowledge and in designing/testing products. The knowledge test results also indicated that the experimental class achieved better learning outcomes than the control class after participating in the STEM lesson. The study concludes that well-designed STEM lessons can significantly enhance grade 6 students’ ability to apply knowledge and skills when teachers are supported with practical assessment tools, sufficient instructional time, and training in competence-oriented pedagogy.
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