Tiday I had the opportunity to speak at a gathering of primary and secondary school headmasters from the Kuantan District, an event organized under the Exploria, Pahang State Education Department and Kuantan District Education Department. The focus of my talk was “Pembudayaan STEM di Sekolah” (Fostering STEM Culture in Schools), where I shared UMPSA STEM Lab’s experience in promoting STEM education through our philosophy of See, Think, Explore, Marvel.
STEM Beyond Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
While STEM is typically defined as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, at UMPSA STEM Lab, we believe it goes beyond just disciplines. Instead, we see STEM as an interdisciplinary and experiential learning approach that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
Our philosophy—See, Think, Explore, Marvel—guides our approach:
- See (Melihat) – Exposing students to real-world STEM applications and inspiring curiosity
- Think (Berfikir) – Encouraging problem-solving and logical reasoning
- Explore (Meneroka) – Engaging in hands-on learning and experimentation
- Marvel (Mengagumi) – Instilling a sense of wonder and appreciation for innovation
At UMPSA STEM Lab, we embed this philosophy into our digital making skillset activities, ensuring that students and educators engage in practical, hands-on learning that enhances their understanding of STEM concepts.
Affordable Learning Kits: A Stepping Stone for STEM Education
During my talk, I shared a personal story about my journey in learning to play a musical instrument. As a child, I wanted to learn the piano, but at the time, music classes were expensive. However, thanks to the inclusion of music education in formal schooling, I had the opportunity to learn using a recorder—a much more affordable instrument. That experience gave me the confidence to later join the school marching band and eventually learn more complex instruments, such as the saxophone.
This experience mirrors the motivation behind UMPSA STEM Lab’s approach to developing cost-effective learning kits for STEM education. Just as the recorder served as a stepping stone to mastering musical instruments, our affordable learning kits serve as a foundation for students to develop their skills in areas like programming, robotics, and physical computing. By providing accessible tools, we lower the entry barrier for students, enabling them to explore and build confidence in STEM learning.
STEM Education Research: Constructivist Learning in Digital Making
Beyond outreach and engagement, UMPSA STEM Lab is also actively involved in research on STEM education, particularly in digital making. During the session, I highlighted some of our key research efforts:
- Constructivist Approach to Learning Programming: Our IEEE Transactions paper explores how UMPSA STEM Cube, based on Raspberry Pi technology, enhances programming education through hands-on learning.
- Arduino Robotics: We apply the Black Box-White Box approach in robotics education, guiding students from conceptual understanding to hands-on implementation.
- Tiered Scaffolding in STEM Learning: We use progressive learning structures to gradually increase the complexity of tasks, helping students build their skills step by step.
Panel Discussion: Strengthening Collaboration in STEM Education
Following my talk, I had the privilege of joining a panel discussion on Pembudayaan STEM. The discussion emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the education community, industry, and higher learning institutions. I shared my vision for working closely with schools in both STEM outreach programs and STEM education research. By fostering stronger networks and sharing best practices, we can ensure that STEM education remains accessible, engaging, and impactful for students across Malaysia.
Moving Forward: Building a Sustainable STEM Culture
At UMPSA STEM Lab, we believe that STEM is more than just subjects—it’s a culture of learning and discovery. Moving forward, we will continue to:
- Develop cost-effective learning kits to make STEM education more inclusive
- Strengthen research efforts in STEM education and digital making
- Foster collaborations with the education community to create sustainable STEM outreach programs
We look forward to working with schools, educators, and policymakers to build a vibrant and dynamic STEM culture in Malaysia. Together, let’s empower the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers!
