In collaboration with Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah (PPD) Kuantan, the UMPSA STEM Lab conducted a hands-on training session involving 84 teachers from various schools around Kuantan. The program focused on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in programming education, emphasizing how generative AI tools can assist teachers in guiding students through coding and digital making activities.
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in education, understanding how to leverage it effectively within programming instruction has become essential. This training aimed to introduce educators to AI-assisted learning environments, particularly through AI prompting strategies and virtual simulations. Teachers explored how Generative AI (GenAI) can support lesson preparation, idea generation, and code debugging when applied thoughtfully and ethically.
The practical component of the training used Wokwi, an online electronics simulator, to allow participants to experience programming concepts without requiring physical hardware. The circuits built were emulated from UMPSA STEM Board – in the context of line following robot.
In a line following robot, IR sensors play a crucial role, enabling it to ‘see’ the lines.
‘See’ing in this context is the ability of the robot to differentiate black and white surface. It is then, when the robot can identify lines (black line on white surface – or vice versa).
Now that robot can identify lines, we can steer the robot to follow the lines.
Follow the lines by steering its wheel (speed of the motor).
Choosing the right junction.
Two main exercises were conducted:
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LED Blinking Simulation
Teachers learned to simulate an Arduino circuit that controls an LED, turning it ON for two seconds and OFF for one second. Through AI-assisted code generation, participants explored how well-crafted prompts could lead to accurate code suggestions and explanations of syntax. -
Photoresistor Diode (LDR) Reading
The second exercise involved simulating a photoresistor (light-dependent resistor) circuit. Teachers observed how sensor readings could be displayed through the Arduino Serial Monitor, helping students understand analog-to-digital conversion and conditional responses in programming.
These activities allowed teachers to see how AI can serve as a co-facilitator in programming education—helping to generate, explain, and troubleshoot code within a safe simulation environment.
The training highlighted that while AI and Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can significantly enhance programming education, their use must be structured and contextualized.
Teachers were guided to:
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Set clear objectives before using AI tools.
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Frame prompts in the right context, specifying the programming environment (e.g., Arduino, Python, or Scratch).
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Critically evaluate AI-generated content, ensuring its accuracy and relevance to learning goals.
AI should not replace human reasoning or pedagogical expertise. Instead, it should augment the teacher’s role—offering suggestions, examples, and explanations that support conceptual understanding.
Participants are positive about how AI could make programming more approachable for students, especially when paired with simulation tools like Wokwi. Many teachers noted that AI-assisted simulations could bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and hands-on experimentation, particularly when hardware resources are limited.
However, discussions also emphasized the need for ethical awareness, critical thinking, and responsible prompting—to ensure AI is used meaningfully, not mechanically.
The session concluded with a shared understanding that AI can be a transformative educational ally when used in the right way. By combining AI-assisted learning, simulation-based programming, and thoughtful prompting, educators can nurture more engaging, inquiry-based, and reflective classroom experiences.
As UMPSA STEM Lab continues to support digital and AI literacy initiatives, collaborations with educational partners such as PPD Kuantan remain vital in preparing teachers to lead Malaysia’s next generation of computational thinkers. Thank you Ms Lim from PPD Kuantan for the initiative and facilitating the communication between UMPSA STEM Lab and the participants.
