The Philippine Normal University, through the Faculty of Science, Technology, and Mathematics (FSTeM), in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), successfully hosted the 4th National Conference on Science, Technology, and Mathematics Education themed “Future-ready STEM Education: Co-creating our Futures,” on December 7 and 8, 2024, at the Geronima Pecson Hall Auditorium of the university.

The event gathered about 200 STEM educators, professionals, and enthusiasts from various educational institutions and industry partners across the Philippines. The aim was to foster knowledge exchange, strengthen collaboration, and establish communities of practice in STEM education. The conference was made possible through partnerships with esteemed organizations, including Rex Education, the First Eduspec, Inc., the Philippine Space Agency, Casio Calculators Philippines, Khan Academy, ScienceStar Corporation, and Project Cipher. These partners hosted several workshops and exhibits for the participants.

Dr. Bert J. Tuga, president of PNU, welcomed the participants to the conference as he emphasized the role of STEM and STEM education, as well as of PNU as a leading teacher education institution, in developing people’s critical and creative thinking for a brighter future. Dr. Gladys C. Nivera, Dean of the College of Teacher Development, also gave her message as she reminisced about the previous conferences on STEM education at PNU. The focus of the opening messages highlighted how, amid the challenges, institutions can work together for sustainable progress.

The highlight of the conference was the five keynote speeches delivered by experts in the field of STEM and STEM education. Dr. Ester B. Ogena, former President of the Philippine Normal University and current member of EDCOM 2 Standing Committee for teacher education, delivered a compelling keynote address on “Developing Future Literacy Among STEM Learners.” Her speech underscored the role of data-driven decision-making processes to solve the perennial problems of society. Mr. Kevin Anthony Sison, MSc., President and CEO of SCTSC Review Corporation, delivered a talk on “AI in STEM Education.” He encouraged STEM teachers and STEM enthusiasts to view AI tools not as a detriment but as a supplement in the teaching-learning setup. The third keynote address was delivered by Dir. Bernadeth Daran, whose talk was on “Numeracy as Foundation for the Future.” She is the Director for Curriculum/Learning Design and Strategic Engagement of Khan Academy. She discussed what it means to be numerate in 2030 and beyond, including the integration of health statistics and social media algorithms in daily life. Mr. Mark Ivan Roblas, Supervising Science Research Specialist of DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), presented a talk on “Communicating STEM for Nation-Building and the Future.” He emphasized the importance of public forums such as this conference to exchange ideas and solutions about the pressing needs of science and beyond. The last keynote address of the conference was delivered by Dr. Ivy P. Mejia from the UP National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED). With the title “Creative Thinking in STEM Education,” she discussed the recent PISA Creative Thinking assessment and its implications for scientific literacy.

The NatCon partners such as DOST-SEI, First Eduspec, Inc., the Philippine Space Agency, Casio Calculators Philippines, Khan Academy, ScienceStar Corporation, and Project Cipher also conducted engaging workshops, enriching the learning experience for participants. The participants not only listened to the workshop presenters but also conducted experiments and activities that they can use in actual teaching, learning, and even STEM research.

Participants also presented their research findings through 25 posters and 22 paper presentations on the following topics: Assessment in STEM Education; Teaching and Learning in STEM; STEM Learners’ Success; STEM Teacher Development; STEM Approaches and Resources; Inclusive STEM Teaching and Learning; and Investigations in STEM and other Allied Fields. Three participants were selected for the best poster award, and three participants received the best paper presentation award.

The conference concluded by recognizing the partners and the winners for the best poster and paper presentations. Dr. Alfons Jayson Pelgone, the conference chair, expressed the unit’s gratitude to the partners, participants, and the conference committee members for their interest and efforts to leverage STEM education in co-creating our futures.