A CASE STUDY OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION IN LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Background and Purpose: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the formal school curriculum can be described as a STEM-related individual subject; as a learning package offering learning pathway for STEM elective subjects and as an integrated STEM learning approach. This study focuses on the needs assessment of STEM education as a learning approach among lower secondary school teachers in a local district in Malaysia. The current and desired situations were analysed as well as the causal factors which guide the choice of any intervention programs to address the actual needs.   Methodology: Three schools were selected through heterogenous purposive sampling. The teachers from each school were selected through criterion sampling based on predetermined criteria.   31 teachers from the lower secondary level who teach STEM related subjects as well as the head of panel and departments of the STEM subjects, were selected as the participants. Focus group and one-to-one interviews were conducted with the participants after receiving their consent.   Findings: There is a gap between the desired situation and the current situation in the implementation of integrated STEM education. The implementation of STEM education at the lower secondary level can be facilitated through various means such as a comprehensive STEM education professional development or training for teachers, collaborations between STEM subjects teachers through lesson studies or professional learning community, and working together with local STEM expertise or community of practice.   Contributions: The findings provide relevant information and guidance on the selection of intervention for the integrated STEM education in addressing the needs. It also initiates the planning of the integrated STEM education programs which focuses on the gaps as the means to achieve the desired results.   Keywords: STEM education, needs assessment, case study, gap, interventions   Cite as: Loh, S. L., Pang, V., & Lajium, D. (2021). A case study of needs assessment of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in lower secondary schools. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 242-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp242-26

THE PLANNING OF INTEGRATED STEM EDUCATION BASED ON STANDARDS AND CONTEXTUAL ISSUES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)

Two important features in Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) education are integration and solving real world problems.  Despite the efforts to promote STEM education awareness and interest among students and teachers, documented studies on how to explicitly integrate the existing STEM subjects curriculum standards in solving real world problems are limited. This paper describes the planning of after-school STEM education program focusing on relevant global issues related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that integrates the existing curriculum standards of three STEM subject in the lower secondary level. The data collection is mainly through document analysis of the three individual STEM subjects’ standard documents and the planned curriculum map for the school, along with the document on ‘Education for Sustainable Development Goals Learning Objectives’.  Four possible design challenges were formulated based on the themes in SDG incorporating selected standards from the three STEM subjects as well as addition of a few new related concepts and skills.  The description offers a way to assist educators in planning similar STEM education lesson or programmes or activities through integration of the existing individual STEM disciplines curriculum standards for different level and context relevant to the students.   Keywords: Contextual problem solving, integration, standard-based, STEM education, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Cite as: Loh, S. L., Pang, V., & Lajium, D. (2019). The planning of integrated STEM education based on standards and contextual issues of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Journal of Nusantara Studies, 4(1), 300-315. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol4iss1pp300-31

By-products of rice processing: an overview of health benefits and applications

Our study was centred on the increasing literature associated with rice by-products and main components, especially those intended to combat cancer, improve plasma lipid levels or control the blood glucose levels. Rice byproducts, such as rice straw, rice husks, rice bran, rice germ and broken rice, are extensively abundant agricultural wastes from the rice industry, and the percentage of their production depends on the milling rate and type of rice. Among all rice by-products, rice bran has been extensively studied. It contains phytochemicals such as γ-oryzanol, vitamin E, mainly tocotrienols and dietary fibre. This paper reviews the existing literature on the potential role of rice by-products, focusing not only on the role of rice bran but also on the roles of other rice by-products, such as rice germ and rice husk, in the management of the diseases, investigating their various potential uses in the food industry and all possible properties that may contribute to these effects

Establishing the Validity and Reliability of a Program Evaluation Questionnaire using Rasch Measurement Model

This study was conducted to establish the validity and reliability of the evaluation questionnaire for the 12th Regional Congress of the Search For SEAMEO Young Scientist (SSYS) 2022 using the Rasch Measurement Model that was aided by the Winsteps software.  The questionnaire contains 24 items that evaluate the Congress's objectives, inputs, as well as event management and administration.  Each item is rated on a 4-point rating scale.  The instrument was administered at the end of the 3-days SSYS Congress held virtually in which 1891 participants submitted their responses.  The establishment of validity and reliability of this questionnaire is crucial before further analysis is carried out.  The Rasch Model analysis showed that the reliability index of the respondents was 0.87 and person separation is 2.60, while the item reliability index is 0.96 with an item separation index of 5.08.  Item polarity indicates that the point measure correlation (PTMEA CORR) for the 24 items is between 0.67 to 0.76.  In terms of item fit, the results indicated one misfit item that needs improvement in the future.  The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) shows that almost all the items are unidimensional and intended to measure a similar trait.  All these indicate the reliability of the questionnaire, and researchers can proceed with further data analysis to evaluate the 12th Regional Congress of the SSYS 2022

Evaluation of the implementation of a science project through the application of integrated stem education as an approach

Despite the growing number of resources, references, and support groups in integrated STEM education, there is a need to evaluate the implementation of these programs in school to identify the strength and problems for further improvement by the teachers and school administrators. This case study describes the evaluation of the implementation of a KSSM forms two science projects through the application of integrated STEM education as an approach. The individual science project organises and connects related concepts and skills of the STEM disciplines through engineering design practice (EDP) to solve a contextual problem based on a theme from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The objectives of this study were to compare the actual and intended learning process and, to identify the strengths and weaknesses during the implementation process. Data were collected mainly from classroom observation and interviews. This study revealed that the actual process did not fully match the intended process as most of the students seem to be a lack of motivation to engage and persist through the design task. Besides, the lack of resources, tools and material, number of students, classroom setting, and the time frame may also contribute to the motivation of the students. The findings lead to suggestions to improve the implementation of similar science projects in the future

