Schools In Penang Research Articles

A STUDY ON THE LEVEL OF COGNITIVE FACTORS, AFFECTIVE FACTORS AND WRITING PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN PAPER 4 OF THE MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY ENGLISH TEST IN MALAYSIA

The aim of this study is to analyse the level of cognitive (background knowledge, thinking maps use, critical thinking) factors, affective (writing self-efficacy, second language (L2) writing anxiety) factors and writing performance among students. This research adopts a quantitative approach through a survey methodology. The sample comprises 400 Malaysian University English Test (MUET) students from 26 schools in Penang, Malaysia. Data has been collected using six instruments: five questionnaires as well as one argumentative writing task. Descriptive statistics, including mean, percentage, frequency, and standard deviation, have been used to answer the research question. The outcomes indicate that the levels of background knowledge, writing self-efficacy, critical thinking, thinking maps use, and L2 writing anxiety are moderate. Because writing is an integral part of MUET, the outcomes of this study can serve as a springboard from which teachers can gain a deeper appreciation for background knowledge, writing self-efficacy, critical thinking, thinking maps use, and L2 writing anxiety. As a result, it may shed light on what teachers may do to assist these L2 writers in improving their background knowledge, writing self-efficacy, critical thinking, thinking maps use and overcoming their writing anxiety, which possesses a negative impact on their output.

Utilizing Critical and Creativity Thinking to Enhance ESL Grammar and Vocabulary in Narrative Essay Writing among Malaysian Form-Four Learners

English as a Second Language (ESL)learners need to master all the four language skills which are listening, speaking, reading, and writing unconditionally. Nevertheless, most Malaysian ESL learners face a major problem in writing skill when compared with the other three skills. The 21stcentury learning skills are divided into the main four skills which are communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity thinking. Henceforth, this study attempts to assess the usefulness of utilizing critical and creativity thinking-based activities among Malaysian upper secondary ESL learners in developing their grammar and vocabulary features to enable them to construct an appropriate and good piece of narrative essay. The participants of this research encompassed 17 Form-Four ESL learners from a secondary school in Penang, Malaysia. It was a mixed-method study, in which data were collected quantitatively by conducting pre-test and post-test, while the data were gathered qualitatively by using participant observation and document analysis. The findings indicated that relevant grammar and vocabulary activities by incorporating critical and creativity thinking of the 21stcentury main skills showed positive responses among the participants. It is hoped that the critical and creativity thinking-based activities would assist in learning and teaching narrative writing skills.

DAYLIGHTING PERFORMANCE OF HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN TROPICS

ABSTRACT The quality of the indoor environment, including the lighting conditions, is crucial in classrooms as it directly affects students’ learning performance and productivity. Natural light is the best light source for visual comfort, aesthetics, and energy efficiency. Malaysia is in a tropical region and has abundant daylight availability that could meet the required lighting during the day. However, in Malaysian schools, electric lights are frequently switched on during classes in the daytime; hence, daylighting is not efficiently utilised. This study investigates the daylighting performance in classrooms in a national high school in Penang, Malaysia. Fieldwork was conducted by measuring incident illumination levels inside selected classrooms in the Teluk Kumbar High School. The results show that average illumination levels were between 400 lux to 1000 lux, more than enough in most classrooms because of the relatively large windows with clear glass. The average daylight ratios recorded in the classrooms were between 6.4 and 9.2%, which may result in glare problems. Simulations were conducted using Design-Builder to further evaluate the annual daylighting performance including Daylight Autonomy (DA), Annual Sun Exposure (ASE) and Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI). Based on the findings, it is recommended to use shading devices or replace the glazing type to improve daylighting performance for visual comfort. Proper design and selection of windows in schools can significantly improve indoor lighting quality for students and reduce solar heat gain.

