Enhancing STEM Literacy and Interest through an Internet of Things (IoT) Workshop for Senior High School Students at SMAN 24 Bandung

Abstract

This community service program aims to enhance students’ technological literacy and interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through an Internet of Things (IoT) workshop conducted at SMAN 24 Bandung. The program adopted a project-based and hands-on learning approach, implemented through three stages: preparation, workshop implementation, and evaluation. The workshop was delivered in four sessions, covering fundamental IoT concepts, programming of the ESP12 (ESP8266-based) microcontroller using Arduino IDE and Node-RED, and sensor data integration with cloud platforms. Program effectiveness was evaluated using pre-test and post-test assessments as well as final project evaluation. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in students’ learning outcomes, with an average increase of 8.34 points between pre-test and post-test scores, and most participants achieving maximum scores in the final project assessment. In addition to cognitive gains, students exhibited high engagement and improved problem-solving skills through the development of simple IoT prototypes. Overall, this program successfully strengthened students’ understanding of IoT concepts and provided learning modules and equipment that support the school’s capacity to implement the Merdeka Curriculum. In addition to improving students’ learning outcomes, the program provided social and educational benefits for participating students. The workshop encouraged active participation, teamwork, and greater confidence in using IoT technologies. It also increased students’ interest in STEM-related topics through direct experience in developing simple IoT applications. Furthermore, the provision of reusable IoT starter kits and learning modules supports the continued implementation of practical learning activities at SMAN 24 Bandung.