Role of Akademi Sains Malaysia (ASM) in Science Education

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Role of Akademi Sains Malaysia (ASM) in Science
Education

• Khalijah Mo hd Salleh
• Fellow ASM
• (Centre of Applied Physics

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ASM Education

• The general statement in one of the ASM Function
• to encourage education and training of human
  resources in the appropriate scientific,
  engineering and technical fields.
• education in the formal sense

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Two other functions of ASMrelated ot education

• i) the promotion of national awareness,
  understanding and appreciation of the role of SET
  in human progress and
• ii) the promotion of creativity among scientists,
  engineers and technologists.
• underpinning philosophy of education the
  technical competency of the workforce and the
  socio-cultural benefits

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• Science education - not just a one stop for
  selected individuals or groups of people.
• Science Education committee
• concerned with education and training of human
  resources
• to inculcate values and shape the mind and
  attitude of scientists and society.

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Science Education Committee

• started as sub working Committee in 1996
• promoted to a working committee in 1998.
• The chairman of the committee is nominated by the
  council while the other members may be
  non-fellows of ASM.

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Planning for educational activities or projects

• use the Malaysia Development Plan as a guide.
• ASM keeps up with national needs and can
  therefore contribute meaningfully to meet the
  needs of the country and society.

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Years F
1996 3
1997 5
1998 7
1999 8
2000 5
2001 5
2002 18
2003 10
2004 13
2005 14
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Science Education Programs 1995 2005 F
science awareness 22
education 23
excellence in science 23
international program 3
nationanl science quiz 6
ranjeet lecture 9
petrosains 2
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Target Groups F
primary level 3
secondary level 11
tertiary 12
science educators 8
scientists/artists/young scientists 8
public 36
public/students/researchers 3
researchers 6

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Types of programs frequency
conference 9
lectures/oration 37
exhibition 7
projects 3
camps 4
workshops 5
quiz 5
report 2
discussion/forum 3
grant award 6
Grant award /Lecture 6
Frequency
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Co-organizers

• The primary co-organisers are the Ministry of
  Education, Ministry of Science, Technology and
  Environment/Innovation, Centre for Curriculum
  Development, government agencies, national
  Science Centre, PETROSAINS, S T Associations,
  local and international universities and research
  institutes IMR, MINT and SIRIM.

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Other organisers

• Industries like Dumex, Novozymes
• foreign agencies British Council, French
  Embassy, Indian High Commision, JICA
• International Organisations International Council
  for Science (ICSU)
• International Council of Associations for Science
  Education,
• INTEL, and International Science Academies

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• Impact of Science Education Programmes
• Advisory to the Government

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the international conference on science and
mathematics education for primary and secondary
schools

• In 2001 theme Science And Mathematics Education
  For Human Development - Responding To The
  Challenges Of K-Economy.
• In 2003 focus on science capacity building.
  Theme innovative teaching and learning methods.
• In 2004 creativity and innovation in education.

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Annual National Science Quiz

• First quiz 1983-1999 for high school students
• managed jointly by MRB, MOSTI, MOE
  Professional Science Associations
• Starting 2000 -2005 management by ASM
• Through the kindness of the Royal Swedish Academy
  of Sciences, the winners of the invited to
  Stockholm for the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony on
  Dec 10 each year
• So far 8 schools had attended the ceremony.

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Curriculum

• La Main A La Pate is a French science education
  programme at primary level.
• first introduced to Malaysia in October 2001 by
  the MOE of Malaysia after he visited France.
• Programme was formally introduced to Malaysian
  science educators in January 2002.
• A pilot project started in May 2003 in 10
  selected schools around the Klang.
• evident differences between regular Malaysian
  classroom sessions was conducted and that
  promoted through La Main A La Pate.

