Today, we're going to revisit SAM Labs to integrate STEM education in the classroom either physically or virtually. We're sure everyone has heard or have some of our beloved SAM Labs kit at your school or in your household. SAM Labs has been great tools and instruments for all age to learn coding and STEM learning.
For those who are new to SAM Labs, it's an app-enabled construction kits, designed for people of all ages to learn STEM, play, and create with technology and the Internet of Things. We have created a special page for SAM Labs along with our fresh new website, you can read more about it here.
There are a variety of SAM Labs kit options that each come packed with a range of wireless blocks and accessories including motors, sliders, buttons, lights, and sensors. Each block connects via Bluetooth and acts as either an input or output. The power of these blocks is when used with the SAM Studio. Students are able to program the blocks, using flow-based coding or block-based coding to perform specific actions, allowing them to design any system their imagination allows.
Last year, SAM Labs introduced SAM Studio, a web-based application that houses educators’ longtime favorite coding application, SAM Space, and new soon to be favorite, SAM Blockly (previously Google Workbench). With your favorite coding features from both platforms, but now backed by the dependable power of web-browser access, SAM Studio is an easily accessible and frictionless coding platform for all school districts. Read more about SAM Studio launch here and some of the best features of SAM Studio here.
If you're new to SAM Studio and SAM Labs generally, we have also compiled a list of videos to help you get started. Click here to watch it on YouTube.
Cybertech approach on introducing STEM and easy way to learn Coding with SAM Labs to educational institutes and educators includes:
1. School Visits for Hands-on Demonstration
Before the Covid-19 pandemic shocked the world, Cybertech was constantly invited to conduct a hands-on workshop throughout education institute around Malaysia. We have in-house SAM Labs Certified Educators to conduct the training. Most schools and State Education invites our trainers for a 3-4 hours (half-day) workshop, with the participations of students and teachers. The itinerary usually starts with our certified educators briefing and giving an introduction on STEM Approach and the importance of STEM for the 21st Century Learner. Then, the trainer will move on to hands-on activities. Usually, at the end of every workshop, participants will understand more on the STEM approach and eventually understands the basic of programming.
If you're interested for a hands-on demonstration, you can contact us directly here or contact one of our resellers from the list here.
2. Online Workshop/Webinar
Ever since the pandemic that is still going around, we at Cybertech have hosted multiple online webinars since the first movement control order which was around last year till current. This was done to expand and the increase the awareness of STEM education via SAM Labs products and apps.
Recently, Cybertech hosted a 4-hour webinar session for Minggu Sains Negara 2021, with the theme of Empowering Teachers in STEM Education and Coding on April 7, 2021. With Dr. Rafee , TKPPM, KPM doing the opening for the webinar and around 7 higher education institute involved such as UPM, UKM, UPSI, IPGK Temenggong Ibrahim. All the education institutes was provided with SAM Labs Maker Kits for them to have a hands-on experience to learn, explore and create physically during the webinar. The webinar received great response from participants.
We have also recorded a livestream of the webinar, you can watch the webinar below.
If you're interested for online webinar session with our SAM Labs Certified Educators, please contact us here for more info.
3. smartMalaysia SAM Labs STEM Challenge 2020
Last year, Cybertech Malaysia alongside Pusat STEM Negara debuted the first-ever smartMalaysia SAM Labs STEM Challenge 2020, with the support of Ministry of Education, and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The virtual competition focused on giving students from all over Malaysia the opportunity to showcase their amazing STEM and coding projects while utilizing SAM Labs and stand the chance to win amazing prizes. This was a huge step for us to introduce SAM Labs nationwide.
Even though the competition was organized virtually due to the pandemic, from registration to winner announcement, we still received great responses and participations from all around Malaysia. Students were able to produce great projects using SAM Blocks and SAM Space App. Some of the participants even integrate SAM Labs with other products such as Lego and Arduino, extending to more functions and programming capabilities. This shows that Malaysian student are interested in STEM education, albeit lack of exposure and materials.
Below are videos of the winners for 2020 smartMalaysia SAM Labs STEM Challenge.
So, how to integrate SAM Labs into the classrooms?
To support teachers in implementing SAM Labs in their classrooms, SAM Labs have provided a range of STEM lesson ideas and teacher support materials. We have compiled all the STEM lesson plans in this page, which includes:
Teacher guide
Curriculum-aligned lesson plans covering a variety of subjects
Inspiration and instructions for additional SAM Labs projects
Downloadable and interactive activity logs
These user-friendly resources guide teachers and give them the confidence to successfully design their own learning experiences for their students. Students from primary school and even some students in universities have been producing great and innovative projects using SAM Labs, you can read and learn more about it here.
We have introduced SAM Labs to students and teachers nationwide with structured time to explore and play with each of the blocks. This allowed each student to familiarize themselves with a range of possibilities of what could be achieved with this resource.
Designing learning experiences that incorporate SAM Labs has allowed students to develop their creativity and innovative thinking to be able to solve problems relating to the real world. Some schools and even universities have adopted this cordless digital technology with confidence due to its simplicity and functionality. With a little imagination, teachers can design exciting projects with SAM Labs, inspiring students to design, create, and problem solve to achieve success.
How would you use SAM Labs in your classroom? We would love to hear from you!
For more information about Hands-on Demonstration and SAM Labs training via online webinar please contact us our representative:
Here is some other links and references you might wanna check out: