The Science Set
Supporting and Developing STEM Education in The Gambia
A Program Proposed by The Gambian American Foundation
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
STEM education has been defined as:
an interdisciplinary approach to learning where rigorous academic concepts are coupled with real-world lessons as students apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in contexts that make connections between school, community, work, and the global enterprise enabling the development of STEM literacy and with it the ability to compete in the new economy. (Tsupros, 2009)
The power of technology has changed economies around the world and created a demand for essential new skills involving imagination, intellect and the ability to innovate. Global education experts expect the 2020s to come with the expectation for a STEM-educated labor force. The sobering reality is that African countries greatly lag behind in the investment on STEM education and training. The UN estimates that the region will need 2.5 million engineers if it wants to meet its sustainable development goals (SDG) in the paths towards improving access to clean water, a green economy, health and sanitation.
To ensure that The Gambia has a place in the 21st century’s global economy, it must pursue new ways to develop its population’s intellectual capital, in accordance with the national need and goals to improve educational and student achievements as outlined in The Gambia’s National Development Plan (2018-2021). The latter emphasizes the need to develop STEM education in the country’s educational system in hopes of building the next generation of STEM leaders who will help The Gambia to meet its development goals.
The Gambian American Foundation (GAF) was founded with the objective to facilitate the establishment of strategic partnerships between public and private entities based both in the United States and in The Gambia. Such partnerships will help obtain the resources necessary to support projects that will contribute to reaching sustainable objectives that improve the lives of rural and urban Gambians living in The Gambia. GAF wants to create and foster a partnership with institutions in The Gambia’s school system to help with the implementation of a STEM education program in the country. GAF would like to contribute to this objective with the introduction of a pilot program with several Science Set kits designed using DEXT Technology in a few schools in The Gambia. If successful, the program could be implemented in all Gambian schools for students ages 10 – 15.
OBJECTIVES
The future of The Gambia’s economic growth and prosperity depends on the proper and successful alignment of its education system to better support the country’s economic development efforts and help all Gambian students to become innovators and inventors, self-reliant and logical thinkers, and technologically proficient problem solvers. This proposal seeks to do the following:
Material – The Science Set
The Science set is a mini portable science lab that contains(45+ individual components/materials for performing a wide range of experiments that are carefully crafted modularly for easy assemblage. Key areas in which the set flourishes are Integrated Science, Physics, Electronics and Mathematics. The set is designed to seamlessly integrate into the classroom environment. It should help both students and teachers to engage in hands–on experiments such as building an automatic light bulb, a simple transistor, various circuits, visualizing rays and beams, electromagnets, etc.
STUDENT- LEARNING OUTCOMES