Bandung, Indonesia. Students from undergraduate and postgraduate Science Education programmes at the Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), recently took part in a public lecture titled “Investigating Student Well-Being and Environmental Education with Wearables.”

The lecture was delivered by Dr Kenneth Y. T. Lim, accompanied by his research team—Alan J. H. Tan, Jie Bin Lok, and Bryan Z. W. Kuok—and took place on Monday morning, 8 December 2024. The event brought together students and academics interested in the intersection of science education, technology, and student well-being.

The session was officially opened by Prof. Dr. phil. Ari Widodo, M.Ed, Head of the Science Education Study Programme at UPI. He welcomed the speakers and emphasised the importance of exposing future science educators to emerging technologies and innovative research approaches.

Dr Kenneth Y. T. Lim is a Research Scientist at the Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He works at the intersection of cultural anthropology, learning sciences, and cognitive psychology, with extensive experience in curriculum design, teaching, and research on new media literacies and technology-supported learning environments. Dr Lim has contributed to educational research internationally, including work on wearable technologies, virtual and augmented reality in education, and socially responsible learning projects. He has been invited by organisations such as UNESCO for his expertise in education innovation and has published widely in international journals on topics spanning augmented reality, virtual reality, and learning science research.

In his lecture, Dr Lim discussed the use of cutting-edge technologies in science education, with a particular focus on Arduino platforms and sensors. He explained that while sophisticated devices such as smartphones and smartwatches are already widely available, understanding the basic principles behind how these technologies are built—using simpler and smaller-scale tools—remains essential for meaningful student learning.

“Technology should not only be used, but also understood,” Dr Lim emphasised. “Building devices with basic components helps students learn how technology works, not just how to operate it.”

Drawing on examples from Singapore, Dr Lim demonstrated how wearable technologies can be used to investigate student well-being and learning environments. He also stressed that developing countries such as Indonesia have the potential to implement similar initiatives, as technological advancement today is no longer constrained by national boundaries but by willingness and creativity.

Dr Lim further highlighted the importance of adaptive teachers who are responsive to rapid technological developments, including artificial intelligence (AI). To illustrate this point, he invited two students to perform a short role-play in which future students discussed the impact of AI across different contexts. The activity created an engaging and reflective atmosphere, encouraging students to think critically about the future of education.

Following Dr Lim’s presentation, members of his research team shared their ongoing projects:

• Alan J. H. Tan presented a project on sensors used to measure students’ body temperature and heart rate during learning activities, highlighting how wearables can provide insights into student well-being.
• Jie Bin Lok discussed the development of climatic sensors designed to monitor environmental conditions in classrooms.

• Bryan Z. W. Kuok introduced a virtual reality (VR) project focused on city and environmental mapping for school students, demonstrating how immersive technologies can enhance environmental education.

The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, followed by a group photo. Overall, the public lecture provided valuable insights into how wearable technologies and emerging digital tools can support science education, student well-being, and environmental awareness in both developed and developing contexts.

Contributor: Ikmanda Nugraha