Problem: Malaysia faces a significant decline in STEM interest among students, primarily due to traditional classroom-based teaching methods and a lack of experiential learning opportunities. According to a report by The Star in 2023, Malaysian’s Education Ministry stated that the percentage of high school students opting for the STEM stream has decreased from 45.2% in 2017 to 40.9% in 2022. The conventional teaching and learning process often fails to engage students effectively, leading to misconceptions about the difficulty of STEM subjects and reducing their appeal. Addressing these issues is crucial for building a future workforce capable of driving technological and economic progress.
Proposed Solution:
Astronomy is an exciting field full of mysteries and unanswered questions, which naturally draws children’s curiosity. To leverage this interest, we will use hands-on learning methods to make astronomy fun and engaging. Thus, we propose a mobile observatory equipped with a telescope, camera and computer to bring these interactive learning experiences directly to students. This way, we can spark a deeper interest in STEM subjects through practical and enjoyable activities.
Activities:
Mobile Observatory Setup: Our team will build and equip a mobile observatory, capable of moving between locations. This observatory will be stationed at the Sahabat Akar Budi Community (SABC) Center and selected schools for one month each.
Educational Workshops: We will deliver a series of workshops based on our prepared modules, which cover topics such as space science, the moon, planets, asteroids, comets, stars, constellations, deep sky objects, telescopes, and occultation. These workshops will also give hands-on training to participants using telescopes and conducting astronomical observations and research.
Dark Sky Trips: Organize trips to nearby dark sky locations, allowing participants to experience stargazing under optimal conditions.
Target Audience:
Primary: Children and youth of the Sahabat Akar Budi Community (SABC) in Gombak Utara.
Secondary: The primary and secondary school students aged 7-17 from four selected schools.
SABC Overview:
The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) supports SABC, an underprivileged community with diverse backgrounds including Malaysians, Indonesians, Siamese, and natives. Despite efforts to improve various aspects of their lives, there has been no STEM literacy program for SABC children. Our project will fill this gap, offering them valuable educational opportunities and fostering a renewed interest in STEM fields.
Project Duration: 1 year
Following the completion of the IAU funding, we will continue this project by partnering with local schools and community organisations and seeking additional financial support via grants and crowdfunding to sustain and expand the mobile observatory’s outreach.
