e-KLESF 2022 promotes knowledge building on day two

Day two of e-KLESF started with the Symposium on Science Education 2022 (SoSE 2022), followed by five interesting and informative webinars. SoSE 2022 was organised by the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT), the Division of Programme Promotion (DPP) and the organising committee of e-KLESF 2022 on 10 December 2022 via Zoom.  It was supported by Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah Kinta Selatan and Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Perak. 

Themed ‘Empowering STEM Education Through Innovative Pedagogies’, SoSE 2022 took cognizance of the fact that digital technologies are part of innovative teaching methods that facilitate the teaching and learning of STEM to engage students’ learning, especially during the pandemic era.

Now in its 9th year, SoSE 2022 aimed to showcase different ideas and techniques for innovative and effective teaching methods for STEM subjects.

Dr Mior Hamdan expressing his hope to see the younger generation transform to be future-ready through innovation

Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah (PPD) Kinta Selatan Officer Dr Mior Hamdan bin Haji Ghazali officiated the symposium and said, “The objective of STEM education is to produce STEM literate students who are creative and innovative; also, ones who can integrate STEM concepts to understand problems and solve them. This symposium emphasises on innovative teaching and learning methods. Through innovation, the younger generation can be transformed to be ready for the future.” He emphasised, “The world in the future will be very different, students need to be provided with analytical, creative, and innovative thinking skills so that they can face any challenges in the future.”

Dr Wei welcoming the guests

SoSE 2022 Organising Chairperson and Centre for Learning and Teaching Chairperson Dr Wei Chooi Yi said, “The theme— Empowering STEM Education Through Innovative Pedagogies coincides with the importance of STEM education, which is the basis progress of the industrial revolution of this century. Therefore, this symposium is a great platform for educators, students and parents to meet and empower innovative STEM teaching and learning methods at all levels of education, whether primary, secondary or higher education.”

The highlight of the event was the sharing and presentations by the invited speakers, who were also the winners of the Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF) Science Education Award, as well as, lecturers or instructors or facilitators from Teacher’s Training Colleges or Universities and Excellent Teaching Award school teachers.

Clockwise from right: Cikgu Aznin, Encik Jaisya and Dr Leong during their sharing

2021 MTSF Science & Technology Award recipient Assoc Prof Dr Leong Pooi Pooi, UTAR M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences deputy dean for Student Development and Industrial Training, presented her topic titled “Induced pluripotent stem cells and UTAR biobank”; Guru Cemerlang Sains Award recipient Cikgu Aznin Awanis binti Azmi from SMK Kampar, Perak presented her topic titled “Amalan terbaik dalam pembelajaran dan pemudahcaraan (PdPc) sains”; and Guru Cemerlang Reka Cipta Award recipient, Pegawai School Improvement Specialist Coach (SISC+) Encik Jaisya bin Moktar from Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah (PPD) Kinta Selatan presented on “Budaya inovasi mencetus kemenjadian murid”.

Dr Wei (second row, most left) with some of the teachers, students and parents

Click here to view the webinar on “SoSE 2022”.

Dr Tan conducting demonstrating how to make an interactive dashboard

The day then continued with a virtual webinar by Microsoft Certified Azure Data, Scientist Associate Dr Tan Yan Bin. Dr Tan, who is currently working as a data engineer at Imperium Solutions Pte Ltd Singapore, conducted a webinar on “Making an interactive dashboard in 45 minutes”. In her one-hour talk, she explained about google form response and Google Data Studio (Looker Studio) to create a dashboard as well as dashboard design.  Dr Tan said, “A dashboard means a data visualisation dashboard. It is a visual display of all of your data. When you have all the data, you may visualise them using a chart.” She demonstrated the process by starting with a google form response, followed by the creation of new spreadsheet. She also explained about renaming, pasting data, using Looker Studio and many more.

Click here to view the webinar on “Making an interactive dashboard in 45 minutes”.

Dr Choong explaining how protein plays an important role in many of our body functions

Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Physical Science lecturer Dr Choong Shiau Huai conducted a webinar on “Amino acid and protein structure”. At the webinar, she explained and defined proteins; the structure of amino acids; essential amino acids; nonessential amino acids; conditional amino acids; complete protein; how amino acids are linked together; how proteins fold and unfold; the relationship between protein structure, and the functions of proteins. Dr Choong said, “Protein comes from the food we eat. It is one of the three essential building blocks necessary for life. Protein is a macronutrient that can be found in foods and it gives us energy.” “Proteins are known for building and repairing muscles. They play an important role in many of our body functions,” she emphasised.

 

Click here to view the webinar on “Amino acid and protein structure”.

Dr Koo clarifying the association between health and happiness

TAR UMT Faculty of Applied Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Koo Hui Chin’s webinar was titled “Healthy eating, happy kids”.  Before she started her sharing, she explained an interesting analysis, saying, “Children who eat healthily are more likely to be happy, and those who are happy are more likely to eat healthily.

During the webinar, Dr Koo shared some healthy eating tips; the Malaysian food pyramid 2020; sources of food and their functions; the Malaysian health plate quarter-quarter half (suku-suku separuh) and many more. She concluded, “Besides healthy food, happy kids should be physically active too.”

Click here to view the webinar on “Healthy eating, happy kids”.

Dr Loh sharing fun facts about human body

TAR UMT Faculty of Applied Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Loh Khye Er’s webinar was titled “Five fun facts about the human body”. Dr Loh shared about the human body; fun facts about the human body; types of muscles and their functions; human skeleton; intervertebral discs and vertebra discs; skin and many more.

She said “Human body is made of biological machine which is made of body systems. Body systems are a group of organs that make our body function.” Dr Loh then shared five fun facts about the human body, “First, the only organ that never gets tired is the heart; second, you are taller in the morning than at night; third, you lose about 4kg of skin every year; fourth, when your body experiences extreme starvation, there will be changes taking place in the brain and it will start eating itself and lastly, the acid generated in your stomach can dissolve metal.”

Click here to view the webinar on “Five fun facts about the human body”.

The speakers exposing the audience to the current and future development of immersive technology

UTAR Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mechatronics Engineering student Tan Xuan Qing and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Electrical and Electronic Engineering student Lew Yanzhe presented on “Immersive technology for medical science.” The webinar was moderated by Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science academic Dr Hau Lee Cheun and Centre for Immersive Technology and Creativity (CITC) Chairperson Dr Aloysius Yapp.

The speakers explained the development of the Mixed Reality Injection Simulation Device. The webinar aimed to expose the audience to the current and future development of immersive technology, its potential in the fields of medical science and the importance of using immersive technology in medical science.

Click here to view the webinar on “Immersive technology for medical science”.