Web-Based Administration of Online Multiple-Choice Test

The purpose of this project is to develop a prototype of a web-based administration of online multiple-choice test system to be used in Perlis Teachers Training College, Perlis. The system was developed to facilitate in managing and administrating an online test. It is a client/server architecture which is based on intranet. Database Design Methodology and Rapid Prototyping technique were used to build the system. The system was trial-run in Perlis Teachers Training College by a group of students sitting the online test. Problems and limitations discovered were then discussed and recommendations made to overcome the limitations for the future development of the project

Hubungan Antara Faktor Dan Gaya Pengurusan Konflik Dalam Organisasi

Conflict is a common phenomenon that occurs directly or indirectly in every organization. It is caused by many factors either intrapersonal or interpersonal. People who are involved in conflicts use various styles of conflict management in order to overcome it. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between factors and styles in conflict-management in organizations. This study was conducted on teachers in eight secondary schools in the district of Kerian, Perak. A total of 180 respondents was selected at random by using the Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling method. The number who answered the questionnaire and supplied feedback was 170 or 94.4 percent. The questionnaire consisted of 20 items: 10 items concerned with factors that cause conflict, and another 10 items concerned with styles of conflict management. The questionnaire designed was adapted from Thomas Killman Conflict Mode Instrument (T-KCM). Two types of statistics were use in the study. Descriptive statistics were use to obtain the mean, standard deviation and percentage. While inference statistics were used to test hypotheses by applying the t-test, analysis of variances (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation. The mean from the descriptive analysis showed that the environmental “stress” factor was the main cause of conflict. The analysis also showed that the most popular styles of conflict-management were tolerance and avoidance, while competition was not. Findings from the test of the hypotheses showed that many factors caused conflict within an organization, and many styles were use to manage it. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that there were positive relationships between the factor of lack of information and problem of communication with the conflict-management styles of tolerance. The findings also showed that there was a significant relationship between the factor of differing opinion with the conflict-management styles of accommodation and collaboration

THE PRACTICES AND APPROACHES OF INTERFAITH DIALOGUE AT LEICESTER, UK

The diversity of human is one of the God's. With the diversity, people from different religions, ethnics, and cultures can live together and sharing the good values. However, it can only be achieved with dialogue which is perceived as the best mechanism to build mutual understanding and respect with each other. In the context of Leicester, which located in the East Midlands of England, the practices of interfaith dialogue are implemented successfully till today. There are a lot of organizations and people who are involved and organizing interfaith dialogue activities with different approaches. This article will discuss about the practices and approaches of interfaith dialogue in Leicester. The method used in this research was qualitative, which included literature review, observation and participation, and particularly interviews with fifteen people who represented interfaith organization and religious community in Leicester. The findings show the practices of interfaith dialogue have been organized with different types of approaches. In addition, it can be deliberated as a good model of interfaith dialogue particularly for those who want to involve in these activities

Quality Education in ODL: Evidence from the Tracer Study

The impact of the many initiatives undertaken by OUM to provide learning accessibilities through various aspects must be assessed from the perspective of its learners. Feedback through the tracer study conducted to learners who will be graduating is appropriate because they have gone through the entire cycle of learning. The feedback allows OUM to assess its performance in the provision of services to its learners. An online tracer study conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Malaysia, in collaboration with all local universities, colleges and polytechnics was carried out via a set of standard questionnaire is, in part, to evaluate the responses from Malaysian graduates on the performance of their alma maters. This paper presents the results of the study conducted on a total of 4911 respondents of the 2013 batch of OUM graduates. It is gratifying to note that 2013 OUM graduates are generally satisfied with the services provided by the university and that the level of satisfaction in almost all aspects have improved over the past five years. The aspects covered in this study include: curriculum, assessment system, career guidance, teaching and learning, facilities, and knowledge and skills. In another aspect, the results showed that OUM study programmes have had a high impact on the holistic development of graduates, in terms of self-readiness such as maturity, reliance and teamwork. On comparing the 2013 data with that of the 2008 data, the result showed that there are significant improvements in the graduates’ satisfaction on all aspects, except for the English language skills. This implies that the many initiatives that have been instituted over the last five years towards improving the quality of education has paid off as evidenced by the positive differences in satisfaction in the items covered in this tracer study. (Abstract by authors

Teacher readiness in applying ATL skills in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Schools

