DEPARTMENT OF STEM EDUCATION

The Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education at Samtse College of Education (SCE) offers the secondary level teacher preparation programmes such as the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PgDE) for the pre-service student-teachers and Master’s Degree (M.Ed.) in STEM Education for the in-service secondary school teachers. The Programmes are underpinned by the SCE’s vision and mission of teacher education embodied in Bhutanese values, skills and knowledge.  More specifically, the PgDE programme aims to prepare university graduates with required professional training to teach from grade VII to XII at the Secondary Level Schools, and that aims to produce teachers who are not only knowledgeable and skillful but are committed, passionate and possess right attitude towards their teaching profession that caters the needs of the Bhutanese Education Society. The programme is offered on a modular basis spread over three academic semesters including a semester long School Immersion and Teaching Practice (SITP).

Similarly, the M.Ed. programmes for the in-service secondary science teachers are designed to deepen their content knowledge, ICT and research in specific subjects (i.e., Maths/Physics/Chemistry/Biology). A distinctive feature of the M.Ed. Programmes is that the in-service teacher-students are guided by 21^st century learning styles such as science process skills, scientific curiosity, inquiry, innovation, effective communication, collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking. In addition, the principles and philosophy of place-based education that promotes the use of the community resources and the immediate surrounding as a tool for teaching, learning and assessment, also form the essence of the department’s role in delivering M.Ed. Programmes.  Acquiring all of these learning experiences help students become a repository of scientific knowledge and curiosity, thus becoming distinguished science teachers in secondary schools.

The department is overseen by a team of experienced and qualified teacher educators with Master’s Degree and PhD qualifications. Alongside with usual teaching commitments, STEM faculties are continuously engaged in research, seminars, conferences, designing professional development programmes, developing innovative curricula, and instructional materials informed by research and scholarly pursuits in educational settings.

One of the achievements of the department of STEM Education is the recent establishment of STEM Education Research Centre (STEM-ERC) in the College, which will initiate research to encourage evidence-based policy formulation regarding STEM education, scholarly discourses such as seminars and conferences, modification of STEM curricula, designing STEM teaching learning materials, and professional development courses for the STEM teacher, etc. for addressing the concerns and issues pertaining to substandard performances of the Bhutanese students in STEM subjects.

Vision

To be a vibrant centre of excellence in secondary science education that fosters research and innovation.

Mission

The department is committed to:

• Developing need-based contemporary science curricula for secondary school science teachers,
• Promoting students understanding and applications of scientific concepts through innovative instructional approaches and use of ICT in teaching, learning, and assessment,
• Producing effective science teacher who exhibit deeper understanding of science subjects,
• Promoting research-led pedagogy among the faculty members in teaching, learning and assessment,
• Providing students with opportunities for developing cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains in science teaching that are consistent with national science standards, and
• Initiating national and international collaborations in designing curricula and pedagogies, understanding students’ learning styles, implementation of assessment practices and research aimed to promote science teaching, learning and assessment excellence.