Kluster peradaban dan pendidikan stem

KLUSTER PERADABAN DAN PENDIDIKAN STEM
Menyediakan Generasi Saintifik Masa Hadapan dalam Menongkah Cabaran Abad ke 21

Pendidikan dan proses P&P kini semakin mencabar dan keberhasilan P&P perlu mengarah kepada penghasilan insan yang peka terhadap krisis dunia yang semakin meruncing meliputi tenaga dan pengeksploitasian sumber, pencemaran alam dan perubahan iklim, pertanian dan kecukupan makanan, kesihatan dan kesejahteraan masyarakat dalam melestarikan pembangunan dan menjana ekonomi sejagat. Pendidikan holistik dan bersepadu yang perlu dikembangkan seharusnya tidak lagi melihat bidang-bidang terceruk sebagai pengkhususan yang menjurus kepada kerjaya eksklusif individu tetapi pendekatan rentas bidang ke arah pembinaan insan yang lebih menyeluruh (syumul, holistik), serta lebih bersedia mendepani dan menyelesaikan masalah-masalah sejagat. Dalam usaha menghasilkan insan seperti mana yang dicitrakan menjelang Malaysia Negara Maju 2020, ilmu sains tidak boleh lagi diajar secara diskret seperti mana yang lazimnya diamalkan, bahkan ia perlu disepadukan dengan ilmu yang berteraskan Teknologi, Kejuruteraan dan Matematik (STEM). Sebagai Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia yang mendukung falsafah pembinaan insan yang menyepadukan iman, ilmu, amal serta teori, dan tidak ketinggalan teknologi, usaha yang mampan diperlukan dalam menghasilkan pengalaman pembelajaran STEM yang bukan hanya menyepadukan penemuan terkini dalam penyelidikan pendidikan sains, bahkan ia turut perlu didasarkan kepada ilmu alQuran dan Hadis. Kesepaduan ini cuba diungkapkan dan diterjemahkan dalam bentuk yang lebih konkrit dan boleh garap (hands-on) serta menyasarkan generasi yang lebih umbi supaya akhirnya terbina lah insan berilmu yang dinamai Ulul Albab. Hasrat inilah yang telah diusahakan oleh Kelompok Penyelidikan Peradaban dan Pendidikan STEM yang terdiri dari Kumpulan Penyelidikan Pendidikan STEM, STEMind (STEM Islamik dan Dakwah) dan Pendidikan Ruhiyy Ilmu Sains Matematik (PRISMa). Tegasnya dalam merealisasikan usaha murni ini, tumpuan yang diberikan oleh Kelompok Peradaban dan Pendidikan STEM ialah memastikan sinergi dalam penggemblengan usaha ke arah penguasaan konsep asas STEM yang bermakna, peningkatan kemahiran pedagogical STEM ke arah pemugaran minat terhadap mata pelajaran tersebut dan di tahap yang lebih ideal, menghasilkan insan yang syumul dan holistik melalui aktiviti pengayaan STEMind.

Pemupukan minat terhadap sains dan teknologi hanya boleh dilentur seandainya pelajar mempunyai latar belakang pemahaman dan penguasaan konsep asas sains dan matematik yang bermakna. Dalam konteks ini, Kumpulan Pendidikan Ruhiyy Ilmu Sains Matematik (PRISMa) telah mengambil langkah proaktif untuk meningkatkan minat masyarakat, terutama pelajar sekolah terhadap subjek matematik, melakukan anjakan paradigma terhadap subjek matematik, mempopularkan subjek matematik dalam kalangan masyarakat, menggalakkan pelajar menjurus dalam bidang Sains amnya dan matematik khasnya dan memperlihatkan peranan dan kedudukan matematik dalam kehidupan seharian. Usaha ini kemudiannya digandingkan dengan tumpuan yang diberikan oleh penyelidikan Kumpulan Pendidikan STEM yang menjuruskan usaha ke arah peningkatan kualiti pembelajaran pelajar dan pengajaran guru dalam mata pelajaran asas sains dan matematik. Kepercayaan dan pengetahuan guru dicungkil, kemahiran dan bakat pedagogi mereka digilap dan penglibatan pelajar melalui pembelajaran aktif diperkasakan melalui penyediaan pelbagai modul pembelajaran seperti Pembelajaran Berasaskan Masalah, Pembelajaran Berasaskan Permainan, Pembelajaran Menggunakan Graphic Calculator, Pembelajaran Berperantarakan Agen Pedagogi, Pembelajaran Berasaskan Otak serta banyak lagi seperti mana yang terhimpun dalam direktori penyelidikan Pendidikan STEM. Tidak ketinggalan, penyelidikan turut menumpukan kepada pelajar terpinggir dan tidak beruntung agar ilmu jurang pengetahuan sains dan matematik dapat dikurangkan sekali gus membuka peluang pendidikan untuk semua. Dalam memastikan misi tersebut terjelma nyata dalam konteks perkembangan pendidikan sains glokal, Kumpulan Pendidikan STEM turut prihatin kepada perkembangan profesionalisme guru dengan menerajui penyelidikan yang menumpukan kepada peningkatan kemahiran pedagogi isi kandungan guru untuk pengajaran secara formal mahupun informal. Kepercayaan turut diberikan kepada Kumpulan Penyelidikan STEM untuk mempelopori kajian Lesson Study di Malaysia yang antara lain, bertujuan meningkatkan kemahiran pedagogi guru melalui penilaian dan usaha kolaboratif rakan sebaya serta penilaian keberkesanan latihan guru STEM di Malaysia.
