Today@Sam Article
SHSU Professor Participates In Fulbright Specialist Program In Indonesia
Nov. 25, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd
By Jette Morris
Li-Jen Lester, a professor of computer science and associate dean of the College of Science and Engineering Technology at Sam Houston State University, led a successful, collaborative workshop in Indonesia as part of her participation in the Fulbright Specialist Program. The workshop developed teacher educator competencies in STEM-based learning and was held in partnership with the faculty of mathematics and natural sciences at Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), and its STEM Education Centre.
The workshop was a hands-on activity for the 24 attendees, 70% of which were new faculty members who would teach a STEM course within the upcoming semester. Participants included those who had teaching experience at the secondary level to others who would be teaching in higher education for the first time.
Lester felt very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as a Fulbright Specialist and shared how impressed the Indonesian lecturers were with the excellent engagement and enthusiasm throughout the workshop.
"It truly was inspiring to witness such a high level of engagement from the lecturers, many of whom are embarking on their first teaching experiences in STEM," Lester said.
The workshop focused on active learning strategies for enhancing STEM education. Some interactive teaching techniques that were discussed with participants included: think, pair, share, gallery walk, deliberative dialogue, fishbowl exercises and three-minute presentations. Aside from practical training, lecturers used digital tools to support a gamified and interactive learning process with online resources. The workshop was brought to a close with a final demonstration, where participants could perform role-playing exercises with the new skills that they had practiced to enhance interaction and fun in the learning process.
During the end of the workshop, Lester and her UNJ colleagues talked about future collaboration. SHSU has invited further academic collaboration either in the form of a 2+2 undergraduate or a 3+2 graduate program, allowing students from both institutions to earn multiple degrees in a span of four to five years while splitting their time studying between SHSU and UNJ. Both university programs would allow students from each university to explore academic experiences across cultures and broaden global perspectives. Also under discussion is the possibility of offering study abroad in the future, where students would be able to study in the U.S. during summer sessions.
"These types of exchange programs create opportunities for students to gain professional knowledge and experience from two different faculty groups in different cities," Lester said. "SHSU has articulated a program for students in which two years would be taken at our partner's home site with the other two years taken at the SHSU campus, earning bachelor's degrees from both universities. Students pursuing a master's degree would take their first two years at the partner's home site, and continue their studies for three years at SHSU."
The partnership between Sam Houston State University and Universitas Negeri Jakarta shows the growing importance of international collaboration in advancing the cause of STEM education worldwide.
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