STEM is an educational initiative that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) into the school curriculum. STEM helps students improve their critical thinking skills and develop creative, innovative, and analytical skills that can help them in solving complex problems, which can ultimately benefit society. In short, it equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in today's technology-driven world and prepare them for future employment opportunities. Yayasan Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng (Yayasan TSLSC), IOI Group in collaboration with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). It aims at equipping teachers with the skills needed to implement and sustain STEM programs in schools located near the IOI estate in Johor. As part of this program, Arduino sets, an open-source electronics platform that consists of both hardware and software components will be provided to the participating schools, along with teaching materials, to facilitate learning.
A two-day training session was held on 9th and 10th April at SK Puteri Ledang, where 24 teachers representing their respective schools received training from Ir Dr Danny Ng Wee Kiat. Dr Danny is an Assistant Professor at the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science at UTAR, with over 15 years of teaching experience in Mechatronics and Robotics. The training was also supported by Dr Danny’s students, who underwent months of training for this program. During the training, the teachers gained hands-on experience by using Tinkercad and Arduino sets. They also had the opportunity to interact and share knowledge with one another. The knowledge and materials acquired by the teachers are intended to be taken to their schools to guide their students. Following the initial training, there will be a follow-up session with the participating schools to provide ongoing support and guidance. The program will culminate in a competition and exhibition where students can showcase their projects to the public. |