Quizizz-Based Gamification to Improve Fractions to Percentages Converting Ability among 5th Grade Students in SJKC Chong Cheng

It has been generally recognized that students face difficulties in solving daily problems involving percentages. This study was conducted to test the effect of the use of Quizizz-based gamification in improving the skills of students, especially in problems involving converting mixed numbers to percentages and vice versa. A total number of 40 Year 5 Ken students were selected as the treatment group while 37 students from 5 Qin were used as the control group. Both classes are from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Chong Cheng, which is the largest primary school in Penang. Preliminary tests for both classes were conducted. An intervention involving a gamification approach through the Quizizz-based gamification was conducted. Final tests for the same topic were conducted after the gamification approach and the conventional approach were conducted for both classes. Through this study, it was found that students from the treatment group who used the Quizizz-based gamification approach have shown significant improvement in the skills of converting fractions to percentages and vice versa.

The Xaverian Journey: The Story of a Lasallian School in Penang, Malaysia 1787–2019 (Book review)

The Xaverian Journey: The Story of a Lasallian School in Penang, Malaysia 1787–2019 (Book review)

Use of Pear Deck as an Interactive Tool in Teaching Reading Comprehension During the New Normal

Good English language proficiency is given attention by the Malaysian government in line with the global challenge where the use of ICT is emphasized. Through the introduction of the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025, the government is keen on ensuring every child is proficient in English. With the on-going battle against COVID-19 pandemic, online learning has become inevitable. However, students get demotivated when it comes to remote classes, especially in English lessons. As such, this research investigated students’ perceptions of the use of Pear Deck during the pandemic. This action research used a pre and post-test and employed a semi-structured interview where 20 Form Three students of average proficiency in an urban area school in Penang were purposely selected which provided needed data that was then analysed accordingly using SPSS for quantitative data and a thematic analysis in analysing qualitative data. Based on the discussion of data, it is revealed that active learning pedagogy practices are important factors in improving students’ success and they have a good perception towards the use of Pear Deck in reading activities during the pandemic. It is hoped that this study can encourage teachers in trying out Pear Deck in their ESL classroom for more engaging activities for the students.

Calibration of the science process skills among Malaysian elementary students: A Rasch model analysis

<p><span>This study aimed to calibrate the test items of science process skills used as a test at primary school students to provide information on the difficulty of each item. Data were collected from 128 standard five students in a primary school in Penang. The test was given in multiple-choice as many as 40 items consisting of 33 items partial credit test was developed to gather information from the students. The analysis included an assessment of the model’s assumptions and calibrations according to the individual items. Information on the Rasch calibration according to the topic were provided. Results revealed that the measurement made fulfilled both model-data fit and unidimensionality assumptions. Further analysis showed that observing and communicating were endorsed as the easiest to master while inferring and classifying were the most challenging. The study discussed the implication, particularly towards the teaching and learning of science process skills in the classroom. Teachers should seriously consider the science process skills when designing their teaching and learning strategies in the classroom.</span></p>

Female Transformational Leadership and Teachers’ Commitment: Mediating Effect of Perceived Organisational Politics

Gender has been identified as one of the key factors that influences the degree of transformational leadership practiced by the leaders and has an effect on job outcome. This study investigates the characteristics and level of female principals’ transformational leadership and interrelationship between the leadership with Perceived Organizational Politics (POPs) and teachers’ commitment in Malaysian secondary schools. Further, the mediating effect of POPs on the relationship between transformational leadership and teachers’ organizational commitment are also investigated. In total, 208 teachers from secondary schools in Penang led by female principals were selected as respondents. The results found that the level of transformational leadership practiced by female principals was moderately high. The female principals tended to inspire and motivate teachers but displayed their idealized influence characteristics in leadership less. The results also revealed that the level of POPs and organizational commitment of teachers led by female principals were moderate. In addition, the hierarchical linear regression results indicated that POPs partially mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and teachers’ organizational commitment. This study indicates that teachers’ organizational commitment can be improved by transformational leadership that is practiced by their leaders as well as the POPs at their schools.