This article aims to understand the challenges faced by teachers in implementing the Approaches to Learning Skills (ATL Skills) for the teaching of Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language) in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Schools (MYPIB) in Malaysia. This qualitative case study employed purposive sampling that involved six resilient teachers who were directly involved in the implementations of ATL Skills consisting of four Bahasa Melayu teachers, a MYPIB coordinator and ATL skills coordinator. Triangulation was used to compare data from different sources using semi-structured interviews, story completion tasks, and document analysis. Using the ATLAS.ti software as an aiding tool, thematic analysis was carried out to identify the themes that emerged from the codes. Findings showed that teacher readiness is a challenge that needs to be addressed in the process of applying ATL skills in the MYPIB implemented by the Malaysian Ministry of Education. Teachers still need courses and training to improve their mastery in the ATL skills application. This study provided implications to teaching and learning, and recommendations to teachers as well as the Ministry to make improvements in the effort to apply ATL skills in the teaching-learning processes at the MYPIB schools

Anti-Extremism Fiqh as Retaliation Against Terrorism: An Introduction

1The issue of religious violence is indeed the biggest problem that Muslims must face to this date. It has damaged the image of Islam in the eyes of the world. In return, scholarly explanations should be provided to combat the said issue. On that basis, this study aims to provide the answer for the argument in the form of anti-terrorism fiqh. It is directly proposed based on the comprehensive framework of Islamic fiqh. This study presents the definition, rationality, content, and reasons why religious extremism appears in Islam. All these things can also be used as the retaliation for the Salafi jihadism which can also be masked as the basis of religious extremism

Sejarah dialog antara agama di Malaysia

Pembudayaan amalan dialog antara agama dalam tamadun Alam Melayu bermula sejak kurun ke-2 dan menjadi signifikan pada kurun ke-15 melalui aktiviti perdagangan yang menghasilkan interaksi antara masyarakat. Pada peringkat awal, amalan dialog yang berlangsung adalah berbentuk Dialog Kehidupan dan pembudayaannya masih berlangsung hingga ke hari ini dalam pelbagai bentuk. Justeru, artikel ini membincangkan sejarah amalan dialog antara agama di Malaysia. Reka bentuk kajian ini bersifat kualitatif dengan menggunakan kajian kepustakaan dan pendekatan sejarah. Dapatan mendapati bahawa amalan dialog di Malaysia telah bermula sejak kurun ke-18 melalui aktiviti perdagangan dan harian masyarakat. Ketika ini bentuk amalan dialog bersifat tidak formal. Manakala pasca kemerdekaan, amalan dialog yang dibudayakan dalam bentuk yang lebih formal melalui penubuhan Pure Life Society, terkubur rentetan Peristiwa 13 Mei 1969. Usaha untuk membudayakan amalan dialog kembali aktif khususnya pasca 1970 oleh beberapa NGO sebagai tindak balas daripada gelombang Islamisasi yang melanda negara ini

An empirical study of the effect on learning skills workshop on learning readiness in an ODL environment

Learners in higher education institutions require a set of learning skills in order to cope with their studies. This is even more crucial for ODL learners, majority of whom are working adults with multiple commitments. At Open University Malaysia (OUM), Malaysia’s first ODL institution, a Learning Skills Workshop is conducted for new learners to assist them in adapting to their new learning environment and to equip them with the relevant skills to be an effective ODL learner. This paper examines the effect of the Learning Skills Workshop on the learning readiness of OUM learners. The study employs a survey approach using a set of 40 close-ended questionnaires distributed to 263 learners in four learning centers across the country. Pearson Correlation, Independent Sample t-Test and Stepwise Regression Analysis were carried out using the SPSS version 11.5 for Windows. The results showed that the workshop contents, namely, ODL Concept, Time Management, Assignment Preparation, ICT and using LMS have a positive impact on the level of learning readiness. The results also indicated that learners’ level of satisfaction towards the conduct of the workshop, its perceived benefits derived from it and learners’ self-confidence arising out of it have a positive influence on learning readiness. Out of the eight variables, only four explained 58 percent of the variation in the level of learning readiness. The variables are ODL concept, LMS, self-confidence and the level of satisfaction. The study thus indicates that the Learning Skills Workshop has been effective in enhancing learning readiness among new learners. This result concurs with that of another study on the efficacy of learning skills workshop on new students at OUM (Latifah & Jamaludin, 2007) (Authors' abstract