A comprehensive comparison of STEM education in North America and Hong Kong: from curriculum design to future career prospects

In The latest STEM information|Hong Kong STEM/STEAM toys news sharing 0 comment

A detailed analysis of the differences between the two places in teaching philosophy, resource investment, teacher training, student assessment and career support, helping parents and educators choose the most appropriate learning path for their children

Introduction: Why STEM education has become a global focus

In the era of information explosion and rapid development of artificial intelligence, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - STEM for short - are no longer the specialization of a few people, but the core literacy that runs through all walks of life. North America and Hong Kong are equally aware of the importance of STEM education, but they present completely different styles in specific practices. This article will analyze the educational ecology of the two places from all aspects, and deeply explore the deep reasons why North America emphasizes STEM, and how this trend will bring new opportunities for children's future careers.

Comparison of teaching philosophy and course design

North America: Interdisciplinary and Thematic Learning

  • Project‑Based Learning (PBL)

    Students work in teams to undertake a real-world project, such as designing a solar-powered automatic irrigation system, from market research, prototype development, testing, to final publication, and apply scientific experiments, programming, and data analysis in the process.

  • Integrated Curriculum

    The four STEM subjects are no longer taught independently, but are integrated into a "Design and Engineering" or "Innovation Lab" course. For example, with the theme of "Climate Change", students can learn earth science (Science), data visualization (Technology), structural mechanics (Engineering) and statistical analysis (Mathematics) at the same time.

  • Iterative Design

    Encourage students to “Fail‑Forward”: Every test and failure is an opportunity to collect data and improve the design, and to cultivate the ability of continuous optimization and innovative thinking.

Hong Kong: Clear subject distinction and examination-oriented

  • Discipline cutting

    STEM is mostly promoted through science and mathematics courses, while technology and engineering elements rely more on elective courses or extracurricular activities.

  • Exam stress

    The Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam measures science and mathematics scores, becoming the most important indicator for parents and students. In order to prepare for the public exam, classes and cram schools often focus on question type practice and exam strategies, leaving less time for topic research and hands-on practice.

  • After-school value-added activities

    Although there are robot competitions, programming workshops, etc., most of them are led by non-profit organizations or cram schools, making it difficult to form a systematic connection with the school-based curriculum.

Resource investment: campus equipment and financial support

area Resource investment overview
North America
  • On average, a public middle school has a Maker Space budget of USD 10,000–20,000 per year, which includes 3D printers, CNC machines, electronic component kits, etc.
  • At the university level, annual research funding for research universities (R1) can be as high as millions of dollars, with some of the funds flowing back to undergraduate teaching laboratories.
Hongkong
  • Most public secondary school Maker Spaces have an annual funding of approximately HKD 30,000–50,000, and equipment is rarely updated.
  • Since 2017, the government's "Innovation and Technology Education Program" has allocated approximately HKD 1 million annually to pilot schools in various districts to promote school-based programming and STEAM education, but the coverage rate is still limited.

Teacher training and teaching methods

area Overview of Teacher Training and Teaching Methods
North America
  • Teacher qualification exams (such as the Praxis exams in various states in the United States) require continuing education. Many schools cooperate with local education bureaus to regularly hold Maker Workshops and Fab Academy to familiarize teachers with practical skills such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and CAD design.
  • The university’s Schools of Education incorporate STEM education into teacher training courses to cultivate interdisciplinary teaching capabilities.
Hongkong
  • Teacher training institutions (such as the College of Education Professionals) offer STEM teaching certificate courses, but most of them are short-term workshops, and the actual transformation into school-based classrooms still requires personal input from teachers.
  • Primary and secondary school teachers often need to attend private training courses at their own expense to master the latest programming or maker skills.

Student Assessment: Diverse Achievement vs. Test Scores

area Student Assessment Methods
North American Multivariate Assessment
  • Portfolio: Students record the research process, experimental data, iterative design and final results of each topic.
  • Presentation: Present your learning through posters, models, and oral presentations at science fairs or Maker Faires.
  • Peer Review: Enhance critical thinking and collaboration skills.
Hong Kong Traditional Assessment
  • Written examinations and tests: The scores of science and mathematics subjects account for the majority, while the proportion of experimental skills assessment is relatively low.
  • Classroom quiz: focus on concept understanding and calculation practice.
  • School science fairs: Some schools hold them, but they often focus on appearance or simple scientific experiments and are less in depth and competitiveness.

