Padang Jawa, 23 May 2024 – As technology evolves at an unprecedented rate, final-year students from the College of Computing, Informatics, and Mathematics (KPPIM) at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, in collaboration with Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Jawa (SK Padang Jawa), have taken the initiative to organize a smart learning programme in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Aligned with Malaysia’s AI Talent Roadmap 2024 – 2030, this exposure to AI technology for primary school students aims to help children understand how this technology is applied in daily life. The programme is part of the Service-Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM) initiative.
The programme, under the supervision of KPPIM’s senior lecturer Puan Saidatul Rahah Hamidi, involved final year students of Bachelor of Intelligent Systems Engineering (CS259) and almost 150 students of SK Padang Jawa. Thorough preparations were made to ensure the success of the event, including KPPIM students conducting data collection and interviews, such as surveys among the programme participants, to refine the students’ knowledge and attitudes towards AI. Subsequently, this helps KPPIM students design engaging and relevant experiences to maximize the impact on the students’ learning and interest in AI.
The event began with a talk on artificial intelligence entitled “Smart Learning AI” led by Faiq Nazhan, one of the KPPIM’s CS259 final year student. Participants were introduced to the basics of artificial intelligence and examples of its applications in daily life, followed by an “AI Explorace” session with activities, such as “Quickdraw,” “Emootion,” “Recycle Heroes,” “Traffic Light & Pail Pong,” and “GenAI”. This session not only sparked the interest of SK Padang Jawa’s Year 5 students in AI but also instilled critical thinking and problem-solving skills in them.
The activities have received multiple positive responses from teachers, including participants among the students of SK Padang Jawa. Encik Mohd Salahuddin Bin Nayan, the Headmaster of SK Padang Jawa, greatly appreciates and supports UiTM’s efforts in enhancing AI-based learning at the school.
MEGA KPPIM SULAM Program 2023/2024 is one of the initiatives aimed at empowering and serving the community through volunteer activities. KPPIM undergraduate students were given the opportunity to apply their knowledge practically and discover how the knowledge acquired can also improve the living standards of the local community. Such activities not only bring positive impacts to the community but also support the aspirations of the fourth (4) and eleventh (11) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which is Quality Education, as well as Sustainable Cities and Communities. It also upholds the government’s aspiration and visions of Malaysia Madani.
Authors: Aniq Hazriq, Muhammad Syukran, Muhammad Fakhrul Imran, Saidatul Rahah Hamidi (Editor: Afdallyna Harun, KPPIM News Team)