Archive / Volume LXXVIII 2025

Alina YATSKO¹, Zinoviya SHPYRKA²

¹Secondary school of Lviv, No. 97 Mykolaychuka Str., 18, 79059 Lviv, Ukraine
e-mail: alinalinonka@gmail.com

² Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Kyryla i Mefodia Str., 6, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine
e-mail: zinoviya.shpyrka@lnu.edu.ua

DOI:

THE ROLE OF STEM APPOROACHES IN DEVELOPING KEY COMPEYTENCIES OF SЕCONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS

The theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects of implementing STEM approaches in chemistry education have been analyzed, highlighting the importance of developing STEM education in today's educational landscape.
Educational projects such as “EcoCosmetics” and “Create a Painting by Yourself” have been designed and piloted. These projects seek to integrate chemical knowledge with students' practical and creative activities. During the implementation of the “EcoCosmetics” project, students researched the composition of cosmetic products and examined their effects on health. They learned about the methods for producing natural skincare cosmetics using nanomaterials and created their own cosmetic products, such as balms, creams, masks, soaps, or deodorants, using safe and natural ingredients. In the “Create a Painting with Your Own Hands” project, students independently produced pigments from inorganic substances and learned about binding components. They then used the pigments they had created to make paints, which they used to produce original artworks.
Methodological materials titled “Experiments in Food Chemistry” and “Laboratory Workbook in Food Chemistry” have been developed for teachers, instructors, and students in secondary and higher education institutions. The effectiveness of applying STEM approaches in chemistry education in terms of developing key competencies among secondary school students has been evaluated. Based on the results of the conducted study, it is concluded that the STEM approach is not only an effective method of organizing the educational process, but also a powerful tool for developing students' key competencies. It enables the comprehensive implementation of STEM education principles and promotes the popularization of natural sciences among school students.
The integration of STEM-focused learning transforms educational institutions into innovative spaces that encourage research, creativity and engineering thinking.

Keywords: secondary school students, STEM approach, chemistry, cosmetics, painting.

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