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Laureate Outreach Program

• National Nobel Laureate Program started by MOSTI
  in the year 2001.
• Aim to stimulate creativity and innovation and to
  instil a research culture among the younger
  generation.
• ASMs effort to ensure sufficient supply of
  scientists, technologists and engineers who
  contribute to the development of the nations
  science, technology and innovation for the
  benefit of humankind.

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First Nobel Outreach Program May 2006 in
Terengganu.

• Four modules creative, instruction, reasearch
  and social modules
• 70 students from 23 schools in Terengganu
  participated in the program.
• Outcome objectives
• able to understand fundamentals of conducting
  scientific research, importance of information
  management, utilization of resources, teamwork as
  well as applying creative thinking skills among
  others.
• Participants introduced to eminent Malaysian
  Scientists such as the ASM Senior Fellows and
  Fellows as well as university lecturers and
  researchers.
• Climax students conducted own research projects
  on competitive basis.

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SMEX04

• ASM, MOE, MOSTI Creativity in Science and
  Mathematics Education Expo (SMEX04) June 2004
  PWTC, KL
• Objective to create an awareness and generate
  interest in science and mathematic. to expose new
  ideas for R D.
• Content of Exhibits Science Theatre, Interactive
  Science Workshops, Inter-School MathMagic
  Competition, Memory Sports, Science and
  Mathematics Quiz and product demonstrations.
• Innovative Science and Mathematics Teaching and
  Learning 2004 competition was the highlight
• gt 100 participants representing various
  industries such as academics, government
  agencies, IT solutions, research and development,
  private laboratories and telecommunication.

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ESTIDOTMY

• First published in February 2002 tabloid form,
  magazine form, now in CD ROM
• Newspaper insert in Utusan Melayu, a newspaper
  daily,
• Primary objective to inculcate interest in S T
  among school children
• 12 topics covered Biotechnology, Engineering,
  Automotif, outer space, the earth, biodiversity,
  remote sensing, environment, structure, health,
  agriculture, weather/hazards,
• Content
• Articles written are simple and interesting
• Experiments and puzzles are also presented.
• The magazine can be used as reference materials.

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A survey on ESTIDOTMY

• June-July 2002 and 2003
• 1200 respondents
• Objective to determine public awareness and
  acceptance of the magazine
• secondary schools readers
• 2202 - 69
• 2003 - 79

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Science Education Portal

• Effort to develop the portal first mooted and
  included in the 9th Malaysia Plan.
• The main objective - to promote and science
  education.
• ASM portal structure and mechanism.had been
  developed
• The content of the portal will be heavy on
  science education.
• Current stage of development - deployed in-house
  for testing
• To be launched for public access, hopefully
  within this year

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Science Education Research

• Question of standards in the teaching of science,
  professional development of teachers, assessment,
  curriculum content, IT application of S T,
  science educaiton programs, and science education
  systems.
• Through FASAS, project on Science Education with
  Enlightenment.
• Objectives of this project is to search for the
  best practices of the teaching of science/physics
  among secondary school children.
• Report on early findings of the study to be
  presented in this seminar.

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The Future

• ASM recognizes science education as a key
  strategy to successful implementation of any
  development plan in the country.
• focuse of the 9th Malaysia Plan - human capital.
• enhance quality of S T education,
• develop and generate competent human resources
  imbibed with positive values and able to face the
  challenges of globalisation.
• produce S T educators who are innovative and
  creative and are able to effectively train the
  younger generation.
• encourage informal learning through learning
  stations, intellectual discourse and interaction
  between scientists, teachers and students.

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Conclusion

• ASM has played a significant role in science
  education.
• ASM had played a thinking and advisory role to
  relevant agencies in particular the Ministry of
  Educaiton.
• Facilitator and caltayst in promoting science
  science through general awareness program
  seminar, and publications
• ASM concerned with the formal and informal
  education of science hence to promote science do
  in informal ways
• ASM sc ed program to include impact studies.
• to discover new ideas needed to ensure future
  programs to be relevant, intersting and exciting.

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References
Thank you