May 13, 2024
On May 7, 2024, The School of Education at St. John’s University, in collaboration with delegates from the Singapore Ministry of Education, hosted a joint conference focused on STEM enrichment for high-potential young students. The event took place at the D’Angelo Center on the Queens, NY, campus, and was organized by Dr. Jenny Yang from the Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership.
The conference featured a sharing of extensive knowledge and experiences by Dr. Jenny Yang and Dr. Seokhee Cho, stemming from their decade-long involvement in multiple projects aimed at nurturing the STEM abilities of culturally and linguistically diverse students.
“It is critical that we encourage STEM education for diverse learners,” said Dean James Wolfinger. “Dr. Yang and Dr. Cho have spent years demonstrating their leadership in this field and it was my great pleasure to welcome our Singapore colleagues and other guests to campus so we could learn together about important pedagogy and talent cultivation in STEM education.”
Dr. Cho presented instructional strategies on how to enhance academic motivation of culturally and linguistically diverse young learners. Dr. Yang’s presentation, emphasizing hands-on learning and innovative teaching strategies, served as a profound source of inspiration for educators committed to shaping the next generation of STEM leaders. In a reciprocal exchange of ideas, delegates from the Singapore Ministry of Education shared their strategies for talent cultivation within their national education system.
The participants engaged deeply with advanced pedagogical methods, acquiring valuable insights and practical techniques to enhance STEM talent development. The conference was characterized by immersive demonstrations and dynamic discussions, allowing participants to explore novel ways of engaging students and fostering a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The success of this conference reflects the commitment of TSOE faculty and Dean Wolfinger to STEM education in an interdisciplinary, global context.