Manakala penyelidikan yang dilakukan oleh Kumpulan STEMind merupakan penyelidikan unik rentas bidang yang telah menggabungkan keupayaan Bidang Tafsir sehingga penterjemahan dan tadabbur ayat-ayat yang disepadukan dengan Pandang Alam dan terbitan teknologinya sebagaimana yang diwawaskan dalam Dasar Pendidikan Kebangsaan. Kumpulan yang disertai oleh ahli akademik pelbagai lapisan ini mempunyai halatuju untuk menyepadukan elemen STEM berteraskan Tauhid atau Sains Tauhidik melalui kajian pembangunan, penilaian dan intervensi P&P bersepadu dan disampaikan kepada generasi yang lebih umbi melalui proses pemindahan ilmu (knowledge transfer) secara terus dan berperantara. Selain itu, jati diri kebangsaan yang bertapak dalam alam Melayu juga dibina semula dengan memberi kesedaran akan kekayaan dunia dan kebudayaan Melayu dalam membentuk nilai-nilai murni budaya bangsa. Sejak penubuhan kumpulan pada Tahun 2012, STEMind telah membina modul-modul pemerkasaan Ulul Albab berasaskan kepada ayat-ayat AlQuran dan AlSunnah yang dikelompokkan kepada enam komponen pembina: 1) modul-modul Jati Sedar Diri Manusia Sebagai Khalifah (Modul Ana Khalifah) secara gabungan pendekatan ampuh Sunnatullah dan Sunnah Rasul, dengan pendekatan santai dan berinovasi; 2) modul-modul Ibadah Harian yang diperkukuhkan pemahamannya dengan penemuan sains dan pembangunan teknologi terkini dalam meningkatkan rasa khusyu’. Ini termasuklah kefahaman terhadap analisis kitar hayat air dan teknologi penjimatan air, kajian biomekanik (matematik) dalam rukun fi’li solat serta teknologi laser (inframerah) dalam pembetulan arah qiblat. 3) Modul-modul perkasa jasmani dan kerohanian yang melibatkan hasil-hasil kajian terhadap makanan dan pemakanan yang disebut dalam alQuran dan Hadis, kaedah pengesanan penyakit melalui pembedahan mikro dan pengesan pengimejan digital 2D dan 3D, serta fisiologi, biofizik dan matematik dalam Sunnah Riadah larian, berenang, berkuda, memanah dan beradu tenaga; 4) Modul-modul pandang dan tadabbur alam yang meliputi pemerhatian dan cerapan terhadap angkasa, alam batuan, tumbuh-tumbuhan, haiwan dan serangga sosial yang menerbitkan faham terbitan teknologi biomimetik; 5) Modul-modul teknologi maslahah ummah yang bermula dengan terjemahan pandang alam kepada teknologi beinspirasikan hayat dan alami yang menerbitkan teknologi penerbangan, pergerakan dan kecerdasan buatan pada robot-robot, kepada pertanian bioteknologi moden hingga pencetusan pembangunan lestari dan tauhidik; dan akhir sekali 6) Modul-modul Kesarjanaan Islam yang membina kemahiran insaniah bagi menyampaikan dakwah berhikmah meliputi penulisan, pengucapan umum, pengenalpastian dakyah alam siber dan perkongsian pengalaman oleh penyelidik, penulis, perekacipta dan pendakwah bukan popular.
