Development Technology and Engineering Literacy Through STEM-Based Education

Abstract

Technology and engineering have become critical components of 21st-century life. Therefore, technology and engineering literacy (TEL) need to be achieved by youngsters, not only vocational and technological school students but also students at general secondary schools. As a result, general education at primary and secondary education should have a mission to develop students' TEL. However, so far there is no technology or engineering courses at primary and general secondary school level curriculum, so that formally no vehicle available to deliver technology and engineering knowledge and skills to support the development of TEL. In such circumstances science courses that exist in primary and general secondary school curriculum need to take a role to develop TEL in addition to its main function to develop students' scientific literacy. Therefore, this paper reviewed the study of technology and engineering literacy improvement in primary and secondary schools by investigating the implementation of methods in other countries. Japan and U.S was chosen as an investigated sample because of its development in STEM-based activity that was considered as an approach to deliver technology and engineering. The result showed that there were two methods implementation in formal and non-formal setting (out of school), that embedded engineering practice in the program activities.