STEM PROJECT-BASED APPROACH IN ENHANCING CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND INVENTIVE THINKING SKILLS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Background and Purpose: Formal learning in schools generally does not provide enough engagement for students to grasp the science concepts and skills taught to them. Therefore, the structured informal learning activities such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) integrated project-based learning is vital for students to partake in the more meaningful science learning process as it involves interdisciplinary activities. Hence, this paper discusses the study that underlies the structured informal learning activity, the STEM project-based approach, in enhancing conceptual understanding and inventive thinking skills among secondary school students.   Methodology: A quasi-experimental research design concerning treatment and control groups with pre-test as the covariate was employed in this project. The sample was selected based on the purposive sampling approach. Seventy Form Four students (33 male students and 37 female students) from a secondary school in Kedah, Malaysia were divided into 35 students of a controlled group (received conventional approach) and 35 students of the treatment group (followed STEM project-based approach). Data collected via the Newtonian Conceptual Understanding Test (NCUT) and Inventive Thinking Skills Test (ITST) were then analysed descriptively and inferentially.   Findings: The structured informal learning activity, the STEM project-based approach, was found effective in enhancing conceptual understanding and inventive thinking skills among secondary school students.  Further analysis showed that the elements of thinking skills (management and adaptation to complexity, self-regulation, curiosity, creativity, risk-readiness, and high-order thinking skills and sound reasoning) were also improved among students who followed STEM project-based approach.   Contributions: The study highlighted the importance of a structured informal learning activity, such as the STEM project-based approach in assisting students to grasp the science concepts and develop the required 21st-century learning skills besides formal learning in schools.   Keywords: Conceptual understanding, inventive thinking skills, Newtonian physics, physics education, secondary school students.   Cite as: Saleh, S., Muhammad, A., & Syed Abdullah, S. M. (2019). STEM project-based approach in enhancing conceptual understanding and inventive thinking skills among secondary school students.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 5(1), 234-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol5iss1pp234-25

A Comparative Analysis of Cultural Terms in Arabic-Javanese Religious Texts Through the Lens of al-Hikam Aphorisms Translation

Local wisdom stood as a cornerstone of Indonesia's cultural richness. Regrettably, this invaluable asset, particularly in the form of "translation products," was overlooked and underappreciated. Despite Indonesia boasting a substantial collection of Arabic religious texts translated into Javanese, utilizing the pegon script, these Arabic-Javanese texts demanded preservation, scholarly exploration, and development grounded in specific theoretical frameworks. This research undertook a comparative analysis of "cultural terms" within religious texts, focusing on al-Hikam aphorisms translated from Arabic (L1) into both Indonesian and Javanese (L2). The primary objective was to dissect and analyze the local wisdom and Islamic Sufism moral values embedded in al-Hikam aphorisms through translation. The study drew on translations of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences from carefully selected sources related to cultural terms, including books and various Arabic-Javanese translation dictionaries. Employing a purposive sampling method, data collection followed a meticulous process. Qualitative data analysis unfolded through four pivotal stages: (1) domain analysis, (2) taxonomy analysis, (3) componential analysis, and (4) cultural theme analysis. The findings, gleaned from lexicography study and semantic analysis of translation, revealed the existence of two translation ideologies shaping cultural terms in Arabic-Javanese religious texts: domestication ideology and foreignization ideology. This research underscored that translation products were inseparable from the ideological dimensions of foreignization and domestication. Foreignization endeavored to assimilate source language elements into the target language, while domestication integrated original components with local elements. This research contributed to a deeper understanding of how foreignization and domestication shaped the depiction of local wisdom in Arabic-Javanese religious texts

Influence Of Non-Uniform Number Of Turns Per Coils And Stator Geometry On Unbalanced Magnetic Force In Brushless Permanent Magnet Machine

The Three Phase Permanent Magnet Brushless machines in which slot number and pole number combinations are similar such as differ by one have to be configured with asymmetric winding pattern in order to obtained perfect balanced back-emf among phases. However, the asymmetric winding pattern inherently results an unwanted force which is commonly known as an Unbalanced Magnetic Force or Unbalanced Magnetic Pull. An acoustic noise and vibration are the end results of this phenomenon. In some robotic application systems that require an accurate positioning control, this phenomenon is sometimes considerably severe. Investigations of electromagnetic performance in the asymmetric winding permanent magnet machines are carried out by using 2-D Finite-Element Analysis and the developed prototype machines are tested for verification purpose. In principle, the investigations are mainly driven by the efforts of minimizing the Unbalanced Magnetic Force. In this research, a reduction of Unbalanced Magnetic Force is achieved by implementing two approaches, i) non-uniform number of turns per coils in every tooth in a respective phase, and ii) an asymmetric design of stator. The investigation shows that only the first implementation technique is successful as reducing the existing Unbalanced Magnetic Force by 18% without damaging the desired torque performance in the subjected machines. Although the second implementation technique also could reduce the Unbalanced Magnetic Force, severe degradation of the torque performance as well as a bigger cogging torque existed. It is also shown that that the Unbalanced Magnetic Force is mostly influenced by it radial component instead of the tangential component. A reduction of radial force component result in a smaller Unbalanced Magnetic Force globally. Practically, the optimized design of machine is recommended for industrial applications which requires accurate position control such as robotic arm and conveying system

