Curtin E-FacT organises empowerment programme for primary school students

Miri – 9 November 2019 – The Curtin Educational Excellence Facilitating Team (Curtin E-FacT), a student-run volunteer student mentors group at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), recently organised an empowerment programme for 75 students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Bakam.

The ‘Level Up!: SK Kampung Bakam Empowerment Programme’ included a visit to the university’s campus and a 2-day, 1-night camp at the school.

The programme was aimed at exposing students in primary 4 to 6 to university life and inspiring them to pursue tertiary education in the future.

At the Curtin Malaysia campus, Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia, and spanning 1,200 acres, the world’s largest Australian international campus, the students got to experience first-hand its modern learning and teaching facilities and technologies.

They visited the Fluid Mechanics and Structures & Statics laboratories at the Faculty of Engineering and Science, where lab technicians demonstrated some of the equipment there, including a new Instron Testing machine used to test the static tensile strength of metal rods.

They also toured the university’s 3-storey library where they were shown the group study, discussion and audio-visual, as well as its vast collection of printed books, audio-visual items, print journals, electronic books, electronic journals and online databases.

Following the tour, the students attended programming workshop sessions in one of the university’s state-of-the-art collaborative learning spaces.

The first session entitled ‘Binary Bauble’, conducted by Foundation in Engineering and Science lecturers Kamaroizan Mohamad and Nong Nurnie Mohd. Nistah, introduced the students to the concept of data representation in computer systems, that is, the use of binary numbers in storing information. They also got to practice encoding their names using the binary system.

The second session, ‘Maths Madness’ facilitated by engineering mathematics lecturers Shubashini Krishnan and Bejay Ugon, exposed them to the application of technology in teaching mathematics using a popular online learning game, Kahoot.

During the camp at their school, the students participated in various activities to develop their leadership, teamwork and critical thinking skills. Designed to be fun learning activities, they included modules entitled ‘Oops, What’s The Number?’, ‘Expand Your Ideas’, ‘Alphabetical Life’, ‘Draw What You See’ and ‘Lead A Ship’.

Programme organising chairperson Wan Muhammad Shahmi Wan Abdul Rahim said Curtin E-FacT is always keen to work with other interested parties in support of primary school students. He said the training modules they have run over the past 12 years have been highly successful in helping children develop good communication and leadership skills.

“Facilitating this empowerment programme with staff of Curtin Malaysia allowed us end our year’s activities on a high note. It is always nice to work with people who share our conviction to develop young minds, and we look forward to more opportunities for collaboration with the lecturers in the future,” said Wan Muhammad.

E-FacT facilitator and computer systems and networking student Sajit Shekhar from India commented that he was proud to have been involved in almost every camp the camp has organised. He said he really enjoyed engaging with the local communities and helping children improve their English.

Curtin E-FacT is a student-run, non-profit organisation of Curtin Malaysia that provides free facilitating programmes throughout the nation to promote the importance of education to young people. It also helps them develop critical academic, leadership, communication and critical thinking skills to be more effective in their ongoing studies and future careers. To find out more about Curtin E-FacT, visit its Facebook page (Curtin E-FacT) or its Instagram (curtinefact).

Students taking a close look at lab testing equipment in operation.

The students attending programming workshop in Collaborative Learning Space.

Curtin E-Fact facilitators at SK Kampung Bakam.

Group photo of SK Kampung Bakam students and teachers and Curtin E-Fact facilitators.