Diluting university research into school project in catalysing early interest in physics-engineering

Abstract

This paper is the result committed by the collaboration between Al Mashoor High School and School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia to bridge the gap of knowledge between school students and their future endeavour in science and technology, specifically electronics, electrical and computer engineering. Innovative approach has been put forward in upgrading the context of teaching and learning of physics subject in school. In this project, students have been exposed to real engineering design process through the development of simplified turbidity meter. This project is done by diluting a related university project into a simplified version of the system. A “straight forward design approach” introduced in this design eliminates the need for complex amplification and algorithmic processing circuitry thus producing a simpler version of turbidity meter that can be easily understood by high school students. The science principles applied through this project has further increase students' appreciation towards physics subjects in school. Hence, reaching beyond school syllabus through the suggested outreach effort should be implemented in broader sense to raise more young interest in physics-engineering.