By: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yap Wing Fen
BAGAN DATUK – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Putra Outreach Physics continued to set in motion volunteer activities, this time for the Bagan Datuk district people at Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan. Putra Outreach Physics aimed to attract and enhance students' interests in Physics subject for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
Tagged with the slogan 'Moh Berfizik Kome', the programme attracted 176 students from eight secondary schools in Bagan Datuk district namely Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan, Sekolah Menengah Sains Bagan Datoh, SMK Seri Muara, SMK Ulu Bernam, SMK Hutan Melintang, SMK Tun Abdul Razak, SMK Seri Perkasa and SMK Khir Johari.
The purpose of the programme was to help teachers and students understand formulas used in the Physics subject as well as to uplift the spirit of students in learning Physics.
The team leader of Putra Outreach Physics, Assoc. Prof. Dr Yap Wing Fen, said that students would feel stressed when they learned by heart the wide range of physics concepts and formulas without understanding them.
"This programme is a community service oriented in the form of education specialising in physics. Through this programme, we can develop the minds of teachers and students," he said.
He further quantified his confidence in developing the minds of teachers and students by highlighting the nature of the programme. The programme should encompass several components of activities that emphasise the crucial aspect of gaining knowledge and new experiences. This approach worked in tandem with efforts to stimulate the growth of minds to become more active, brilliant and innovative.
"Learning activities in the form of LDK expose teachers and students to the hands-on style of study which is similar to the application in associating the concepts of physics.”
"The concepts and activities are designed to conform to the SPM Physics syllabus. In this programme, we adopt an appropriate fun learning approach to affirm ‘understanding and remembering’ in the outdoor activities as well as cultural activities such as magic show, singing and acting," he said.
The Head of Physics Committee, Maisara Md Yon, described the programme as the best physics-based programme she had ever attended.
"The programme initiated by Putra Outreach Physics is very creative and innovative. My friends and I will apply the experience gained from this programme to increase input and diversify our way in teaching and learning physics," she said.
One of the programme participants, Jaganayha Rao A/L Ventiteswara Rao from Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan, said the programme had successfully enticed his interest to study physics more seriously and geared him up to score A+.
A participant from SMK Seri Muara, Heng Zhi Shan, could not conceal his happiness for being able to learn something new related to physics.
Another participant, Aisyah Nabila Siran, said the programme broadened her horizons and hyped up her interest in physics as a result of a better understanding of concepts learned in the subject. - UPM
