BLOSSOMS is pleased to announce that January 7, 2013 marks the start date of our newest international partnership, with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. This initial one-year effort is Phase I of a larger multi-year program. Among the objectives of the UTM partnership are:
- To facilitate transfer of knowledge to UTM academics, STEM teachers and staff with reference to the production of BLOSSOMS lessons; and
- To assist STEM teachers to teach STEM subjects using BLOSSOMS lessons that offer more engaging and interactive learning environments.
The stretch goal of the project is to design and create 20 UTM-produced new BLOSSOMS lessons. In January, the MIT team will train 100 Malaysian high school STEM teachers in the classroom use of BLOSSOMS. The teachers will pledge to use BLOSSOMS at least twice in their classrooms and to complete an evaluation form for each. The MIT team will also train UTM faculty and staff in a “train the trainers” exercise, so that these UTM professionals will be able to provide continued support, training and encouragement to participating high school STEM teachers.