STEMind telah mendapat perhatian sejak ditubuhkan dengan menerima pelbagai jemputan pembentangan dan perbincangan serta telah beberapa kali ditemubual untuk penampilan dalam media massa. Ini termasuklah jemputan ke Kongres dan Forum P&P FST, Kongres P&P UKM, Siri Kolokium Islam Pahang dan Bengkel konsep muzium islam dan pengisian Muzium Masjid Sultan Abdullah (MMSA) oleh Lembaga Muzium Pahang, Kongres Pendidikan Islam, Konvensyen Sekolah-Sekolah Agama Menengah Tahfiz Aliran Sains, jemputan VIP ke program Maahad-maahad tahfiz, Perbincangan Konsep Quranic Garden Living Lab PERMATAinsan, serta penampilan beberapa kali dalam Majalah Infiniti Kumpulan Utusan dan Slot Perspektif TVAlHijrah. Selain itu, STEMind juga menjadi penyokong dan komponen ruhiyy dalam Program Bitara STEM UKM yang telah jayanya dilaksanakan bersama FELDA dengan penyelidik-penyelidik STEMind dikenalpasti sebagai Mentor untuk program lanjutan Pementoran Penyelidikan Pelajar (SRMP) FELDA ke New York City. Justeru, tidak hairanlah dalam masa yang terdekat, hasil-hasil penyelidikan penilaian hasil P&P dan pembangunan konsep STEMind akan mula diterbitkan untuk menjadi model yang dikongsikan dalam dunia akademik serta meraih perhatian di peringkat global.

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STEM EDUCATION AND CIVILSATION CLUSTER
Preparing the Future Scientific Generation in Facing 21^st Century Challenges
As education and the processes of teaching and learning (T&L) are becoming more challenging in time, the outcome of the T&L should lead to the production of first class human capital. These individuals are concern about the critical global crisis, which involves the exploitation of energy and resources, pollution and climate change, agriculture and food adequacy, health, and welfare of the community in preserving development and generating global economy. A holistic and integrated education that should be developed to produce this human capital should no longer view niched areas of specialization as leading to exclusive individuals’ career, but as a cross-field approach to the construction of more comprehensive humans that are more willing and ready to confront and solve global problems. In an effort to produce human capital as was envisioned in approaching the Malaysia Negara Maju 2020, scientific knowledge should no longer be taught discretely as was customarily practiced, however it should be integrated with knowledge that are based on Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). As the National University of Malaysia that supports the philosophy of human development that integrates faith, science, technology, practical and theory, a sustainable effort is required in producing STEM learning experiences that would not only integrate the latest findings in research on science education, but also would be based on the knowledge of the Quran and Hadith. This integration would be expressed and translated more concretely and by hands-on learning experiences; where this effort would also be targeted to the younger and budding generation so that finally, knowledgeable humans, Ulul Albab are developed. This particular enthusiasm was what has been cultivated by the Research Group of Civilizations and STEM Education, consisting of STEM Education Research Group, STEMind (STEM Islamic and Missionary) and Mathematical Sciences Ruhiyy Education (PRISMa). Strictly speaking, in realizing this noble effort, the attention given by the Civilization and the STEM Education is to ensure the synergy in pooling efforts towards meaningful mastering of the STEM basic concepts, STEM pedagogical skills enhancement towards the restoration and enhancement of interest in these subjects, and to produce a comprehensive and holistic human through STEMind enrichment activities.
