Frugal STEM

The Frugal STEM project aims to provide teachers with innovative pedagogical approaches and curriculum transformation in alignment with the Ministry of Education and Training’s policy (2018). Teachers are able to (i) gain insights into Frugal and Playful education, (ii) co-design learning materials and activities, (iii) demonstrate their lesson plans and teaching; and (iv) showcase their curriculum development.

sIn the workshops, teachers and students experienced playful learning and frugal education through gamification such as Folding Scope, Recycled Fish Tank, Maze Maths, Rainbow Science, MadLib Theatre, Escape Games, History Improvisation, and more, guided by the ACES Team. They then worked together, analysed the frugal and playful aspects of their designs, and co-designed a toolkit of playful learning activities, which are both context-based and textbook-adapted, making use of frugal materials and cultural aspects.

These activities empowered teachers and students’ capability in addressing local issues and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 – Good health and well-being; SDG 4 – Quality education; and SDG 5 – Gender equality. Resilience, cultural awareness, and employability were also in focus to support younger generations in building their future.

The case study has been active since September 2020 and is set to complete by June 2022. It consists of 4 major sections: (i) Introduction of ACES and Frugal STEM, (ii) Gamification/Design Thinking, (iii) Evaluation of a design based on Playful and Frugal Aspects, (iv) Gamification Hackathons and Showcases.

• Building trust and creating a good rapport with local institutions
• Maintaining strong collaboration and support between stakeholders and the team
• Encouraging teachers’ confidence and commitment by providing on-going facilitation and school-based development programs
• Simplifying instructions and guidelines for teachers and teacher trainers
• Facilitating and encouraging teachers to recycle part of their current lesson plan

• For policy makers: provision of system levels support for curriculum transformation, with particular regards to innovative approaches
• For school governors: provision of support for teachers’ school-based continuous professional development (CPD)
• For teachers: commitment for CPD so as to become change agents other than responding to the requirements by fiat
• For project team members: further support and collaboration in planning the activities and recycling resources