BY DEZIREEN GALOH
KUCHING: Sekolah Menengah (SM) Min Lit Batu Kawa recently concluded its four day STEAM & AI Teacher Transformation Training Programme, involving 27 teachers in a structured initiative to enhance teaching through technology and interdisciplinary learning.
The programme, organised in collaboration with FAME International College, is the first structured effort among Sarawak Chinese Independent Secondary Schools to integrate the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) and artificial intelligence (AI) in teacher development.
Designed with a progressive approach, the training moved from creative thinking and structured teaching methods to the integration of both, before culminating in practical applications.
Grounded on Project-Based Learning (PBL), the 5E instructional model and engineering design, the programme incorporated robotics and AI through hands-on workshops.
Teachers developed lesson plans, assessment rubrics and Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions, translating theory into classroom practice.
The training also progressed from low-tech STEAM challenges to computational thinking, robotics and data literacy, with AI supporting inquiry-based learning.
On the third day, themed Smart Living, participants engaged in internet of things (IoT) and 3D printing activities, including ESP32 programming and smart home design.
The final day focused on applying AI in teaching, covering lesson preparation, classroom design and multimodal content creation, while promoting a human-AI collaboration model.
At the closing ceremony, Batu Kitang State Assemblyman Datuk Lo Khere Chiang, represented by City Councillor Gerald Goh, stressed the need for educators to keep pace with evolving technology.
“Modern education must keep up with the times, and teachers should make full use of smart classrooms and digital tools to achieve more effective learning outcomes,” he said.
Principal Lai Soh Ching said the programme strengthened teachers’ understanding of STEAM and AI while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
“By emphasising hands-on practice, teachers transform into creators, while cross-disciplinary collaboration enhances both creativity and structure in teaching,” said Lai.
Meanwhile, FAME International College chief executive officer David Chew said the training enhanced teachers’ ability to apply modern technology in the classroom.
“The workshop strengthened teachers’ ability to integrate STEAM thinking into pedagogy while combining creativity, logical thinking and AI application,” he said.
The programme concluded with a certificate presentation, marking a step forward in innovation and transformation within local Chinese education.