Language Learning Strategies Used in Improving Writing Skills by Selected Form 4 ESL Learners

Language learning strategies (LLS) are very important in improving language skills especially writing. Having good writing skills is an attribute of a successful language learner. Certain learners will employ different learning strategies to acquire the skills. As writing is a crucial part in language learning, exploring the language learning strategies by ESL learners are worth reviewing especially in the context of young adult learners. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and explore the LLS commonly used to improve English writing by form 4 ESL learners in a secondary school in Penang. 30 students were purposely selected as the respondents in the study. A questionnaire adapted from Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) by Oxford (1990) was distributed to the students to identify their use of strategies in improving writing skills. The questionnaire was divided into two parts, with the first part aimed to gain demographic information about the learners and the second part, that consist of 30 items, attempted to obtain data about the strategies used. The respondents were required to respond to the items with a Likert scale of 1 to 4 points. The data collected was analysed with SPSS 26 software application and discussion of the findings was done. The findings revealed that metacognitive strategies are the most frequently applied strategies while affective strategies are the least applied in improving English writing skills by the Form 4 ESL learners. For further research, it is recommended to conduct a study to determine the factors affecting the LLS used by the ESL learners.

The evolving dynamics between instructional leadership, collective teacher efficacy, and dimensions of teacher commitment: what can Chinese independent high schools tell us?

ABSTRACT Although studies on instructional leadership are culturally and contextually specific, research in the Chinese high school settings remains scarce. This study attempts to examine the relationship between instructional leadership and the dimensions of teacher commitment with collective teacher efficacy as a mediator. Data were collected from 357 teachers in five Chinese Independent High Schools in Penang, Malaysia. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling method. Findings revealed that instructional leadership has a significant and direct relationship with teacher commitment to school-, students-, and teaching except the dimension of teacher commitment to profession. Collective teacher efficacy has a significant mediating effect between instructional leadership and each dimension of teacher commitment, namely commitment to school-, students-, teaching-, and profession. This study provides empirical findings for both local and international scholars to further explore the evolving dynamics between instructional leadership, collective teacher efficacy, and teacher commitment in future studies.

Effect of malocclusion severity on oral health related quality of life in Malay adolescents

BackgroundThe present study aims to determine the impact of malocclusion on oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) among 13–16 years old Malay school children.MethodsSchool children aged between 13 and 16 years old were randomly selected from a secondary school in Penang. Malay version of Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaires were given to the subjects. This questionnaire has 14 questions with seven domains which are functional limitation, psychological discomfort, physical pain, physical disability, psychological and social disability, and handicap. Index of orthodontic treatment need dental health component was used to assess the orthodontic treatment need. Overjet (reversed overjet), open bite, overbite, cross bite, impeded eruption, crowding, defects of cleft lip and palate, Class II and Class III buccal occlusion, present of supernumerary and hypodontia were assessed.Results255 students participated in this study. Mean score and standard deviation for OHIP-14 were 8.64 (± 7.32) for males and 11.05 (± 9.41) for females respectively. There was statistically significant difference in mean score of OHIP-14 between male and female (p = 0.023). A weak positive correlation was found between malocclusion severity and OHRQoL (r = 0.186; p < 0.01). Malocclusion had a negative impact on OHRQoL of the students in the present study. This impact was prominent in psychological discomfort and psychological disability domains of OHIP-14 (p < 0.05).ConclusionIncrease in severity of malocclusion was associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL. Females exhibited more negative impact of malocclusion on their OHRQoL. Psychological domain was the most affected one.

