STEM-education in the mirror of sociological research

• Main Authors: О. В. Бутурліна, Т. В. Лисоколенко, С. А. Довгаль
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Publishing House "Grani" 2019-08-01
• Series: Granì
• Subjects: society; innovation; education; strategy of education development in Ukraine; science; technology; engineering; monitoring
• Online Access: https://grani.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/1402

The article is devoted to the research of trends and mechanisms of STEM-innovations implementation in Ukraine. STEM – a series or sequence of educational programs designed to solve the problem of the scientific and engineering specialists lack for high-tech industries and raise the competitiveness of the state. It is a priority in state policy towards economy strengthening and state social order to the educational sector. Consequently, relevance of STEM in the modern European institutional space is beyond doubt. In this regard, attention is focused on measuring the understanding of STEM and its essence, on the prospects and difficulties of implementing these social technologies in Ukrainian realities. The paper presents the results of quantitative research conducted on the basis of author’s methodologies, members of teaching staff, student youth, expert group and parents of high school students. On the basis of conducted monitoring results calculation, comparing the answers of different categories of respondents, the authors attempt to summarize the STEM technologies state in modern Ukrainian society and come to the conclusion that the implementation of relevant innovations contributes to the dissemination of dialogue among all participants in the educational process, parents and potential employers. Conducted research makes it possible to state the following. Educators of experimental educational institutions have a sufficiently high level of motivation to innovate, open to cooperation and understand the importance of innovations in the modern Ukrainian school. STEM topics of interest to students are clearly outlined. Therefore, the majorities of polled students support the STEM direction and understand its prospects but do not understand in what sphere and where they will work in the future, even choosing the STEM profession. The results of the study showed that modern parents are motivated to influence the future profession choice their own children. However, the direct parents’ influence on the future profession choosing is limited because a significant number of high school students have their own opinion on this issue, which is in part or does not coincide, with parents. STEM innovations create a new space for a steady dialogue between educators, parents and employers for the development of the economies of the states and engage youth in STEM industry.