Project ACE is an afterschool coding program at SMK Taman Sejahtera aimed at improving students' English literacy, coding knowledge, numeracy skills, and interest in STEM careers. Its goals are to develop students' computational thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and perseverance skills. Activities include biweekly coding classes using Scratch and ExploringCS, factory visits, workshops, and specializations in areas like robotics and software development. Challenges include sustainability, funding, and the need for more mentors. Key learnings highlighted students' interest in hands-on making and breaking of projects, the teacher's facilitator role, and that students can excel given opportunities rather than limitations. The future direction

2. An introduction to SMK Taman Sejahtera
Why Project ACE?
Project ACE Vision and Goals
Project ACE Execution and Milestones
Project ACE Challenges
Key Learning from Project ACE
Project ACE Future Direction

3. An introduction to SMK Taman Sejahtera
Why Project ACE?
Project ACE Vision and Goals
Project ACE Execution and Milestones
Project ACE Challenges
Key Learning from Project ACE
Project ACE Future Direction

4. SNAPSHOT OF SMK TAMAN SEJAHTERA
2292th
41%
37%
22%
Percentage of
students population
Malay
Chinese
Indian
• Ranked
out of 2375 secondary
schools in the country
800 54
• Close to students with teachers
60%
Comes from lower
income household
(<RM1500 per month)

5. DE
8%
DJ
12%
DU
2%
DK
14%
DN
46%
DR
15%
In 2013, out of the 1 827 disciplinary demerit points*,
46% were for classroom truancy
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Peralihan
Form 1
Form 2
Form3
Form 4
Form 5
DR
DN
DK
DU
DJ
DE
Disrupting lessons and disrespecting
teachers are the top 2 offenses amongst
Peralihan students
* Each offense are tagged with different number of demerit points. All have been standardized to 1 point each for the purpose of this report.
Code Definition
DN Classroom truancy
DR Incomplete homework
DE Loitering in school compound during lessons
DJ Disrupting lessons
DK Disrespecting teachers
DU Criminal groups behavior (berkelakuan seperti
kongsi gelap)
Breakdown of offenses according to
Form

6. Project ACE is an afterschool program that meets twice per week to
learn problem solving through computer programming

7. An introduction to SMK Taman Sejahtera
Why Project ACE?
Project ACE Vision and Goals
Project ACE Execution and Milestones
Project ACE Challenges
Key Learning from Project ACE
Project ACE Future Direction

8. But, why coding?

9. “By 2020, there will be 1.2 million
computer science jobs available
worldwide with only 400 thousand
students learning to code. There is a
great opportunity to be filled against a
backdrop of a highly competitive
workplace. It is therefore imperative
that young people understand
computer science and basic
programming as those skills are the
foundation for many jobs today as well
as the future
-Carlos Larcerda, Managing Director,
Microsoft Malaysia

10. PROBLEMS FACED
National
Community
Student
• Job market of the future
• K-Economy
• Global trend
• Digital divide
• Digital divide
• Low academic achievement
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Digital empowerment

11. National
Community
Student
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2006 2008 2013
RM
(‘
billion)
ICT Market in Malaysia
• ICT related market to become the main driver of economy in the 21st century
• ICT market growth exceeds GDP growth
• K-Economy for the country – vision 2020
Source: Reports from Jobstreet Graduate Tracer Study, MOSTI, MOHE and MIGHT (References available upon requests)

12. National
Community
Student
• Declining supply and quality of ICT graduates in the country
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
ICT students enrollment in tertiary institutions
Public University Private University Total
Source: Reports from Jobstreet Graduate Tracer Study, MOSTI, MOHE and MIGHT (References available upon requests)

13. National
Community
Student
Digital
Divide
Access and cost
Knowledge and
use
Internet
penetration rate
Urban 76% VS
Rural 24%
Usage of internet
increases with
level of education
Source: MCMC – Internet Trend and Usage 2012, Pocket book of Statistic Q1 2014
50.5%
respondents who
doesn’t have a
computer or
internet cited
lack of skills as
main reasons
13.3%
respondents who
doesn’t have a
computer or
internet cited
high costs as
main reasons
About 1/3 of
students in Project
ACE does not
subscribe internet
services or have a
computer at home
Close to 100% of
students said that
computer uses are
limited to social
media and
entertainment

14. National
Community
Student
Academic
• English literacy of students in the
project are on average 3 levels
below their supposed level
• Low numeracy – PISA shows
results are worse than the nation’s
average
Soft skills
• Lack of critical thinking skills
• Lack of problem solving skills
Aspirations
• Needs aspirations about future
career goals
• Many interested in STEM jobs but
do not know where to start

15. “The Government is committed to supporting training programs that grant youth the necessary skills required to face the
challenges of a competitive global workforce. This role is not exclusively the Government’s but also a shared responsibility with
the private sector and other key stakeholders. We are glad that Microsoft has taken the initiative to produce Code for Malaysia
as it supports the Government’s push towards an innovation economy.”
- Khairy Jamaluddin,
Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia,
in response to Microsoft sponsorship of Code for Malaysia, 2014
The introduction of ICT foundation in secondary schools needs to be further promoted....... The inclusion [and promotion] of ICT
as a foundation subject will equip Malaysians with the necessary skills and knowledge in problem solving, system analysis and
computer logic/ programming…..These skills will be useful even if the students choose not to pursue ICT courses in their tertiary
education. This policy will go a long way in widening our ICT pool of human resource
ICT Human Capital Development Framework
MOHE 2012

