Ignite the Fun in STEM!
Quality Education
Sekolah Kebangsaan Parit Keroma Darat is one of the oldest schools in Muar Johor. It was developed after World War II with the name “Sekolah Melayu Parit Keroma Darat Muar. The performance of pupils of SK Parit Keroma Darat in Science and Mathematics in the last few year’s assessment has taken a dip. The issues related to STEM education. After a few discussions with Puan Mastura, one of the Science teachers, we found that the students are less interested in STEM because they think that STEM is a hard branch of study. One of the reasons for the declining number of students’ enrolment for STEM subjects is due to lack of interest which then brings them to be involved in non-STEM subjects. The students showed lack of interest as well as limited awareness about STEM subjects. Collaboration between university students and the teachers can help the STEM empowerment. We believe that by doing this project it helps us to expose and increase the interest of the students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Parit Keroma Darat. It is important to start STEM education at the early age of primary students because the children can build their interest towards science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at this age. When the children enter school, they can continue gaining the knowledge through investigation and exploration activities. By renovating and transforming a special activity center for STEM, the students can enhance their knowledge and engage themselves in the surrounding environment with fun and informative context. Creating a makerspace in a classroom is one way to accomplish this. Establish a space for hands-on learning that allows students to think, create, test and retest, and bring their inventions to life.
Overview of Issue / Background
Sekolah Kebangsaan Parit Keroma Darat is one of the oldest schools in Muar Johor. It was developed after World War II with the name “Sekolah Melayu Parit Keroma Darat Muar. The performance of pupils of SK Parit Keroma Darat in Science and Mathematics in the last few year’s assessment has taken a dip. The issues related to STEM education. After a few discussions with Puan Mastura, one of the Science teachers, we found that the students are less interested in STEM because they think that STEM is a hard branch of study. One of the reasons for the declining number of students’ enrolment for STEM subjects is due to lack of interest which then brings them to be involved in non-STEM subjects. The students showed lack of interest as well as limited awareness about STEM subjects. Collaboration between university students and the teachers can help the STEM empowerment. We believe that by doing this project it helps us to expose and increase the interest of the students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Parit Keroma Darat. It is important to start STEM education at the early age of primary students because the children can build their interest towards science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at this age. When the children enter school, they can continue gaining the knowledge through investigation and exploration activities. By renovating and transforming a special activity center for STEM, the students can enhance their knowledge and engage themselves in the surrounding environment with fun and informative context. Creating a makerspace in a classroom is one way to accomplish this. Establish a space for hands-on learning that allows students to think, create, test and retest, and bring their inventions to life.
Project Objectives (Vision & Mission)
Vision: To innovate a participatory, sustainable and accessible special room makerspace for SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) activities that can be used and unites the commune and instill the ideas of sustainability through transforming the room into informative activity center.
Mission:
- To DESIGN sustainable STEM activity centre to instill the element of STEM
- To INNOVATE and combine University students' intellectual and knowledge with the teachers.
- To deliver the knowledge transfer of the STEM to primary school students.
- To provide a space for primary student to increase the exposure of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Project Details (Activities and Tasks)
There are 3 types of projects we would like to conduct.
Project 1: Online Sharing Session
Session 1: Introduction to STEM
Session 2: Science behind the Avenger End Game: Young Scientist Assemble!
Session 3: Robotic Virtual Show
Session 4: Virtual STEM field trip
Session 5: Lego Robotic for U
Session 6: Math is FUN!
Session 7: Funology: FACTS Sharing (continuous fact sharing)
Session 8: Experiment 1
Session 9: Experiment 2
Session 10: Experiment 3
We will conduct an online workshop for primary school students. We will prepare all the sessions and share them in a live session and record them. The recorded session will be uploaded to YouTube so that they can re-watch all the sessions. Our team will contact the primary school headmaster or primary school teachers and share this YouTube link to them. The students will record their activities in a logbook.
Project 2: Renovating and transforming one of the rooms into STEM room
Phase 1: The project started with a design research phase by studying the suitable layout that can deliver the info about STEM precisely.
Phase 2: The renovation will be conducted on the weekend or Holiday day to practice social distancing and reduce the contact with the students in controlling this serious public health threat. We will take more measures and practice SOP whilst conducting this project.
The overview of the room:
Location: Store Room Level 2, SK PARIT KEROMA DARAT
Figure 1: Entrance of the room
Figure 2 and 3: Inside the room
Project 3 : Mentor mentee sessions with the teachers to guide them in RBT subjects.
Expected Project Result & Outcomes
- Enhance interprofessional collaboration, communication and team building among students
- Foster Relationship between the organizer, sponsorship and beneficiaries.
- The knowledge transfer between the organizer and beneficiaries
- Impacted with the total of 300 students of SK Parit Keroma Darat
- The post survey of the student’s interest in STEM will show an increment in interest in STEM subjects.
