Category: Information

Publication 2025/1 – Computational Thinking Through Scaffolded Game Development Activities: A Study with Graphical Programming

The latest work on programming education and computational thinking (CT) has been published in a Scopus Q2 journal =).

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This marks a milestone for the UMPSA STEM Lab team, as the journey behind this publication began several years ago with one simple motivation, which is to explore open-source platforms and methods that make programming more accessible and less intimidating for beginners.

Between 2020 and 2023, we designed and refined an instructional module using mBlock, an open-source, graphical programming tool. Our outreach program focused on the introductory level, specifically to address a common problem we see in schools: many beginners struggle with syntax when starting with textual programming, which often leads to frustration and loss of interest.

To make programming more approachable, two game-based learning modules were crafted, namely Snake and Pac-Man. Each activity began with students exploring the final product. They then applied computational thinking to break the game into smaller tasks (decomposition), identify patterns (abstraction), and plan their approach through flowcharts.

On the programming side, students first created or customised sprites to become familiar with the software—either on PC or online—before moving into block-based coding. This introduced them to core programming concepts such as iteration, conditionals, sequencing, and variables. By developing sprite movements, interactions, and game logic, students could see the immediate results of their coding decisions, helping them visualise and understand how each step contributes to the program.

We embedded tiered scaffolding throughout the learning process:

  1. Workout instruction – detailed, fully guided tasks.

  2. Debugging – fixing provided code with guidance.

  3. Semi-completed tasks – filling in missing code.

  4. Independent tasks – creating new features from scratch.

 

This structured approach proved effective, giving students a clear sense of completion and boosting their confidence as they progressed.

I would like to personally thank all the teachers, schoolchildren, and UMPSA STEM Lab mentors who contributed, not just by participating in our outreach programs but by helping us improve the instructional sets. This is the essence of what UMPSA STEM Lab strives for: bringing engineering to schoolchildren and constantly improving how we teach it.

We look forward to delivering more innovative engineering education initiatives within STEM, not just doing outreach, but nurturing talent for the future.

mBlock Programming 2025/2 – SMK Peramu Jaya

A synopsis of the program can be retrieved via the following link.

In today’s program, 36 participants from SMK Peramu Jaya Pekan were introduced to mBlock programming, learning to use its graphical interface to create sequences of instructions. They explored sequential programming, conditional statements, and loops through hands-on tutorials. These foundational skills were applied in two projects: a Snake game and a Pac-Man game. In the Snake game, they programmed the snake’s movement, growth, and collision detection, while in the Pac-Man game, they navigated a maze, collected points, and avoided ghosts. This approach provided a comprehensive understanding of programming concepts and their practical applications.

Appreciation to Cikgu Arni for coordinating the communication between the participants and UMPSA STEM Lab.

 

 

Raspberry Pi Programming 2025/4 – ASK Panitia Daerah Pekan

*UMPSA STEM Lab Raspberry Pi Programming Synopsis can be found here.

In the Raspberry Pi IoT session, 36 students and teachers from Pekan District were introduced to the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) using Raspberry Pi on the UMP STEM Cube, a pico-satellite learning kit specifically designed to facilitate engineering learning.

The content covered basic digital input/output operations on onboard LEDs, as well as topics such as dashboard design using gyro meter and BMU280 sensor data, including collecting and storing data in a cloud database. Participants learned to interface sensors with Raspberry Pi boards and develop IoT applications for real-world scenarios. The session provided students with valuable insights into IoT technology and its applications in various domains.

A special appreciation is extended to Cikgu Raudah from SMK Pekan and Pekan Education District Office for coordination in facilitating communication between the participants and the UMPSA STEM Lab :).

Aug 5th, 2025