Science Education at Yogyakarta State University (UNY) welcomed Visiting Professor, Dr. Chatree Faikhamta, who is the Vice Dean for Research and Innovation from Kasetsart University, Thailand. This visit took place from 16 to 20 September 2024 and was aimed at 5th semester students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses.
In his series of lectures, Dr. Chatree Faikhamta delivered material that was very relevant to technological developments and modern learning approaches in the STEM field. In the first meeting, the topic discussed was "Technology Integration in STEM Education". The discussion covered the importance of the role of technology in improving STEM learning, the use of applications, AR (Augmented Reality), and VR (Virtual Reality) in science education, as well as examples of successful case studies of technology integration. Not only that, challenges in adopting technology were also discussed, including solutions and ethical considerations related to privacy and accessibility.
In the next meeting, students were invited to explore the engineering design process in science education. The discussion focused on the steps from problem identification to solution testing, as well as the importance of collaboration in engineering design project-based learning. In addition, students were also introduced to how to evaluate design projects and how to connect the engineering design process with other STEM fields.
Dr. Chatree Faikhamta also introduced Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as an innovative approach in STEM education in the fourth meeting. The discussion covered the basic principles of PBL, strategies for designing PBL tasks, the role of educators in facilitating discussion and collaboration, and how to assess PBL-based learning outcomes. Students were invited to explore the great benefits of PBL as well as the challenges that may be faced in its implementation.
With Dr. Chatree Faikhamta's experience and expertise, this visit is expected to provide new insights for UNY Science Education students in developing innovations in the field of STEM education.