Introduction:
In August 2022, we brought the Science on Wheel to Marudi. Marudi is a small town, 2 hours away from Miri city, which requires ferries to reach. It was a 2-day community outreach to fuel curiosity among students, specifically focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
All The People Involved:
Thanks to Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation, we, Realfun Learning Centre, as the delivery partner, managed to deliver the program on the 20th and 21st of August 2022. There were 60 participants, aged 10-12, engaged in the Science on Wheels program. Of these, 42 students were from SJK (C) Chung Hua Marudi, and 12 were from SJK (C) Hua Nam, Marudi.
The Science on Wheels program:
The Science on Wheels program had a twofold mission. Firstly, it aimed to spark interest in STEM subjects among students. Secondly, to bridge the educational gap by reaching underprivileged and rural communities and providing fair access and opportunities for students to engage in STEM activities. The program brought a roaming lab equipped with laptops, STEM kits, and learning materials to facilitate hands-on learning experiences.
Our role in the program was to teach students how to integrate coding into their lives while emphasising the practical relationship between coding and real-life applications—the program aimed to demystify coding and showcase its relevance in everyday scenarios.
The Unforgettable Days:
During the event, we introduced the students to the importance of learning programming and its integral role in STEM education. We also conducted practical activities with the students to make coding more accessible and enjoyable.
Key Activities Conducted:
We included a series of engaging activities, including:
- Introduction to Microbit
- Treasure Hunt: Learning to create a simple compass and using it for a treasure hunt challenge
- Using external sensors on Microbit
- Smart Home Project: Building a complete smart home with a temperature-controlled fan, light-controlled lighting, and a motion detection alarm.
Key Takeaways:
The 2-day event went by smoothly. All the activities we conducted with the students were to illustrate and teach them the close relationship between programming and daily life. During the event, students got to learn about coding and witnessed firsthand how it integrates into their everyday experiences.
Noteworthy Highlights:
The most notable observation from this program was the enthusiasm exhibited by the students. Their active participation and evident enjoyment in the activities (especially building their smart home) reflected the program’s success in capturing their interest and imagination. Most importantly, all students were able to show their creativity when they built their smart homes. It was a fun and memorable experience for us to be able to teach them through Micro: bit, creating a compass, using their creation for a treasure hunt, and building a smart home.
Conclusion:
In short, Science on Wheels brought STEM education to underprivileged students’ doorsteps and ignited a passion for learning and coding, enabling them to be future-ready. We were delighted to be the delivery partner in this program and to be able to give back to our community. To everyone involved in this program, thank you for the opportunity, and hopefully, in the future, we can serve our community more and impact more children to learn to code.