Psychometric analysis of a Malay language version of the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale

The extent to which the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) is sensitive and appropriate to be used in different cultural contexts remains underexplored in the literature. To address this research gap, this study attempts to validate a Malay language version of PIMRS by assessing convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity from a hierarchical perspective. Data were collected from 375 primary school teachers from 30 selected schools in Penang and Kedah, Malaysia. Data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling approach with SmartPLS 3.2.9 software. Findings revealed that four items had to be excluded to ensure the construct validity of the third-, second-, and first-order constructs. Convergent validity and discriminant validity were established for all the second- and first-order constructs with the statistic estimates exceeding the respective threshold. Redundancy analysis confirmed the establishment of the convergent validity of instructional leadership as a formative third-order construct. Criterion validity was established with the significant and positive effect of instructional leadership on collective teacher efficacy (CTE) ( β = 0.578, t = 14.206). Local and international educational researchers could replicate the current validation approach in future psychometric PIMRS validation studies in a different research context.

STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF TEACHERS’ WRITTEN CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK IN THE MALAYSIAN ESL CLASSROOM

Purpose – This study examined the types of written corrective feedback provided to ESL students in writing classes in Malaysian secondary schools, and their perceptions towards the provision of written corrective feedback in the Malaysian context. Methodology – A survey questionnaire was administered randomly among 720 Form Four students from 10 secondary schools in Penang. The questionnaire was based on a Likert scale and responses were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings – Results showed that most learners benefited from and preferred direct feedback, and tended to focus on form such as grammar, paragraph organisation, content and clarity of ideas. Students preferred this form of feedback as they were able to understand errors more clearly. It was found that most students were unable to self-regulate their own errors; a majority could not locate their own errors and had become passive learners within the Malaysian schooling system. Significance – The study is significant to Malaysian secondary schools in its effects, depicting the many forms of corrective feedback available in the ESL context that can be employed in school besides the popularized direct feedback used within the syllabus.

The Effects of a Mobile App with Tutorial Learning Strategy on Anxiety Level of Secondary Students

The Islamic funeral is one of the topics in the syllabus of Islamic Education, and it is deemed to be Fard Kifayah (collective obligation). It is the final duty and responsibility of the living towards the dead. However, not every Muslim knows the Islamic funeral, and many fear to take part in the ritual activity and are afraid of seeing the deceased. This fear comes from the perception that the face of the deceased is scary and horrifying and assumes that the dead will haunt the living. Thus a mobile app based on a tutorial learning strategy was designed and developed to reduce students’ anxiety and to help in teaching and learning for the topic of the Islamic funeral. A total of 120 students from four secondary schools in Penang were employed as samples. This study uses quasi-experimental design with pretest and post-test. Overall, this study found that the use of the tutorial learning strategy can help in reducing student’s anxiety level. The implications of this study are that the student anxiety in the learning process can be reduced by using a mobile app that deals with the topic of the Islamic funeral. The findings also show that mobile apps have the advantage of helping students to learn about the Islamic funeral and to assist teachers in teaching and learning in the classroom. Students can use the app repeatedly until they understand the topic completely without relying on the teacher.

Teachers' Readiness in Implementing and Facilitating 21&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; Century Learning

In this technological world, pedagogy has changed in terms of strategy, approach, method and technique. The majority of teachers have limited been exposed to the 21st century teaching and learning strategy and as a result they are still struggling in mastering it. This study was conducted to identify the readiness of teachers towards the 21st Century teaching and learning specifically from the aspect of knowledge, skills and attitudes. A total of 77 language teachers at 15 national secondary schools in Penang were selected as respondents. The data were obtained through a questionnaire which included three aspects of readiness, which are knowledge, skills and attitudes of language teachers. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. The findings show that average mean of knowledge level (min = 4.06, SP = .396) and skills level of Language teachers (min = 3.70, SP = .377) toward 21st century teaching and learning are at high level. In terms of the attitude of Language teachers, the results showed that the mean of attitude was at a positive level (min = 3.77, SP = .390). In addition, the findings showed that there was a significant positive correlation between knowledge with skills (r = .619), knowledge with attitude (r = .601) and skill with attitude (r = .673).

Knowledge States in the Learning of “Time”: Comparison of Primary Six Pupils’ from Different Types of Schools in Penang

Knowledge States in the Learning of “Time”: Comparison of Primary Six Pupils’ from Different Types of Schools in Penang

Changing attitudes to psychiatry and interest in the specialty as a career choice during clinical undergraduate years at a medical school in Penang, Malaysia.