Key Indicator | Activity / Project | Outcome |
300 students will get benefits
| Project 2 | - The STEM activity center will be available for all of the students in SK Parit Keroma Darat for future education and expansion. |
300 students will get benefits | Project 1 | - Successfully educate the students and get them the real key insight of the STEM branch. - Fact sharing will increase their knowledge and understanding. - All of the students that join the session will update in their own STEM logbook. - Weave in interactive elements - Modul Will be provided by STEM volunteers. |
Session 1: Introduction to STEM
| Activity objective: We want to introduce students to the four areas of Science, Technology,Engineering and Mathematics through an interdisciplinary approach that will increase awareness, build knowledge, develop problem solving skills, and potentially awaken an interest in pursuing a career in STEM. How: To achieve this, we will be using video transcripts and photos LO1: Students will be able to identify the STEM career and branch of studies presented through a visual ID quiz. LO2: Students will be able to identify their career preference through a career test at the end of the session. | |
Session 2: Science behind the Avenger End Game: Young Scientist Assemble!
| Activity objective: We want to introduce students to the science behind the blockbuster movie. What is interesting in this film is not only entertainment but also interesting scientific facts such as time travel, the concept of Mobius Strips, Planck constants, nanotechnology, caterpillar holes, quantum realm and many more. We will comment on the truth of the science facts in the film in the real world. To deliver and expose students to science facts that are not in their PdP syllabus. How: To achieve this, we will be using video transcripts, photos and simple explanations to make the students understand better. LO1: Engage with students and learn about science in a fun atmosphere and students will be able to learn new information. . LO2: Students will be able to jot down their findings from the movie in the STEM Logbook. | |
Session 3: Robotic Virtual Show Session 4: Virtual STEM field trip
| Activity objective: We want to show and introduce the students our Robotic team activities How: To achieve this, we will be using video transcripts, photos and simple explanations to make the students understand better. LO1: To engage with students and share with them how programming and design work in the making of combat robots and virtual field trips. They will list down all the information and fill it in a log book. LO2: Encourages knowledge application.
| |
Session 5: Lego Robotic for U
| Activity objective: We want to show and introduce the students to Lego Robotic. Lego robotics is something that is very useful to develop student’s logic and critical thinking skills. Combination of Lego building and robotics. How: To achieve this, we will be using video transcripts, photos and simple explanations to make the students understand better. LO1: Know what Lego Robotic is without having trouble fabricating the robotics part. The robotics part can be created with Lego. LO2: Encourages knowledge application. At the end of the sessions, the students will be able to identify the parts and how to build lego robotics through quiz-based diagrams.
| |
Session 6: Math is FUN!
| Activity objective: We want to introduce students’ ways to memorize and use the formula easily and show them the easiest way to memorize the multiplication using tricks. How: To achieve this, we will be using card games and conduct easy and simple games. LO1: Students will take part to answer card games that make learning times tables fun. LO2: Students will be able to identify ways in memorize formula and multiplication presented through a quiz at the end of the session | |
Session 7: Funology: FACTS Sharing (continuous fact sharing)
| Activity objective: We want to share interesting STEM facts with students in fun way How: To achieve this, we will be using videos and photos. LO1: Students will understand and remember the facts shared presented and share their experience in the STEM logbook. | |
Session 8, 9, 10 : Experiment 1,2,3
| Activity objective: Students will conduct the experiments using delivered kits How: To achieve this, we will provide guidance on how to perform the experiments. LO1: Students able to understand STEM law and Concept and jot down in STEM Logbook and also film themselves whilst making the experiments. The video will be uploaded in our Youtube Channel | |
2 teachers will get benefits | Project 3: Having mentor mentee sessions with the teachers to guide them in RBT subjects. | Activity Objective : Mentor Mentee sessions between teacher and volunteers LO1 : Teacher’s comprehension in RBT subjects will increase |
PDCA Approach
PLAN
1. Identification of the problem and analysis of the problem:
- Student least interested in STEM subject (Data Survey March 2021)
- Lack of numbers teachers teaching STEM subjects
Total of Teachers teaching STEM subjects: Science and RBT: 2 teachers
Mathematics : 4 teachers
- Teachers teaching unfamiliar subjects (RBT) which is not their expertise.
2. Objectives:
- To increase interest in STEM of the school students
- To teach and guide the teachers, especially in RBT subjects.
- Collaboration between university students and the teachers can help the STEM empowerment as well as increasing teachers’ comprehension toward STEM subject (RBT)
3. Plan of Improvements
- Project 1: Online Sharing Session
- Project 2: Renovating and transforming store room into STEM activity center
- Project 3: Mentor mentee sessions with the teachers to guide them in RBT subjects.
DO
1. Implementation of Project 1, 2 and 3
Check
1. Survey after every session for Project 1 and Project 3.
2. Objective’s achievement checklist:
3. Observation of the project result (before, during, after)
4. Post-Mortem/ CQI for Project 1, 2 ,3
Act
1. Comparison before and after the project:
- Conducting surveys after the project implementation.
