STEM, STEM, STEM... Awesome

STEM, STEM, STEM Mantab  Jiwa

(A Worthless Piece of Writing from a Chronic Latecomer)

On Tuesday, 2 April 2019, the Chemistry Education study programme of UIN Sunan Kalijaga held a public lecture. The public lecture organised by Chemistry Education this time took the theme Application of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)-Based Research in Facing the Industrial Revolution 4.0 Era. Why this theme, of all things? Because if you want to raise your status, the way is not a public lecture but congregational tahajud prayer. With speakers from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, namely Dr. Pujianto, S.Pd., M.Pd. and Dr. Antuni Wiyarsari, S.Pd. Si., M.Sc. Held in the theatrical hall of the Faculty of Science and Technology, the public lecture involved the Chemistry Education family of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, both students and lecturers. With a number of participants no greater than the amount of dust in the Sahara desert (yes, of course), the public lecture proceeded interestingly with several performances presented by several Chemistry Education students.

Judging by how the event unfolded, from the start until the theatre lights closed their eyes, the programme ran smoothly (this is not a paint-shop promotion). First, I will lay out this piece from the committee's point of view. As a committee member, it was certainly an honour to be part of this public lecture organised by Chemistry Education. From beginning to end of the event there were no significant obstacles. Why? Because what is significant to me is not obstacles but him/her (hehe). In addition, a committee made up of diverse members, not from just one cohort, gave a positive value: besides helping the cohorts get to know each other, a committee like this can encourage a diversity of ideas thanks to the many different backgrounds of its members.

In addition, the material presented is material that students in the education department genuinely need. Until now STEM has not been widely taught to students because it has focused only on vocational students. Moreover, students have not received adequate STEM education. Raising STEM as the main topic can equip education students to conduct more varied learning. It is hoped that in future, education students will have a broader view of how they will teach, one way being to apply this STEM concept. So that when they teach later they will not be monotonous, using the same learning model over and over. After all, we are not a Ferris wheel that only turns around that one axis; we need something new if it does no harm, why not?

If you have read this far, then you are at the end of this piece. There are many things that can be taken as lessons. But that does not mean there were no obstacles at all. For future committees, may the shortcomings of this event become a reflection and be improved. That is all for this worthless piece, may it not mislead its readers.