Studies have suggested that the undergraduate clinical clerkship improves medical students' attitudes to psychiatry and career interest in the specialty, but few studies have explored the sustainability of these changes. To explore changes in students' attitudes to psychiatry and career preference for psychiatry during the course of their senior clinical years at RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC). All year 3 students (n = 111) at RUMC were invited to complete the Attitudes towards Psychiatry questionnaire (ATP-30) and a separate questionnaire seeking opinions on career preferences. The questionnaires were administered at 3 points in time: in year 3 before the 8-week psychiatry posting, following completion of the posting in year 4, and at the end of year 5. Quantitative data analysis was performed using SPSS version 18, and free-text responses were thematically analysed. One hundred completed questionnaires (90.1%) were returned. There was a significant improvement in students' ATP scores after their psychiatry rotation and this was sustained into year 5. Psychiatry as a career choice had highest preference levels following completion of the clerkship but declined in year 5 to below pre-clerkship preference levels. Qualitative analysis of factors influencing a career in psychiatry revealed themes of job satisfaction, lifestyle factors, perceived image of psychiatry, and self-appraisal. Our findings suggest that an enriched undergraduate clinical clerkship experience can help to sustain improved attitudes to psychiatry into the final medical year. However, declining interest in the specialty a career choice prior to graduation presents an enduring challenge.

Resilience, decision-making and risk behaviours among early adolescents in Penang, Malaysia

ABSTRACTThe study sought to determine the relationship between resilience and risk behaviours among early adolescents with decision-making acting as a mediator. Seventh and Eighth Grade students (N = 65) were recruited at a high-needs school in Penang, Malaysia. All participants responded to the Child and Youth Resilience Measure and completed the computerized Balloon Analogue Risk Task-Youth Version. Participants’ Disciplinary Demerit Records were obtained as the measure of risk behaviours. Resilience and its three dimensions–individual, family, and contextual level factors–were analysed using bootstrapping and macro codes for SPSS. The results indicated that decision-making significantly mediated the association between resilience and risk behaviours among early adolescents. The relationship between contextual level factors and risk behaviours could be partially explained by decision-making. The findings suggest that adolescents should be taught decision-making skills early to minimize risk behaviours in daily life.

School Culture and Spirituality in Workplace

This quantitative descriptive study aimed to identify the influence of school culture on spirituality in workplace. A total of 540 randomly selected teachers were selected from 36 secondary schools in Penang as respondent in the study. Data for this survey were collected through a questionnaire which was adapted from literature review (Al-Amin, 2012; Maslowski, 2001; Yaakob, 2007). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that school culture had positive and significant influence on spiritual at workplace. In term of the implications, this study showed that the leaders need to inculcate spirituality at work by creating a positive culture.

Enhancing Critical Thinking in Malaysian Primary School Students through PLS Method

&lt;p style="text-align:justify"&gt;Pictologics (PLS) is a language teaching method which relies on imaginative usage of pictures. The current paper reports the effects of applying this method on enhancing critical thinking ability of the Malaysian students. 69 students (32 boys &amp; 37 girls) in two classes in a public primary school in Penang, Malaysia participated in this study. The experiment covered ten 1-hour sessions which were all audio-recorded and video-taped. The main objective was to engage the students in short conversations in English by using new words that they were learning via PLS. The following qualitative instruments were employed in this study: interviews with the teachers, focus group interviews with the students, a group interview with students’ parents, class check-list of the students’ behavior during the sessions, photos, and video footages. The findings reveal significant patterns of critical thinking among the students such as recognizing and criticizing assumptions, giving reasons to support a conclusion, incorporating isolated data into a wider framework, and using analogies to solve problems. The author strongly recommends application of adopted PLS techniques to be used either alone, or combined with the other conventional language teaching methods.&lt;/p&gt;