STEM (Digital) Programme in Indonesia

Dec 1

meriSTEM@NIE was awarded a grant by Temasek Foundation to co-fund and co-implement a 36-month “STEM (Digital) programme in Indonesia – STEM Training & Learning for Teachers and Students” with Prestasi Junior Indonesia (PJI) as host community partner. The programme has received the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Indonesia. Amazon Web Services InCommunities (AWS) and Caterpillar Foundation acted as both industry co-sponsors of PJI for the first and second cohort of the Programme respectively.

The programme aimed to benefit 200 teachers selected from schools in Indonesia. Its goals were to co-develop digital literacies of Indonesian STEM master educators using technology-enabled content and practices to design and implement integrated STEM lessons, co-develop a set of integrated STEM curriculum packages that support the development of digital literacies among Grades 9-12 Indonesian students, and build a community of Indonesian STEM educators equipped with technology-focused content knowledge (TCK) and technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK) to design and enact integrated STEM lessons to promote digital literacy in students. The Programme comprised four phases that offered STEM learning progression for Indonesian STEM educators through hybrid modes of learning. The hybrid structure of the lessons ensured that the content was delivered despite non-face-to-face interactions with the meriSTEM@NIE consultants. It also modelled for the participants (STEM teachers in Grades 9-12) approaches to delivering lessons virtually.

Programme Highlights

Foundation in Digital Literacies Through STEM Education

Mastery Level Workshops

Symposium on Sharing Accomplished STEM Expertise

Co-Enculturation of STEM Expertise in Singapore

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Foundation in Digital Literacies Through STEM Education

Phase 1 of the Programme focused on the foundational level. Online micro lessons, in the form of bite-sized videos accessible in two languages (English and Bahasa Indonesia), were created so the participants could learn independently and at their own pace. The content of the micro lessons included relevant STEM content knowledge and e-pedagogies required to create integrated STEM lessons that support students in developing digital literacies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes). Phase 1 was conducted in 2 separate runs for 100 participants each. AWS supported Cohort 1, and Caterpillar Foundation supported Cohort 2.

Mastery Level Workshops

In Phase 2, the participants attended a series of STEM Master Lessons conducted Bandung (Cohort 1) and Bogor (Cohort 2), Indonesia. The participants attended lectures conducted by meriSTEM@NIE consultants and participated in hands-on and facilitated sessions (e.g., using Internet of Things [IoT]-enabled devices and coding software/platforms). They engaged in computational thinking, design thinking, inquiry, heuristic thinking, and engineering design thinking. These "live" engagements honed their understandings introduced in Phase 1. The participants completed the enactment of one self-designed lesson package that applied knowledge from Phases 1 and 2. The participants submitted their lesson packages, and meriSTEM@NIE consultants identified exemplary works for curation and publication.

An online session entitled “Integrated STEM Learning Activities with the BBC Micro:bit” was conducted by Dr Timothy Tan for Cohort 3 consisting of participants from West Java, and was focused on discussing how BBC Micro:bits could be used in lessons and other applications and exploring potential outputs in a STEM lesson. The session also included a time for teachers to brainstorm STEM lesson ideas for their schools. The participants were also enrolled in the online modules from Phase 1.

COHORT 1
25 — 29 September 2022

Associate Professor Teo Tang Wee with a participant posing with his workshop certificate

Associate Professor Tan Aik Ling facilitating a group discussion

Mr Ng Yong Sim assisting a participant with the micro:bit coding

Participants working on their micro:bit coding with the Grove Inventor Kit

The manual that PJI had printed for the participants. The contents were printed from the slides provided by meriSTEM@NIE to PJI who then translated the slides into Bahasa Indonesia. The participants used the manuals as guidebooks during the workshop

meriSTEM@NIE consultants (L to R): Mr Ng Yong Sim, Associate Professor Teo Tang Wee, Associate Professor Tan Aik Ling, Dr Timothy Tan

COHORT 2
March — July 2024

Group photograph of participants who attended the workshop in Bogor on 7-8 March 2024

Associate Professor Teo delivering her introductory lecture about STEM Education

Participants engaged in a blindfolded activity aimed at understanding the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. Participants were tasked to design a cutting tool for blind individuals using the provided materials. HEre are participants from SMAN 1 Citeureup discussing on their prototype

