COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION: IMPROVING STUDENTS’ LEARNING THROUGH ENGINEERING EDUCATION PROGRAMME OF FUN WITH LIGHT

Norfariza Mohd Radzi¹, Ahmad Ashrif A Bakar²*, Siti Barirah Ahmad Anas³, Sumiaty Ambran⁴ and Nelidya Md Yusoff^5
1Dr., University of Malaya, MALAYSIA, norfariza@um.edu.my
²Assoc. Prof., Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, MALAYSIA, ashrif@ukm.edu.my
³Assoc. Prof., Universiti Putra Malaysia, MALAYSIA, barirah@eng.upm.edu.my
⁴Dr., Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, MALAYSIA, sumiaty.kl@utm.my
⁵Dr., Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, MALAYSIA, nelidya.kl@utm.my

*Corresponding author

Abstract

This paper presents the study of community involvement in school development particularly in the students’ teaching and learning activities. The involvement of community participation was perceived as one of important element that can accelerate school development in addition to government traditional roles and parental supports. The community involvement is attributed from various kinds of assistance such as monetary contribution, learning resources, knowledge sharing and many more. Thus, the aim of this research is to study the implementation of the community involvement program by an engineering society, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Photonic Society, Malaysia Chapter with a selected top secondary school in Malaysia. The program, named as ‘Fun with Light, was conducted to educate students with basic knowledge of light. The knowledge covers several topics within the school’s science syllabus. The research adopts the qualitative methodology through interview session with program handler, teachers and students, while observation of the teaching and learning activities throughout the program were also carried out. Findings show that this program has been conducted in an interesting way; through the presentation of light theory, scientific illustration, and practical experience and throughout games and hands-on activities. Furthermore, the program has benefitted school in the forms of knowledge sharing with teachers and students and the use of additional teaching aids as classrooms resources. The knowledge was directly shared by the real life practitioner in the field of science and engineering that enable teachers and students to gain additional knowledge in addition to their curriculum in the Science subject. Overall, this research has highlighted the interesting way of school participation by a related society and the benefit derived by school in the form of knowledge sharing and teaching aids. As an implication, the government particularly the higher authorities in education should support the school community participation that can bring mutual benefit of both parties. This is to ensure sustainability in school development that eventually increases school quality and effectiveness in future.

Keywords: High school education, engineering education, community involvement, hands-on activities.