Regional Science Olympiad Test Students’ Skills

THE FIRST SEAMEO SCIENCE OLYMPIAD (SEASO) was recently held from 5 to 8 March 2019 at RECSAM, Penang Malaysia. Aimed at bringing science to life and developing teamwork and project-based learning (PBL) among students, about 118 next generation young student scientists and teachers across the Southeast Asia region participated in this event.

In the student category, the students went through four levels that comprised of paper and pencil test as well as hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) challenge. Each level tested the students’ understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The competition required every team to complete four levels of problem-solving science related activities namely; Paper and pencil test (Level 1), Egg Drop Challenge (Level 2), Impromptu Presentation (Level 3) and Water Rocket Challenge (Level 4).

Twenty eight teams participated in the event, with the team from Philippines finally emerging as the overall champion, followed by the Malaysian team in second place and the Thailand team in third. They took home a gold medal, a challenge trophy, an individual trophy, certificate of achievement and RM1000 cash prize. Both teams from Malaysia and Thailand also picked up medals, trophies, certificates of achievement and RM700 and RM500 each respectively.

This year, students Kyle Nathan G. Naranjo, representing the Philippines and Elmeeza Bazillah binti Abdullah Muhammad Yasrinal Eddy Abdullah from Brunei Darussalam garnered the Science Ambassador. For their efforts, both students received certificates of achievement, trophies and cash prize of RM200 each. Competing against 92 student contestants from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, students Kyle Nathan and Elmeeza Bazillah topped the Level 1 individual category with the highest accumulated points by answering 100 questions, which were a mix of multiple choice and subjective questions.

In the teacher category, there were two levels. Level 1 involved recording, editing and creating a video/static presentation based on the students’ activity in Levels 2 and 4. While in Level 2, teachers were required to answer 100 questions in up to 60 minutes using an answer sheet.

Under the teacher’s category, teacher Marjorie A. Nariz and Ayra Patricia from the Philippines emerged as Champion followed by followed by Thailand (Phanbupha Jinawong & Temsiri Sirisombat) as 1st runner-up and Malaysia (Muazam Mokhtar) as 2nd runner-up. The teacher’s category team from the Philippines won a gold medal, RM800 cash prize and certificates of achievement. Meantime, the teams from Thailand and Malaysia secured the silver and bronze medals, RM600 and RM400 cash prizes and certificates of achievement respectively.

The panel of judges for the STEM Challenge and teachers’ category competition were Ms. Mary Jane O'Callaghan (Curtin College, Australia), Mr. Yuji Otsuka (Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Volunteer), Mr. Lee Shok Mee (Consultant, SEAMEO RECSAM) and Mr. Gan Teck Hock (Education Specialist, SEAMEO RECSAM).

All well-deserved winners were given recognition and received their awards on 8 March 2019 from the Guest of Honour, Dr. Gatot Hari Priowirjanto, the Director of SEAMEO Secretariat based in Bangkok, Thailand.

The SEAMEO Science Olympiad is a unique platform of inspiration and scientific knowledge simulation of future scientists and science academicians all over Southeast Asia and beyond. SEASO is also a venue for sharing and dissemination of information on all fields of science studies, namely physical science, life science, social science, formal science and applied science. The programme plays a strong role in encouraging and involving young learners in pursuing science knowledge as well as to increase the awareness of young learners about the relationship between various science fields in daily lives.

REGULAR COURSE

The regular courses, which are designed to address the needs of teachers and educators from the SEAMEO member countries, are stimulating, creative and responsive in meeting their professional needs.  The themes and topics of the four-week courses are determined in consultation with all member countries through strategic planning workshops that serve to assess past performances and identify emerging trends, and principal lines of action for educational development. The courses are conducted by RECSAM on a regular basis.

General Guidelines

The general guidelines for conducting regular courses are as follows:

• There are 4 regular courses planned for each of the fiscal year.
• One representative from each SEAMEO member country, selected by their respective Ministries of Education, is awarded a scholarship sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Malaysia.
• Member countries are welcome to send fee-paying participants for the regular courses.

At the end of the course, the participants are awarded a certificate of attendance.  They will be awarded another certificate upon completing the multiplier effect criteria after the course. The multiplier effect is part of the requirement of the course which encourages knowledge and skills learnt during the course to be propagated and shared among fellow educators when the participants return to their respective countries.

