With the aim to share innovative and effective teaching methods in STEM education and to create awareness of the current innovative teaching methods and how to embed innovation in the teaching and learning of STEM education, the organising committee of e-KLESF 2020 successfully organised an inaugural Virtual Symposium on Science Education 2020 (SoSE 2020) from 13 to 19 December 2020.

Held as part of the e-KLESF 2020, this year’s symposium staged another come back with more mind-stimulating webinars and workshops focusing essential STEM teaching practices for STEM educators.

Emphasising on the innovative methods of teaching strategies that will help every teacher in the classroom, the virtual SoSE conducted a total of 10 different interesting webinars. The webinars were delivered by experienced school teachers who are currently teaching STEM subjects in their respective schools. To reinvigorate the SoSE 2020, Dr Suhaiza Mat Said from SM Sains Sultan Mahmud got the ball rolling by delivering a webinar titled “Impak Kaedah Pembelajaran Teradun Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (STech_Nova) dalam Meningkatkan Kemahiran Berfikir Aras Tinggi Pelajar”. The one-hour webinar explained the impacts of blended learning methods and how to use science, technology and innovation as a new approach to improve students' higher level skills such as analytical thinking, critical thinking and creative thinking. The webinar was successfully conducted on 13 December 2020.

The following webinar was delivered by Siti Maslinda binti Syed Musa on 14 December 2020. Titled “Pembangunan dan Penyelidikan Produk Inovasi Strofloor dalam Pembinaan Taman Sains yang Menggunakan STEM dan Teknologi Hijau (TH) di SMK Saujana Utama (SUTAMA)”, her webinar focused on Strofloor, a new innovative product of the school. Strofloor is an award-winning product which has been used to solve the problem that is common in schools, namely cement or concrete floor that is easily cracked, broken and hollow. The product acts as a strong fibrous material and it was applied into the cement in order to make the cement stronger and solidified.

Also held on 14 December 2020 was the third webinar titled “Amalan Terbaik PdPR Menyantuni Pembelajaran Era Evolusi Industri 4.0”. The webinar was delivered by SMK Putrajaya Presint 16 (1) Putrajaya Teacher Norfaridatul Akmar binti Hasim. Her talk emphasised on the use of technology and tools for online learning and how the industrial revolution 4.0 has changed and impacted education.

Next in the list was a webinar titled, “Green Box” by K. Sri Ganapathy, the winner of Science Education Award by Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF) 2020. Also held on 14 December 2020, the webinar stressed on the recycling of burnt florescent lights to control mercury pollution. Apart from reducing the emissions of mercury to the environment, the research webinar also touched on the possible treatment and solutions of mercury pollution.

Among the other intriguing webinars covered throughout the symposium were “Perkongsian Inovasi STEM: Food For Thought vs Food-Save-Thank” by Guru Cemerlang Matematik dan Guru Penyelaras Bestari Wan Azrina binti Muhamad Zuki, “Initiatives during pandemic: A sharing session” by SMA Dato’ Haji Tan Ahmad Teacher Muhammad Fakhri bin Ramley, “Colourful Paper, Scissors and Glue in Maths” by SK Permatang Pasir Bukit Mertajam, Penang Maths Teacher Azlia binti Noor, “Sharing Session: STEM Innovation in School” by Lake National Secondary School Chemistry and Science Teacher Chung Sze Meang, “New Norm Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE)” by SMK Ghafar Baba Masjid Tanah, Melaka Teacher Suhanna binti Zainudin, and last but not the least, “Perkongsian Inovasi STEM: Bangunan Tahan Gempa” by SMK Ulu Sapi Sabah, teacher Hanafiah bin Eddy Chong Junairi.

All the webinars ended with a constructive Q&A session at the end of the talk session.