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) Modulmodul 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 SekolahSekolah Agama Menengah Tahfiz Aliran Sains, jemputan VIP ke program Maahadmaahad 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 21st 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 lifeinspired 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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