WILL YOU BE BACK TOMORROW? STUDENTS WANT MORE OF STEM AMAZING RACE AT SK MAT KILAU STEM CARNIVAL

1 February 2024 – In a half-day event at Sekolah Kebangsaan Mat Kilau from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Standard 3 to Standard 6 students thronged at the eight different checkpoints of STEM Amazing Race to participate in a spectacular array of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities. The students played Magic Mirror, made a Straw Wrapper Worm as well as a straw whistle, took a VR tour to faraway places like Japan and impossible places such as inside our own body, played Math games like Rat-a-tat-cat and Sleeping Queens, inflated a balloon without blowing into it, posted Fibonacci art on the Fibonacci Wall of Fame, sculptured STEM-related words using playdough and wrote down their ambitions to be hung on The Wishing Tree. With the points collected at every checkpoint, students could go to the Rewards Table to claim a gift.

The STEM Amazing Race was organized by the Centre for Modern Languages, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah to get students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at the same time introducing them to STEM jargon in English. By presenting the activities in Amazing Race format, and having each checkpoint to represent a country, students are also exposed to bite-sized trivia about these different countries.

The event was led by Noraisah Nurul Fatwa and coordinated by Wan Jumani, alongside a remarkable team of dedicated language instructors and student facilitators. The language instructors include Amy Zulaikha, Jamilah Bebe, Hanisah, Shamsul, Mohd Shafiq, and Nur Anisnabila. Their collaborative teamwork ensured the seamless execution of the eight STEM activity stations that captivated the audience throughout the event.

The student facilitators are Muhammad Hakimi bin Mohd Asri, Muhammad Ezam bin Fauzi, Muhammad Faizz Irfan bin Mohd Azuardi, Wan Syaziatul Aimuni binti Wan Hosni Effendi, Muhammad Zameer Ilman bin Nordin Khairuzi, Nur Hazirah binti Mohd Hanafiah, Arshada Nadia binti Abdullah, Wan Muhammad Iklil Dhaifullah bin Wan Mohd Azlan, Muhammad Afiq bin Rohman, Nurul Hannah binti Mohd Ridzal, Nur Suhana Farisya binti Md Zahir, Tengku Fatin Nur Diyanah binti Tengku Norazhar and even an international student, Ahmed Salem Ahmed and two postgraduate students Aisyah Khaleeda binti Rosli, and Ericson Yong Min Wei. Student facilitators came from both Paya Besar and Pekan campuses; their enthusiastic support added an extra layer of excitement for the students through the active engagement of unique activities that demonstrated the fusion of language and STEM. While SK Mat Kilau learned about STEM, facilitators learned a lot through this community engagement, particularly in terms of technical communication with primary school children.

The collaborative efforts of the Centre for Modern Languages and UMPSA students showcased the institution's commitment to promoting interdisciplinary learning and fostering a holistic educational environment. The Centre for Modern Languages at Universiti Malaysia Pahang has once again proven its dedication to innovation and education, leaving an indelible mark on the STEM landscape. As the event concluded, participants and visitors left with a sense of inspiration, having witnessed the harmonious integration of language and STEM disciplines.

Written by: Noraisah Nurul Fatwa Mohd Razali & Dr. Jumani Fauzi