đź“ť Summary
The STEM Outdoor Fun Learning Program, organized by UTM lecturers, successfully promoted interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) among over 100 participants at IPD Iskandar Puteri. The program featured interactive and educational activities that encouraged students to explore chemistry, physics, and mathematics concepts creatively. The event fostered curiosity, creativity, and inspired young minds, promoting environmental and psychological awareness.
ISKANDAR PUTERI, May 23 – The STEM Outdoor Fun Learning Program, organized by the Education Bureau of the Police Family Association (PERKEP) IPD Iskandar Puteri, was successfully held at Dewan Orkid, Iskandar Puteri District Police Headquarters (IPD), with facilitation support from Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology (FEST), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The program aimed to promote interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through engaging, hands-on activities and was further enlivened by the participation of over 100 participants.
The program was attended by the lecturers from the Department of Innovative Science and Mathematics Education, FEST UTM, who also actively participated in its implementation. The lecturers included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Hasniza Ibrahim, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norulhuda Ismail, Dr. Wimbi Apriwanda Nursiwan, Dr. Siti Najihah Jamal, and Dr. Noorzana Khamis. They were assisted by students from the same department, who served as facilitators for the program.
The program featured a wide range of interactive and educational activities, including hot air balloon demonstrations, ice cream making, cotton candy production, spice rocket experiments, Heart Flow activity, Magnificent Oleum activity, reflective art, paper helicopter construction, and mental well-being booth.
In the Chemistry segment, participants explored various scientific concepts through fun and practical activities. The hot air balloon activity introduced principles such as air density, buoyancy, and ethanol combustion, demonstrating how hot air enables the balloon to rise.
Ice cream making illustrated the concept of freezing point depression when salt is added to ice, lowering the temperature and enabling rapid freezing. The cotton candy activity showcased physical changes of sugar from solid to liquid and back to fine strands through heating and spinning.
The spice rocket experiment demonstrated acid-base reactions between baking soda and acids, producing carbon dioxide gas that generates pressure to launch the rocket. The Heart Flow and Blood Flow Race activities integrated chemistry with biology, helping students understand blood circulation, oxygen transport, and the function of blood in the human body.
Overall, these activities encouraged students to explore chemistry concepts creatively through a hands-on STEM approach.
In the Physics segment, the “Magnificent Oleum” activity focused on environmental awareness while integrating scientific concepts. The activity highlighted the concept of density and connected it to the issue of used cooking oil waste management.
Participants were introduced to density through interactive explanations, followed by a practical session on producing soap from used cooking oil. This approach not only enhanced students’ understanding of scientific concepts but also raised awareness about environmental pollution and sustainability practices.
The Mathematics segment featured reflective art and paper helicopter activities. In reflective art, students completed and expanded given images, applying creativity and spatial reasoning.
Meanwhile, the paper helicopter activity allowed students to construct simple helicopters using paper, introducing them to the principles behind Bernoulli’s principle.
The Mental Well-being Booth provided participants with the opportunity to assess their mental well-being using the DASS-21 instrument. The results offered a preliminary overview of their levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting awareness of mental health.
Overall, the STEM Outdoor Fun Learning Program successfully fostered curiosity, creativity, and inspired young minds at IPD Iskandar Puteri. Through interactive and meaningful learning experiences, the program demonstrated the importance of STEM education in nurturing future-ready learners while also promoting environmental and psychological awareness.
