The Success of STEM EXPO

Saturday February 8th 2020

in Its First Execution this 2019/2020 Academic Year

For the first time, Al Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School Yogyakarta organized a STEM EXPO that took place on 11 – 12 December 2019 bringing the theme “Science Fiction is becoming Science Fact”. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Sometimes Art is included, then it becomes STEAM. At another time, Religion is added, then it becomes STREAM. All the elements are integrated and made a ‘united’ learning process. This event is planned to be organized annually.

STEM EXPO aims to be the exit point of students’ hands-on learning in their class and to educate all the school community members about the significance of STEM in the future. In its history, STEM was initiated by Obama in 2010 to facilitate US’ education to address future challenges. In his speech, Obama stated that the Government prioritized STEM learning experience which is meaningful to inspire young inventors.

“One of the things that I’ve been focused on as President is how we create an all-hands-on-deck approach to science, technology, engineering, and math… We need to make this a priority to train an army of new teachers in these subject areas, and to make sure that all of us as a country are lifting up these subjects for the respect that they deserve.”

(President Barack Obama, Third Annual White House Science Fair, April 2013)

Some countries have started implementing this idea, including Malaysia. This country started to include STEM in its education system 2 years ago. In Indonesia, only a few schools have integrated this concept into their learning experience.

The process started with putting students into groups of 2 to 4. Then, each group decided what project to work on for the EXPO. After that, the work was begun by submitting the materials they needed and followed by doing the experiments or working on the projects. When they failed, they would repeat until they finally did. On the D-day, they were responsible for presenting their projects to visitors and their booths organized. It is obvious that from this event, students learned about communication, teamwork, and responsibility.

There were 40 booths in the EXPO. Some of the projects were; Grade 1: Sinking and Floating, Labyrinth, etc.; Grade 2: Straw Tower, Hydroponic, 3D Shapes, Parachute, Hydraulic Lift,etc. Grade 3: Carbon Dioxide Experiment, Static Electricity, Water Cycle, Eco-printing, etc; and Grade 4: Natural Liquid Soap, Submarine, Solar System, Solar Energy, Coding, etc.

Testimony

Prof. Dra. Hj. Suwarsih Madya, M.A., Ph.D.

Amidst the globalized situation which poses challenges of which one is a possible threat to identity, yet provides ample opportunities to excel for those who possess the prerequisites, we need to equip our children as the continuing generation with necessary competencies—affective, cognitive, psychomotor and interactive. In other words, we need to help them grow and develop into total persons and this can be achieved through the whole-child development approach which ensures the development of all potentials. In addition to this is the need for developing some competence which enables the children to communicate globally. All of this will ensure that the children will develop their citizenships both at the national and global levels. How can this ideal development be realized?

If you want to find out about how efforts are made to develop children’s whole potentials, you can come to SD Islam Al Azhar 55 Yogyakarta. Here you can see how the four-year old school has grown fast due to the stakeholders’ trust to send their children to study here. With only 54 children in the first year, this school now has 185 students. These students are educated to respect and preserve the social-cultural environment by learning the local language (Javanese, including the script) and arts (dance). Simultaneously, they certainly learn the national language (Bahasa Indonesia) and national content, which is unquestionable since it is compulsory, and English, which has now become a global lingua franca; thus, a prerequisite for successful global communication. More importantly, children in this school also learn to practise their religion consistently. So, in this school children’s identity is rooted in the local culture, with nationalism and global awareness being inherently developed together with reliogiosity.

Does the whole-child development approach at SD Islam Al Azhar still give room for children to excel? In my belief, when all their potentials are developed, children will have a greater chance to excel and I can see the truth in my belief in this primary school. In the last two years, the students have made great achievements in various competitions held at the local and national levels–gold medals in English, math and science competitions (national), silver and bronze medals in IT competitions (national), silver and bronze medals at colouring and swimming competitions (local) to mention some.

In conclusion, SD Islam Al Azhar has given evidence of the right efforts of true education to develop both intelligence and character.

Prof. DR. Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.

Testimoni Sebagai Orang tua menyekolahkan anak Di Al-Azhar 55

Sudah menjadi kewajiban bagi orang tua untuk memberikan pendidikan yang terbaik bagi putra putrinya. Tantangan untuk mendidik anak di Era Global dan Digital pun semakin besar, kita tidak bisa lagi membendung segala perubahan yang begitu cepat terjadi, dan harus mempersiapkan anak-anak supaya bisa survive dan sholeh/sholehah tentunya. Saat ini dunia bagaikan kampung, dimana tidak ada batas-batas untuk melakukan transaksi kehidupan, untuk itu anak harus bisa berkomunikasi dengan bahasa universal sebagai modal utama. Disamping itu, pendidikah Ahlak dan Aqidah harus diberikan secara dini sebagai dasar anak dalam menghadapi gejolak gelombang kehidupan. Atas pertimbangan tersebutlah, kami selaku orang tua memilih untuk menyekolahkan putra kami tercinta Hikari di Sekolah Islam, yang menggunakan dua bahasa pengantar, yaitu Al-Azhar 55.

Prof. DR. Budi S.Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.