Mr Ng Yong Sim testing the prototype created by SMAN 1 Cileungsi

Mr Ng Yong Sim sharing his judging criteria and reasons for selecting the top three prototypes

Associate Professor Teo giving out prizes to the winning teams

Participants coding the micro:bit, referring to the manual when needed

Participants from SMAN 1 Ciomas pitching their school’s lesson plan during a session by Associsate Professor Tan Aik Ling on STEM lesson planning with a focus on pedagogical and curricular considerations

Ms Freda Sitorus, Director, Logistics PT Caterpillar Remanufacturing Indonesia giving the opening address for the second part of the workshop conducted on 3 — 4 July 2024

Mr Ng Yong Sim and Dr Timothy Tan conducting the training on micro:bit

Associate Professor Tan Aik Ling discussing the S-T-E-M quartet map and providing general insights for the participants’ lesson plans

Dr Timothy Tan providing feedback on the teachers’ STEM lesson ideas

Presentation of the S-T-E-M Quartet by one of the participants

Dr Timothy Tan assisting the participants with the wiring of the micro:bit

COHORT 3
15 Februrary 2025

PJI and the meriSTEM@NIE team conducted a scaling-up programme titled “Integrated STEM Learning Activities with the BBC Micro:bit” led by Dr Timothy Tan

Dr Timothy Tan conducting the training session with 56 participants

Symposium on Sharing Accomplished STEM Expertise

The Programme for each run culminated in a STEM Symposium for the school teams to present their work. An online symposium took place on 17 October 2024 for Cohort 1, and saw the participation of 40 teachers from 8 schools. SMAN 1 Nagreg was awarded “The Best STEAM Educator of AWS STEAM Capacity Building Program 2022-2023”. A symposium for Cohort 2 was held on 24 October 2024, at Luminor Hotel Padjadjaran Bogor, and saw the participation of 60 teachers (50 from Bogor and 10 from Batam). SMKN 1 CILEUNGSI was awarded "The Best STEM Educator of Caterpillar Foundation STEM Capacity Building Program 2024".

The plans presented during both symposiums emphasised real-world applications of STEM in line with the Merdeka Curriculum goals. The symposiums successfully showcased participants' lesson plans and fostered a supportive environment for collaborative learning. Through awards and recognition, the symposiums encouraged continued development in STEM education, and participants were left with a sense of accomplishment and practical tools to implement in their schools. The top three winning teams also received a golden ticket for a learning journey and co-enculturation programme in Singapore, offering them an opportunity for further professional development and cross-cultural exchange.

COHORT 1
17 October 2024

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COHORT 2
24 October 2024

Teachers from SMAN1 Babakan Madang presenting their STEM lesson plan along with their prototype

Teachers from SMKN1 Cileungsi presenting their STEM lesson plan along with their prototype

Associate Professor Teo Tang Wee giving her closing remarks speech

Associate Professor Teo Tang Wee, Associate Professor Tan Aik Ling, and Dr Abur Mustikawanto (MOECRT) posing for a photo

Mr Siddharta Moersjid (PJI) giving a token of appreciation to Dr Abur Mustikawanto

SMKN1 Cileungsi receiving the golden ticket with meriSTEM@NIE team

A group photo of the participants from Bogor

Co-Enculturation of STEM Expertise in Singapore

6 — 8 January 2025

The winning teams from Cohorts 1 and 2 (16 participants) embarked on a three-day extended co-enculturation workshop in Singapore, engaging in workshops, learning journeys to STEM industries, and professional exchanges with local STEM educators. The programme began with a welcome ceremony and campus tour of NIE and NTU, followed by a visit to Gardens by the Bay, where participants explored themes of sustainability, plant adaptation, and conservation. On the second day, they attended BERNINA’s Code to Sew workshop, integrating block coding with digital embroidery, to learn how digital coding can be turned into tangible products. The final day featured visits to Science Centre Singapore, including STEM programme sharing and an OMNIMAX film, and to GreenLoopFarms, where participants experienced urban farming practices firsthand through harvesting and planting activities. The journey concluded with a celebratory dinner and certificate presentation, recognising participants’ learning, achievements, and dedication.