16. An introduction to SMK Taman Sejahtera
Why Project ACE?
Project ACE Vision and Goals
Project ACE Execution and Milestones
Project ACE Challenges
Key Learning from Project ACE
Project ACE Future Direction

17. • English literacy
• Coding knowledge
• Numeracy skills
• Interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) jobs
• Entrepreneurship
• Lifelong skills
• Computational thinking skills
• Confidence in dealing with complex problems
• Persistence to work through difficult problems
• Team work
PROJECT VISION

18. • English literacy
• Coding knowledge
• Numeracy skills
Classes to be conducted exclusively
in English
Materials to be in English only
Creating a need to use and learn
English
Mathematical logic and reasoning
that is inherent in coding*
Improves numeracy skills
*Nick Morrison, 2013 in Forbes

19. Coding classes
Coding contests Character building goals
Community problem solving
• Computational thinking skills
• Confidence in dealing with complex problems
• Persistence to work through difficult problems
• Team work

20. Factory Visits
Startup Weekend
Aspiration goals
• Interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) jobs
• Entrepreneurship
• Lifelong skills

21. An introduction to SMK Taman Sejahtera
Why Project ACE?
Project ACE Vision and Goals
Project ACE Execution and Milestones
Project ACE Challenges
Key Learning from Project ACE
Project ACE Future Direction

22. ACTIVITIES
Selection of 30 students
• Students are selected based on
application
• 30 students were selected with
30% female students
• Students ranged from 14 year-
old to 17 year-old
Core activities
• Twice per week class following
ExploringCS Syllabus
• Visits to factories
• Guest speakers / External
workshops
Specialization
• Students will be streamed based
on interest and abilities
• Currently 4 streams are possible:
• Robotics
• Embedded Processors*
• Software Development
• Web development
• Interested students may form
group to make their own start up

23. Embedded Processors
Input Processing Output

24. Robotics
Input Processing Output

25. Scratch by MIT
Allows students to learn to think
creatively, reason systematically, and work
collaboratively to program their own
interactive stories, games and animations
Project ACE Scratch Studio:
http://scratch.mit.edu/studios/391566/

26. Students see the problem
Students conduct
research and design
thinking to come up with
an innovative solution
Students execute the
solution in the minimum
possible standard
Students expand and
extend the solution
Students reflect and
review on current
solution
Students generalize the
solution
Software coding
skills
Embedded
processors
Lego robots Design thinking
Problem solving
skills
Communication
skills
Persistence and
resilience in
doing work
• A mobile app?
• A lego robot?
• Devices with embedded
processors?
• Recommendations and suggestions
in the form of action research?
• A website?
• A web service?
• …?

27. An introduction to SMK Taman Sejahtera
Why Project ACE?
Project ACE Vision and Goals
Project ACE Execution and Milestones
Project ACE Challenges
Key Learning from Project ACE
Project ACE Future Direction

28. Sustainability
• Currently I am the
central figure of Project
ACE.
• How do I ensure the
continuity of the Project
even after I leave?
Lack
of
funding
• Building and making
projects require
purchasing of
equipment and
materials
• Where do I find the
money for Project ACE?
Mentorship
/
Teaching
Assistant
• As the only teacher, it’s
almost impossible for
me to ensure that
everyone understands
the concept
• How do I find volunteers
that are willing to work
as students’ mentor and
guide them through
Project ACE?
Mobilizes university to take
over the project as an
opportunity for them to
take up leadership role and
also sharpening their
technical skills
Students to fund raise
themselves for their project
Pitch to external sponsors
for money
Train the trainer –
specialization in students
Mobilizes working
engineers or university
students to be mentors

29. An introduction to SMK Taman Sejahtera
Why Project ACE?
Project ACE Vision and Goals
Project ACE Execution and Milestones
Project ACE Challenges
Key Learning from Project ACE
Project ACE Future Direction

30. Students are generally interested in making
their own things and they are not afraid in
breaking it and remaking it if it doesn’t work
Making VS
Breaking
My role in teaching programming is leaning a
lot towards a facilitator rather than a teacher
Facilitator VS
Teacher
Students will amaze you if given the
opportunities to do something extraordinary.
Opportunities
VS Limitation

31. An introduction to SMK Taman Sejahtera
Why Project ACE?
Project ACE Vision and Goals
Project ACE Execution and Milestones
Project ACE Challenges
Key Learning from Project ACE
Project ACE Future Direction

32. International standard curriculum Leverage ICT for learning Public-Private partnership

33. Self-contained co-curricular module
ICTL Curriculum revamp
Integration with FrogVLE
National campaign for a digital
literacy revolution for the country
Conclusion
of Project
ACE Year 1
Impact and
feasibility
study

34. David Chak
T : 6-017-6884105
M:shanchun.chak2013@teachformalaysia.org)