RECSAM News_Sept-Dec 2021

5 RECSAM News Vol. 52 - No. 3 Workshop on“Psychometric Criteria in Quantitative Research Using Rasch Model Measurement” Workshop on“Policy Brief” for SEAMEO Researchers RECSAM Successfully Conducts Online Third Country Training Programme on “Fostering STEM Education to Promote Successful Learning in Science and Mathematics Classrooms” for African Teachers AN ONLINE WORKSHOP on “Psychometric Criteria in Quantitative Research Using Rasch Model Measurement” was held at RECSAM on 8 October 2021. The workshop was facilitated by Ms. Nor Aisah B inti Jamil, an Officer from School Improvement Specialist Coaches Plus (SISC+). Through this online workshop, Ms. Nor Aisah exposed workshop participants to basic of Winsteps Rasch model and familiarise themselves with the effective psychometric criteria. A total of 12 (twelve) RECSAM staff participated in the workshop. Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia facilitated the first session on “Understanding of Designing Policy Brief” . The workshop session was then followed by sharing “Best Practices on Designing a Policy Brief” by the EPRD team from the Ministry of Education Malaysia. In breakout sessions led by Professor Dr. Hazri Jamil, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohamad Shaharudin Samsurijan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paramjit Singh Jamir Singh from Universiti Sains Malaysia, the participants were divided into three breakout rooms for interactive activities. Workshop participants were exposed to the basis of writing a policy brief which can be used as a tool for advocacy to engage and interest stakeholders and provided tips on how to write a concise and high-quality policy paper can assist researchers in clearly presenting ideas and findings. A total of 77 (seventy-seven) participants from various SEAMEO regional centres and network joined the two-day workshop. The workshop participants are researchers from the SEAMEO regional centres and network who submitted their policy research papers for the SEAMEO CPRN Action Agenda 2021-2023. RECSAM had successfully hosted a workshop on “Policy Brief” on 5 & 6 October 2021. The two-day workshop aims to improve researchers’ technical capacity in key components of policy briefs, particularly the framework for better informed policy making work. The webinar was officiated by Dr. Shah Jahan Bin Assanarkutty, Centre Director of SEAMEO RECSAM with a welcoming address and followed by a keynote message by Mr. Hisham Hj. Rahmat from the Education Planning and Research Division (EPRD), Ministry of Education Malaysia. The workshop was facilitated by experts and consultants from the Ministry of Education Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Professor Dr. Hazri Jamil from the School of Educational TWO ONLINE THIRD COUNTRY TRAINING PROGRAMMES (TCTP) on “Fostering STEM Education to Promote Successful Learning in Science and Mathematics Classrooms” was conducted by RECSAM from 18 to 29 October 2021 for ten (10) science and mathematics teachers and teacher educators from the African countries. The participants, mainly from Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia were nominated by their respective Ministries to join these programmes. These training programmes were aimed to develop participants’ knowledge and skills in the teaching and learning of Science/Mathematics through the STEM approach. These courses was conducted in synchronous e-learning with a combination of audio and video conferencing, chat and webinars to facilitate minds-on sharing, interactive talk and active participation on relevant topics conducted by RECSAM’s experienced facilitators. Over the duration of the course, participants were exposed to various theoretical knowledge and practical applications of Inquiry-Based Learning Model, Problem-Based Learning, Project- Based Learning and the Engineering Design Approach in relation to STEM approach. These in-service training programmes were supervised by Dr. Loh Su Ling, and Dr. Warabhorn Preechaporn, both Specialists from Training & Research Division and were funded by MTCP (Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme) and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). Smiles for the camera Session during the online workshop The Closing Ceremony of online TCTP