Rasch measurement and strategies of Science Teacher's Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge in Augmented Reality

The use of Augmented Reality in the Teachers’ Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework is one of the systematic approaches to enriching students' experience in a science classroom. A study was conducted to explore teachers’ TPACK in Augmented Reality abilities. This article aims to identify science teachers’ level of TPACK in Augmented Reality using a questionnaire. A group of teachers (n=100) was trained to determine science teachers' TPACK at AR levels. Selected Science teachers then responded to a survey and analyzed using the Rasch Model. Male teachers (1.77 logits) outperformed female teachers (-0.55 logit) in TPACK abilities. In addition, teachers 36-40 years of age with 6-10 years of teaching experience had higher ability in TPACK in AR.  Findings also indicated the Pedagogical Knowledge (PK) scoring is at +1.23logit and TPACK +0.29 logit suggesting both PK and TPACK components were of higher difficulty level compared to other components.The findings suggest that the training on TPACK in AR especially in the areas of PK and TPACK is necessary and should be based on the teacher’s demographic profile, teaching experiences, and other components of the TPACK framework

Association of maternal and cord plasma total, free and bioavailable 25-hyrodroxyvitamin D with neonatal anthropometric measurements at birth: a preliminary study in a private hospital

Introduction: 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) is the principal biomarker of vitamin D status. In circulation, 25OHD is primarily bound to vitamin D binding protein (VDBP), leaving a small proportion bound to albumin and as free form. Previous studies have suggested that free 25OHD is better correlated with health outcomes. However, in pregnancy where VDBP level is extremely elevated, the correlations between free 25OHD with health outcomes are far from conclusive. Here we show the associations of maternal and cord total, free and bioavailable 25OHD con-currently with neonatal anthropometric measurements in healthy pregnant mothers-neonates pairs. Method: Total 25OHD level was measured by using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Free and bioavailable 25OHD were calculated using published mathematical models. Results: The results showed that birth weight and head circumference were negatively associated with maternal total 25OHD but not significantly associated with free and bioavailable 25OHD. There were no significant associations between cord total, free and bioavailable 25OHD with any of the neonatal anthropometric measurements. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study should encourage further research in a larger sample size. Notably, future research could lead to the establishment of causative relationships and plausible mechanisms between maternal and cord 25OHD with neonatal anthropometric measurements

Japanese Encephalitis, Singapore

10.3201/eid1203.051251Emerging Infectious Diseases123525-52

Influence of vitamin D binding protein polymorphism, demographics and lifestyle factors on vitamin D status of healthy Malaysian pregnant women

Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been related to vitamin D binding protein (GC) gene polymorphism, demographics and lifestyle factors in different populations. However, previous studies only focused on demographic and lifestyle factors or genetic factors alone. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between GC gene polymorphism, demographics and lifestyle factors with VDD among Malaysian pregnant women. Method: Information on demographic characteristics, dietary vitamin D intake from supplement and food, time spent outdoors, skin type and clothing were collected using a questionnaire. Plasma total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels were measured using an Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC). Maternal GC single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4588 and rs7041) were determined using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique. Results: Results showed that 50.2% of pregnant women were vitamin D deficient (25OHD < 30 nmol/L). VDD (25OHD < 30 nmol/L) was significantly associated with age, veiled clothing, maternal vitamin D intakes from both food and supplements, and GC rs7041(and GC diplotypes). In contrast to previous studies that reported for non-pregnant population, a significant positive association was found between CC genotype for SNP GC rs7041, GC 1s-1s and GC If-2 with risk of VDD (25OHD < 30 nmol/L). Conclusions: The high prevalence of maternal VDD found in this study suggests the need for urgent development and implementation of vitamin D supplementation or fortification strategies to reduce VDD among pregnant women. The discrepancy in the association between GC rs7041 gene polymorphism and VDD reflects the variation in the factors associated with VDD in pregnancy compared to non-pregnant state

Genetic variants and non-genetic factors associated with a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in full-term neonates in Malaysia

A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported in Malaysian pregnant women, indicating that neonates at birth are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Factors including low dietary vitamin D intake and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the vitamin D metabolism genes have been associated with this deficiency in the population. However, there was limited data available regarding the prevalence of neonatal vitamin D deficiency and the factors associated with it among neonates in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and explore the associations between maternal and neonatal gene polymorphisms, as well as non-genetic factors and neonatal vitamin D deficiency. A total of 217 mother-neonate dyads were recruited for this study. Data on skin type, maternal sun exposure, dietary intake, as well as maternal and neonatal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations were collected. Maternal and neonatal vitamin D Receptor (VDR) SNP (rs2228570) and Group-specific component (GC) SNPs (rs4588 and rs7041) genotypes were determined using high-resolution melting (HRM) and restriction fragment length polymorphism, respectively. The results showed that 60.4%, 71.4% and 95.4% of neonates had cord blood 25OHD levels below 25 nmol/L, 30 nmol/L and 50 nmol/L, respectively. After adjusting for the maternal vitamin D status, the maternal VDR rs2228570 GG genotype was significantly associated with neonatal vitamin D deficiency (25OHD<30 nmol/L) (aOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.18–5.87, p = 0.018). Maternal vitamin D supplement intake was found to be a protective factor. However, maternal and neonatal vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) SNPs were not associated with neonatal vitamin D deficiency. The high prevalence of neonatal vitamin D deficiency reported in this study indicates the urgent need for the development and implementation of strategies to improve neonatal vitamin D status. The findings suggest that maternal supplementation may be an effective approach to enhance the vitamin D status of neonates