Regular Courses Updates

Regular Courses for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 (Batch 2)

1. Title: Enhancing Secondary Science Education Through Professional Learning Community (PLC) Engaging In Classroom-Based Research
   Date: 6 - 31 May 2024
   Field: Science Education
   Course Supervisor: Dr. Parvinder Singh Amar Singh
   Mode: Face-to-Face 
   Status: OPEN FOR APPLICATION
   [Information Booklet Download]
   
   
2. Title: Implementing Classroom-Based Assessment In Secondary Mathematics Education
   Field: Mathematics Education
   Date: 6 - 31 May 2024
   Course Supervisor: Dr. Wan Noor Adzmin Mohd Sabri
   Mode: Face-to-Face
   Status: OPEN FOR APPLICATION
   [Information Booklet Download]
   

Regular Courses for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 (Batch 1)

1. Title: Embracing Inquiry-Based Science Education To Enhance Instructional Capacity Of Primary Science Teachers
   Date: 7 August – 1 September 2023
   Field: Science Education
   Course Supervisor: Dr. Nanthini Jayaram
   Mode: Face-to-Face 
   Status: COMPLETED
   
   
2. Title: Promoting Inquiry Learning In Primary Mathematics
   Field: Mathematics Education
   Date: 7 August – 1 September 2023
   Course Supervisor: Dr. Jeyaletchumi Muthiah
   Mode: Face-to-Face
   Status: COMPLETED
   

Regular Courses for Fiscal Year 2022/2023 (Batch 2)

1. Title: Promoting Primary Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education through Standard-Based Science Curriculum
   Date: 2-26 May 2023
   Field: Science Education
   Course Supervisor: Ms Sanura Jaya
   Mode: Face-to-Face 
   Status: COMPLETED
   
   
2. Title: Promoting Inquiry Learning in Secondary Mathematics
   Field: Mathematics Education
   Date: 2-26 May 2023
   Course Supervisor: Dr Kamalambal Durairaj
   Mode: Face-to-Face
   Status: COMPLETED

Regular Courses for Fiscal Year 2022/2023 (Batch 1)

1. Title: Promoting Primary Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education through Standard-Based Science Curriculum
   Date: 1-26 August 2022
   Field: Science Education
   Course Supervisor: Ms. Deva Nanthini Sinniah and Dr. Zainun Mustafa
   Mode: Face-to-Face 
   Status: COMPLETED
   
   
2. Title: Promoting Teacher Professional Development in Primary Mathematics Education through Classroom-Based Research
   Field: Mathematics Education
   Date: 1-26 August 2022
   Course Supervisor: Dr. Warabhorn Preechaporn
   Mode: Face-to-Face
   Status: COMPLETED

Regular Courses for Fiscal Year 2021/2022 (Batch 1)

1. Title: Enhancing Primary Science Education Through Professional Learning Community Engaging in Classroom-based Research
   Date: 2-27 August 2021
   Field: Science Education
   Course Supervisor: Dr Thiruchelvam Kandaiah
   Mode: Online
   Status: COMPLETED
   
   
2. Title: Developing Conceptual Understanding in Primary Mathematics Through Standard-based Curriculum and Best pedagogical Practices
   Field: Mathematics Education
   Date: 2-27 August 2021
   Course Supervisor: Ms Teh Kim Hong
   Mode: Online
   Status: COMPLETED

Regular Courses for Fiscal Year 2019/2020 (Batch 2)

1. Title: Technology Enhanced Learning in Primary Science Education [brief]
   Field: Science Education
   Date: 1-26 February 2021
   Course Supervisor: Mr Sharfuddin Abdul Shukor
   Mode: Online
   Status: COMPLETED
   
   
2. Title: Purposeful Assessment in Secondary Mathematics Classrooms [brief]
   Field: Mathematics Education
   Date: 15 February -12 March 2021
   Course Supervisor: Dr Warabhorn Preechaporn
   Mode: Online
   Status: COMPLETED

2019

SEAMEO Science Olympiad (SEASO)
5-8 March 2019 | [Go to SEASO website]

TIMSS International Symposium
13 November 2019 | [Go to TIMSS International Symposium website]

Conference on Science and Mathematics Education (COSMEd)
11-15 November 2019 | [Go to CoSMEd website]

2020

SEAMEO Search for Young Scientists Plus (SSYS⁺): 12 Regional Congress
2-6 March 2020 | [Go to SSYS⁺ website]