The interest in science and technology can only be fostered if a student has meaningful background understanding and mastery of the basic concepts of science and mathematics. In this context, the Ruhiyy Education Group of Mathematical Sciences (PRISMa) has taken proactive measures to increase the interest of the community especially the school students towards mathematics subjects. These efforts include making a paradigm shift in the subjects of mathematics, popularizing mathematics among the public, encourage students to specialize in the field of science in general and mathematics in particular, and demonstrating the role and viewpoint of mathematics in everyday life. These efforts are then coupled with the attention given by the STEM Education Research Group towards improving the quality of students’ learning and teachers’ teaching in the basic subjects of science and mathematics. The confidence and knowledge level of the teachers were discovered and their pedagogical skills and talents were polished. The students’ engagement through active learning were strengthened via the provision of various learning modules, such as the Problem-Based Learning, Game-Based Learning, Learning Using Graphic Calculator, Pedagogical Agent Mediated Learning, Brain Based Learning, and various others which has been accumulated in the STEM Education research directory. Not to forget, the research also focuses on isolated and disadvantaged students so that the knowledge gap in science and mathematics can be reduced, thus opening educational opportunities for all. In order to ensure that the mission is realized significantly in the context of glocal science education development, the STEM Education Group is also concerned about the teachers' professional development by initiating researches that focus on improving the formal and informal teaching content pedagogical skills of the teachers. Trusts were also given to the STEM Research Group to spearhead researches related to Lesson Study in Malaysia, which among others, aims to improve the pedagogical skills of teachers through assessment and peer collaborative efforts, as well as the evaluation of the effectiveness of STEM teacher training in Malaysia.
Besides, the research conducted by the STEMind Group is a unique cross-field research that has combined the translation field with interpretation and apprehension (tadabbur) of sentences from the Quran and Sunnah, which are integrated with View of Nature (Pandang Alam) and its technological publications as envisaged in the National Education Policy. The group that was joined by academics from various field and levels have the objective to integrate elements of STEM-based faith (tauhid) or Tauhidik (Faithly) Science through research, development, evaluation and intervention of integrated T&L; and to be delivered to the younger generation through direct and mediated knowledge transfer processes. Moreover, the national identity that is rooted in the Malay world is also being rebuilt with the awareness of the wealth of the world and Malay culture in shaping the values of the national culture. Since the establishment of the group in 2012, STEMind has built Ulul Albab empowerment modules based on the understanding of the verses of the Quran and AlSunnah, which was grouped into six development parts: 1) Human Self-Identity and Consciousness as a Caliph Modules (I Am A Caliph Module) as a combination of Sunnatullah and Sunnah Rasul powerful approaches with relaxed and innovative approach; 2) Daily Prayers modules, which their understanding has been strengthened by scientific discoveries and the development of the latest technologies to improve the feelings of submission and humbleness. This includes an understanding of the water life cycle analysis and water-saving technologies, the study of biomechanics (mathematics) in prayers’ practical (fi'li) pillars and laser technology (infrared) in the correction of the qibla direction. 3) Modules for the strengthening of the physical body and spiritual that involves the outcomes of food and nutrition researches mentioned in the Quran and the Hadith, the method of disease detection through micro surgeries and digital imaging sensors in 2D and 3D, as well as physiology, biophysics and mathematics in running, swimming, horse riding, archery and strength match recreation Sunnah. 4) The nature view and apprehension (tadabbur) modules that consist of the observation of the sky, the rocks, the plants, animals and social insects, which creates the understanding of biomimetic technologies; 5) Community issues (maslahah ummah) technology modules that begins with the translation of environmental view to the nature- and life-inspired technology; the particular technology which has created the technology of aviation, mobility and artificial intelligence in robots, towards modern agriculture biotechnology, which causes the outbreak of sustainable and tauhidik (faithly) development; and finally 6) Islamic Scholarly modules that build soft skills to convey the message of wisdom, which includes writing, public speaking, identifying cyber propaganda and the sharing of experiences by the researcher, author, inventor and unpopular preacher.
Since its establishment, STEMind has received much attention from a variety of presentations and discussions invitations as well as having been interviewed several times for appearances in the mass media. These spotlights include an invitation to the FST and P&P Congress and Forum, UKM P&P Congress, Pahang Islamic Colloquium Series and Islamic Museum Concept Workshop and Mosque of Sultan Abdullah (MSA) Spiritual Talk by the Institute of Museum Pahang, Congress of Islamic Education, Secondary Tahfiz Science Schools Convention, VIP invitations to the Maahad Tahfiz programs, the PERMATAinsan Quranic Garden Living Lab Discussion, as well as several appearances in the Majalah Infiniti Kumpulan Utusan, and Slot Perspektif TVAlHijrah. Moreover, STEMind also acts as a supporter and a ruhiyy component in the UKM STEM Bitara Programme that have successfully been implemented together with FELDA. The STEMind researchers have been identified as Mentors for Student Research Mentoring program (SRMP) to the New York City. Thus, it is not surprising that in the near future, the results of researches on T&L outcome evaluation and the development of the STEMind concept will be first published to become a model shared in the academic world and would grab the global attention.

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