A boost for STEM education
THE Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) module is an approach taken to help boost interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects among students in the country.
The IBSE module developed by the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (ISTIC) under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry is a step in the right direction and it envisions a paradigm shift in the teaching and learning of science.
Prof Dr Yang Farina Abdul Aziz from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysa and also a fellow of the Academy Sciences of Malaysia (ASM), an agency under the ministry, underscored that the module advocates shifting the role of teachers from instructors to facilitators in raising students' curiosity, creativity and reasoning by including them in the investigative and discovery process through experimentation.
“The approach is to get learners involved. We need to tap into the curious nature of children, encouraging them to identify problems, find possible explanations or solutions, build hypotheses that need to be tested, design solutions, conduct investigations, validate the hypotheses that have been made, and structure the knowledge to answer the questions that arise, and compare them with proven facts,” Prof Yang Farina added.
She added that there was a method called the La main a la pate or the “hands on” approach founded by the French Academy of Sciences in 1996.
“It is about simple experiments that teachers can conduct in the classroom. This is where they can make an impact on their students because seeing is believing.
“Science is not about things that you don’t see, students get interested with what they can see, and when they are interested, they will start asking questions ... this is how we get students to be interested,” said Prof Yang Farina.
In its effort to disseminate the knowledge, ASM in partnership with ExxonMobil recently organised a three-day workshop for teachers from all over the country, held concurrently with the National Science Challenge (NSC).
The effort is seen as crucial in fulfilling the country's aim of 60:40 ratio of Science stream students to non-science students as Malaysia looks towards achieving a STEM-driven economy by the government’s National Transformation 2050 (TN50) initiative.
The academy had in the past conducted IBSE workshops for teachers in Tuaran (Sabah), Setiu, (Terengganu) and Jerlun (Kedah).
It also initiated workshops in Klang Valley schools that brought about positive outcomes in their UPSR Science paper.
Following the success of the workshops, ASM then decided to incorporate the IBSE programme
Prof Yang Farina says that teachers must conduct experiments in class to get their students interested in Science.
in the 2017 NSC agenda in order to introduce the method to more teachers.
Kolej Yayasan Saad emerged champion of the 2017 National Science Challenge, beating the three other top finalists namely SMK Subang Jaya, SMJK Perempuan Cina Pulau Pinang and Kolej Tunku Kurshiah.
There were 3,930 teams from all over the country that took part in the 28th edition this year. It is seen as one of the nation's foremost and significant STEM competitions for Form Four Science stream students
“The challenge is closely aligned with ASM's mission to promote national awareness, understanding and appreciation of the role of science, engineering and technology in human progress,” added Prof Yang Farina, who is also the NSC Steering Committee chairman.
She said NSC has seen a rise in the number of participants each year.
“It has always been ASM's objective to make science, technology and innovation a basis for economic development and social well-being.
“It is our hope that the participants will help promote the understanding of Science to society, extend the boundaries of knowledge and provide pathways towards a better, more sustainable life and enhance the nation's economic growth,” added Prof Yang Farina. – Bernama