- Assessment of every session
- Improvement after post mortem findings
- New volunteers recruitment(annual process)
0% of RM1.00 Goal
Project Information
| University name | : | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) |
| Project leader name | : | Malvina anak Ludan |
| Instagram link | : | https://www.instagram.com/stemvolunteersuthm/ |
| Project implementation date | : | 2021-07-01 |
| Location of project held | : | Virtual and SK Parit Keroma Darat Muar |
| Beneficiary | : | Students and Teachers of SK Parit Keroma Darat |
| Number of beneficiaries | : | 264 students and 6 teachers |
Section I
- Summary of project goals with two sentences.
Ignite the fun in STEM is a project to help with the STEM empowerment among school students through sharing session and hands-on approach.
- Did other fund-raising efforts contribute to your projects? What were they?
We had obtained some external sponsorships throughout this project:
- Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (PIBG)– Sponsorship
- Provide details about how your project actually worked.
- 07 August – 14 September 2021
Online Sharing Sessions
- 1 October – 30 October 2021
STEM Activity Centre renovation process
- 3 December 2021
Submitted Online publishing article at stem.org.my
- Were there unanticipated difficulties? Budget constraints?
Generally, the problem that we face is with the session to be streamed at our social media. Our technical team faces challenge due to low WIFI connection.
In term of the participation of the students, some of them cannot join some of the sharing due to some problem.
- Language or cultural barriers?
None of considerable concern, since participants are local people.
- What worked well? What didn’t work well?
The sharing sessions work well because of the active participation from the students. They did all the activities we asked and submitted it.
Some had problem with the internet connections and they often going in and out from the google meet. Other than that, some of the student have extra class/ event during the sharing session and unfortunately, they cannot join our full sessions.
- How many people benefited or will benefit from your project? Who are these people?
Directly and quantifiable:
- 264 students and 6 teachers through sharing and knowledge transfer.
- 1 whole school through the transformation of the store room to STEM activity centre.
Indirectly and unquantifiable:
- Whoever that will stumble upon the article regarding our article published by the stem.org.my
- What is the long-term impact and sustainability of this project? Is there a future for your project?
In the long-term, the STEM activity Centre can be use as Centre of STEM knowledge and accessible for all of the students. Our aim for this room is to train the students in robotics disciplines and
This project may be repeated…
- On a similar scale
By doing the same approach which is through sharing sessions and experiments. Knowledge in STEM in big so we will try our best to share as many as we can through all the sessions with many more students.
- On a smaller scale
By the mentor-mentee session, one to one guide especially robotics competition.
Section II
- In several paragraphs, address each of the following questions:
- How does or will your project contribute to happiness? Short-term? Long-term?
In the short-term, this project provided a platform for the kids to interact with us through virtual meeting.
In the long-term, the outcome of this project, which is the knowledge sharing. Other than that, we foster mentor-mentee relationships with the students through the sharing and activities by having meaningful contact and connections. The connections with the school continue and we will keep on doing and conducting STEM-based project there.
- Has your project changed the way you think about the world? How has it changed you?
This project had enlightened us that education is everything. STEM education goes beyond school subjects. It gives a skill set that governs the way we think and behave. Merging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM education helps us to solve the challenges the world faces today. STEM-Enhanced Teamwork and Communication. STEM education prepares the world for the future. It is based on teamwork and collaboration of students from different disciplines and level of study. As a STEM student, we do not need to be an expert in each particular subject. We rather acquire a mindset that enables us to become a part of the highly qualified workforce, which functions in collaboration. Teamwork brings a significant increase in productivity, work satisfaction, and profitability.
- Complete this section with a one to two sentence personal statement, suitable for use as a quotation, addressing how and why this project was valuable and what was the most important thing you learned as a result. (Indicate student’s name for quote attribution.)
“I am proud to have been a part of this humble effort to help with the STEM empowerment and ignite the interest in STEM among school students.”
– Saranju Chulakit.
“To be a member for this project gave me such an amazing and fascinating experience. This opportunity gave me insight on the real situation the educators face in keeping up with pace of modernization of the technology and STEM traits.
– Hazim bin Jamal Azam
“I was very excited with the experience of knowing the members from various backgrounds of studies and level of studies with same mission and vision which also emphasises the engagement and friendship among acquaintances.”
– Mohd Faisal
“Hoping that our small effort towards STEM empowerment in the school students bring positive result in keeping up pace with the modernization of the technology. STEM subjects are focused on providing solutions to the concerns society has today. Human history had seen years of thoughtless exhaustion of natural resources. Such a lack of environmental education led to numerous challenges. These issues affect the health and well-being of all living organisms on our planet. Our environment needs protection. Thus, sustainability became one of the most urgent aspects studied by STEM disciplines.”
– Malvina anak Ludan
Image Gallery