Off-campus practice and industry-university cooperation

area Overview of off-campus practice and industry-university cooperation
North America
  • International competitions such as FIRST Robotics, VEX Robotics, Intel ISEF, etc., provide university scholarships and corporate internship opportunities.
  • College students can apply for cross-school or cross-national Research Internships, collaborate with companies or national laboratories, and take shuttle buses directly to innovation centers such as Silicon Valley and Boston.
Hongkong
  • The number of activities such as the Hong Kong Youth Science and Technology Innovation Competition and Maker Faire Hong Kong has increased year by year, but most of them are short-term exhibitions and lack continuous guidance and career connections.
  • Cooperation with industry is still limited to sponsorship or short-term visits by a few large companies, and in-depth internship opportunities are limited.

Cultural atmosphere and psychological quality

  • Risk-Taking Culture

    North American society encourages failure as an opportunity to learn, and parents support their children in trying new ideas;

    Hong Kong culture tends to favor "one-time success" and the cost of failure is high, so children are prone to lose confidence during the trial process.

  • Self-Directed Learning

    North American students are accustomed to actively inquiring and conducting independent research; Hong Kong students complete tasks under the guidance of teachers and rarely propose new topics spontaneously.

  • Parent Expectation

    North American parents place more emphasis on their children’s interests and creativity; Hong Kong parents tend to prioritize “further education” and STEM is merely seen as a tool to improve academic performance.

The impact of North American STEM education on children's future prospects

  • Direct access to high-tech industries

    Emerging fields such as data science, artificial intelligence, drones, and renewable energy often hire employees through campus recruitment or internships, with annual salaries ranging from USD 60K to 100K.

  • Cross-disciplinary career

    Combine Design Thinking, Business Analytics, UX/UI, etc. to become a cross-border role such as Product Manager, User Experience Designer, etc.

  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship

    University student entrepreneurship incubation platforms (such as YC Startup School and MIT Sandbox) provide mentor guidance and angel investment to cultivate the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.

  • Further study and academic development

    A STEM background makes it more competitive to apply for top research-based master's and doctoral programs in the United States and Canada. After graduation, you can stay in the local area or return to work as a researcher or university lecturer.

  • Social Innovation and the Nonprofit Sector

    Using concepts such as Data for Good and Civic Tech, we participate in smart city planning and community care system research and development, becoming a driving force in the field of social influence.

How should Hong Kong's STEM education learn from others and innovate?

  • Add interdisciplinary special courses

    A "STEAM Integration Course" is offered at the secondary school level, allowing students to complete interdisciplinary projects under the guidance of teachers.

  • Promote the normalization of Maker Space

    Continue to invest in equipment funds and include Maker Space in school-based evaluation indicators.

  • Adjust the evaluation system

    Introducing portfolio and oral presentation assessments to reduce exam pressure.

  • Senior teacher training

    Cooperate with overseas educational institutions to exchange teachers regularly and enhance practical teaching and curriculum design capabilities.

  • Strengthening Industry-Academia Links

    Establish long-term internship and mentorship systems with local technology companies and CUHK research teams to provide students with opportunities to solve real-world problems.

  • Cultivate a culture of “failure as learning”

    Through campus speeches, workshops and parent talks, we aim to change society’s stereotypes about failure and encourage children to dare to try and innovate.

Conclusion: Comprehensive advantages pave the way for the next generation

North America and Hong Kong have their own strengths in STEM education:

  • North America uses interdisciplinary practices, rich resources, and a culture of tolerance for failure to shape students' creativity and independent learning abilities;
  • Hong Kong has a strong tradition in theoretical foundation and examination training.

The future trend of education is not to copy a single model, but to learn from each other and integrate innovation. By learning from North America's diverse assessment and practical platforms and combining Hong Kong's theoretical and systematic teaching, we can create a more competitive STEM learning environment for children that combines critical thinking and practical skills. Welcome to visit www.stemtoy.com.hk to explore more courses and resources.

Embark on a journey into future technology with your children!

RELATED ARTICLES