A mixed-methods study of school students as trendsetters on co-designing 3D-printed kits for interdisciplinary STEM education

Sufi Adriana Saiful Akla; Afiqah Umairah  Faizal Azli; Nur Allesya Hana Khairul Anhar; Mohd Shaiful  Sajab; Fadzidah  Mohd Idris; Hatika Kaco

doi:10.32674/8fm2hb34

Authors

Sufi Adriana Saiful Akla Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
Afiqah Umairah Faizal Azli Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
Nur Allesya Hana Khairul Anhar Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
Mohd Shaiful Sajab Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Fadzidah Mohd Idris Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
Hatika Kaco Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/8fm2hb34

Keywords:

3D printing, gifted students, mixed methods, peer mentoring, STEM education, student as trendsetter

Abstract

Secondary students in Malaysia turn away from STEM partly because the curriculum content is abstract and disconnected from real life. This mixed-methods study evaluated a Student-as-Trendsetter framework in which 10 gifted students codesigned 3D-printed STEM kits and mentored 88 peers. The classroom participants highly rated the peer-led sessions (M = 4.14–4.57), including the trendsetters’ expertise (M = 4.35). The trendsetters’ self-rated technical competency decreased significantly after the project (from 4.30–4.90 to 1.80–3.00; p < .001). Reflective journals showed that this decline was a healthy recalibration: moving from digital design to physical fabrication exposed real engineering constraints and built grounded, resilient confidence. The framework offers a low-cost route to engaging in student-led STEM learning.

Author Biographies

Sufi Adriana Saiful Akla, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

SUFI ADRIANA SAIFUL AKLA, is a secondary school students at Kolej PERMATA Insan, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia. Her research interests lie in the area 3D printing in education. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9516-9805.
Afiqah Umairah Faizal Azli, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

AFIQAH UMAIRAH FAIZAL AZLI, is a secondary school students at Kolej PERMATA Insan, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia. Her research interests lie in the area 3D printing in education. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9115-8283.
Nur Allesya Hana Khairul Anhar, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

NUR ALLESYA HANA KHAIRUL ANHAR, is a secondary school students at Kolej PERMATA Insan, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia. Her research interests lie in the area 3D printing in education. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9165-7137.
Mohd Shaiful Sajab, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

MOHD SHAIFUL SAJAB, Ph.D is an associate professor at the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia. His research focuses on sustainable materials in 3D printing applications. His work entends to 3D-printed educational tools. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8400-8090.
Fadzidah Mohd Idris, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

FADZIDAH MOHD IDRIS, Ph.D. is a senior lecturer at Kolej PERMATA Insan, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia. Her major research interests lie in the areas of Nanotechnology and current study in polymer composite 3D printing focusing on Electromagnetic Wave Absorber and STEM education. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6630-7281
Hatika Kaco, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

HATIKA KACO, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer at Kolej PERMATA Insan, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. Her major research interests lie in the areas of Materials Science and current study in polymer 3D printing and 3D printing in education. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8359-9359.

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