KITAB JAWI DAN KARYA SAINS: WACANA KETAMADUNAN DAN JATI DIRI ORANG MELAYU

Kitab Jawi and the Malay Archipelago is a topic which is synonymous with the question of identity and civilization of the Malay community. Thus it has managed to assimilate the strength and empowering excellence of the Malay ummah as early as the 14th century when Ibn Battuta, a traveler from Morocco mentioned in his memoirs entitled ' al - Rihlah ' 1345M that he had stopped at Pasai under the reign of Sultan Malik al – Zahir, a pious and righteous sultan who hold strongly to the Shafi'i madhhab. The Islamic scholars played their roles to disseminate the religion of Islam to the local communities making the Kitab Jawi as the main vehicle. The role of the Kitab Jawi is not only related to the religious aspects but included science and technology. As an example, mathematics ans astronomy in Islam are closely related to the content in al-Qur’an. Among the Malay scholars who were expert in this field were Syeikh Ahmad al-Fathani, Syeikh Tahir Jalaluddin and Syeikh Ahmad al- Minangkabau

Key Performance Indicators for Sustainable Freight Transport and Scenario-based Impediments in Pakistan Freight Industry

Freight transport enables economic growth, market connectivity, and access to the global supply chain systems which contribute to the societal progress and inclusive development of a country. However, it may undermine the sustainable operations by incurring external costs, inefficiency, and economic losses due to non-reliability, poor services, and information systems. In this research study, the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Sustainable Freight Transport Systems (SFTS) are discussed based on available literature review and standards of sustainability measurement in freight transport. Then, based on KPIs some of the scenario-based impediments are highlighted which hinder the performance of the freight transport in Pakistan for achieving sustainable development goals. The core impediments included are Strategic Determinants (SD), Information Systems (IS), Infrastructure Management Systems (IMS) and City Logistics (CL). The negative direct impacts of the key identified factors are also highlighted and linked with each scenario-based impediment. This research study would provide an opportunity for the stakeholders to get tangible idea for policy making and upgradation of the freight transport industry in the country. The highlighted implications will also be validated via expert surveys and Delphi-analysis in the future study.

Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen

This composition is about studying at a university in Germany. The author describes the challenges he had to overcome in order to be a successful university student in a foreign country

Production of Biofuel via Hydrogenation of Lignin from Biomass

Historically, humans have been harnessing biomass as a source of energy since the time they knew to make a fire from woods. Even today, some countries still depend on woods as a main source of energy. Biologically, biomass contains carbon-, hydrogen- and oxygen-based matters that unify in a solid material and that are potentially to be converted to fuel. Lignin is one of the components present in lignocellulosic biomass and has been actively examined to be used for biofuel production. Issues arise with the chemical characteristic and rigidity of its structure, which a setback for its viability for biofuel conversion. However, such setbacks have been counteracted with the advances of lignin-based knowledge on its conversion to chemical precursors for biofuel conversion. Recently, investigations on hydrogenation as one of the chemical processes used can be potentially utilised for efficient and viable means for biofuel production

Evaluation of Retinoblastoma According to Histological Grading, TNM Staging and Age at Presentation

Objective: To evaluate retinoblastoma, according to histological grades, TNM staging and age at presentation.Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Department of Pathology BMSI- JPMC Karachi from1st January 2009 to 31st December 2013 during which a total of 80 cases of retinoblastoma were received. Out of which 68 werereviewed and morphological diagnosis was done on H&E staining. Histological grades and TNM staging were categorized.The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 22.Results: In 80 cases of retinoblastoma the mean age of patients was 3.64 years with 3-4 years (53.75%) of age being thecommonest. Amongst 68 cases, well differentiated retinoblastoma were seen in 7.35%, moderately differentiated 11.76%, poorlydifferentiated 26.47% and undifferentiated 51.41% cases. Varied pattern of TNM staging were observed. Majority (60.29%)in stage IV followed by 19.11% in stage I and 10.29% each in TNM stage II and III. Regional lymph node metastasis was seenin 4/68 cases (5.88%) while 3/68 (4.41%) showed distant (CNS) metastasis. All these cases (7/7) were in TNM stage IV withmajority showing grade 4 (75%) and grade 3 (25%) histology.Conclusion: Evaluation of retinoblastoma showed that commonest age group was 3-4 years. Majority of retinoblastoma caseswere undifferentiated (G4) followed by poorly differentiated (G3). While in TNM staging system varied pattern was observed,majority were in stage IV followed by Stage I. Majority of lymph node and distant metastasis were seen in grade 4 histologyand all of them were in TNM stage IV.Evaluation of Retinoblastoma According to HistologicalGrading, TNM Staging and Age at Presentatio

IMPLICIT MEANING AND EXPLICITATION IN THE TRANSLATION OF ‘RIHLAH IBN BATTUTAH’ INTO ENGLISH

In translation, the utterances delivered in the form of implicit meaning in Arabic are not necessarily retained in that form in English. This results in a reversal, with the form of  implicit meaning being translated into  explicit meaning. This study aims to identify the forms of implicit meaning in the book ‘Rihlah Ibn Battutah’ and to explore the influence of culture on this translation and the strategies used by the translator to deal with the difficulties of translating  implicit meaning. This study is a qualitative study using case study and textual analysis methods based on the approach proposed by Klaudy and Károly (2005), and Pym (2005). The data analysis was carried out using ATLAS.ti software. The results of this study  show that explicitation in translation is not only driven by cultural factors in general but  it is also significantly influenced by religious, Arabic Rhetorical Sciences (Balāghah), lexicogrammatical and pragmatic factors, communicative preferences and the politeness of the target language itself. This study will hopefully spark interest in and a deeper focus on the explicitation strategy in the field of translation.Keywords: Translation, Implicit Meaning, Explicitation, Textual Analysi