A SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS COURSE WITH COMPUTER-ASSISTED REMEDIAL LEARNING SYSTEM SUPPORT FOR VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

One of the significant and distinguishing curriculum characteristics of STEM compared to other subjects domains is hands-on skill development. Hands-on training enables the enhancement of learning because it parallels with the concrete-to-abstract nature of cognitive development, providing additional sources of brain activation via kinaesthetic involvement and elevating students` motivation and engagement. To bridge the gap between theory and practice, and advance unprepared students` hands-on skills, this research proposed and implemented an innovative STEM course with the computer-assisted remedial learning system (CARLS) in the vocational high school experience in Taiwan. The effects of STEM course were examined through an experiment with learning performances hypotheses. A total of 32 students in a vocational high school in Taiwan voluntarily participated in this research and a one-group pre-test and post-test pre-experimental design was adopted. The results of this experimental course demonstrated that CARLS is effective and contributed in enhancing students` knowledge, achievement and hands-on skill performance in this STEM course. Suggestions and implications for STEM education is also made for practitioners and educators.