Exploring Students’ Creativity and Design Skills through a Multimedia Project: A Constructivist approach in a Malaysian classroom

Research has shown that students have graduated from institutions of higher learning with a lack of creativity and critical-thinking thinking skills. This mismatch in skills has resulted in a nationwide initiative in using technology in the classroom to create a learning environment that would stimulate students’ creative and problem-solving process, and to cultivate an engaging and media-rich design learning process. In this paper, we explored the use of constructivist learning principles within a multimedia design course on students’ creative and critical-thinking skills, via the design of a multimedia project. The project design and development required group collaboration and the enabling of students to document their design process throughout the trimester in webpages and project reports. The results of the study showed that student teams were able to create innovative and engaging applications and were able to document critical-thinking processes throughout their project development. Motivation, teamwork and collaboration, and increased understanding, were key components of this learning environment and multimedia technology was an enabler for them to become creative and critical in their thinking, thus increasing their engagement in the classroom. The constructivist learning principles used in the study also showed positive results as a pedagogical framework for creating engaging learning environments for students

Performance Analysis of New 2D Spatial OCDMA Encoding based on HG Modes in Multicore Fiber

This paper presents a pioneering 2D spatial Optical Code-Division Multiple Access (OCDMA) encoding system that exploits Mode Division Multiplexing (MDM) and Multicore Fiber (MCF) technologies. This innovative approach utilizes two spatial dimensions to enhance the performance and security of OCDMA systems. In the first dimension, we employ Hermite-Gaussian modes (HG00, HG01, HG11) to modulate each user's signal individually. This unique approach offers a robust means of data transmission while ensuring minimal interference among users. The second-dimension leverages MCF encoding, introducing two incoherent OCDMA codes: the Zero Cross Correlation (ZCC) code (λc=0) and the ZFD code (λc=1). These codes are thoughtfully designed and simulated, taking into account their cross-correlation properties to guarantee minimal interference and heightened data security. To assess the efficiency of this novel OCDMA encoding system, we implemented simulations with three active users using the Opti system software. At the transmitter end, each user's signal is modulated individually by their designated HG mode (HG00, HG01, HG11), resulting in separate channels. Subsequently, at the multicore fiber, each user's data is encoded with a unique code-word, and they are directed through specific core groups, ensuring data isolation and integrity. In this paper, the BER and eye pattern are examined with respect to different parameters such as data rate and distance. At a distance of 5 km and data rate of 10 Gbit/s, a BER value around 10-70 is achieved

A Review of Big Data Trends and Challenges in Healthcare

The healthcare sector produces an enormous amount of complicated data from several sources, such as health monitoring systems, medical devices, and electronic health records. Big data analytics may improve healthcare by enabling more effective decision-making, improving patient outcomes, and reducing costs. To improve the operational efficiency of healthcare organizations, scientific studies must search for the standardization and integration of data analysis equipment and methods. This systematic literature review aims to provide current insights on the topic by analyzing a total of 60 relevant articles published between 2017 and 2023. The review explores the challenges and opportunities in using big data in healthcare, including data security, privacy, data quality, interoperability, and ethical considerations. The article also explores big data analytics' potential uses in healthcare, such as personalized treatment, disease prediction and prevention, and population health management. It provides significant insights for healthcare providers, researchers, and practitioners to make evidence-based decisions, as well as underlines the need for more research in this area to fully realize the promise of big data in healthcare

Using multimedia to engage students as problem solvers in a student-centred learning environment a lifelong learning experience in the Malaysian classroom

A multimedia project was incorporated into a problem-based learning environment where students used the multimedia design process (MDP) to design the multimedia application. Results were positive and encouraging for the further development and use of problem-oriented learning models as a means of instilling in students a process for lifelong learning

Technology-enhanced constructivist learning in the classroom: students’ perceptions

During the last decade, multimedia technology has permeated the Malaysian education scene and has created a significant impact on the teaching and learning methods in Malaysian classrooms. This study focused on designing a constructivist-based course using multimedia as an instructional tool, and investigated its impact on the student learning process. A multimedia design project was given to the students to create, and a student learning process which was mapped to the seven problem-solving pedagogical goals (Cunningham, Duffy & Knuth, 1993), was undertaken to complete it. Students were then given a survey and their feedback was solicited after the project was completed. A Constructivist learning environment, enhanced by multimedia technology, called the Multimedia-Mediated Constructivist Learning Environment, MMCLE, was developed. Results showed that students were very positive towards the MMCLE and gained constructivist learning skills that were integral to their future. The study thus showed that by effectively integrating multimedia technology into the curriculum, teachers will have more flexibility and scope in teaching and a technology-enhanced constructivist learning environment can be created whereby learning becomes a social activity and students become active participants in their learning process

Developing A Framework Of Teaching And Learning Environments Using Multimedia: From Teacher-Centred, Student -Centred To Mixed-Mode Of Learning

The research will seek to create a framework for learning and teaching environments in higher education , specially , when multimedia technology is used as a means of multiple media presentation tool, interactive learning tool and as a tool for students to construct knowledge in their learning process

Impact of learner-centred teaching environment with the use of multimedia-mediated learning modules in improving learning experience

Malaysian tertiary education is still very much practicing the traditional teaching and learning approach. There had been a push by the Ministry of Education in Malaysia to move towards outcome-based education. Technology can be used to facilitate teaching and learning process moving towards outcome-based education. The use of technology can help forming learner-centred teaching environment where in this research students were exposed to online learning environment through the Internet platform and it was also known as a self-directed learning environment. Besides online platform, multimedia technology can be used to help enhance students' learning experience by motivating them to learn. This research allowed students to have independent learning using multimedia learning module. With the aid of technology used in education, learner-centred teaching could be formed. Learner-centred teaching allowed the focus to be shifted from lecturers to students, and then learner understanding and motivation would be improved. This research was conducted using mixed-method research design. Results from pre/post-tests, survey and students' comments were triangulated and indicated that learner-centred teaching environment with the use of multimedia-mediated learning module contributed in improving learner motivation compared to teacher-centred teaching environment. This research supported the benefits of shifting from teacher-centred teaching to learner-centred teaching environment

A case study on web-based learning environment evaluation in higher education: learner perspectives in a private university in Malaysia

In the era of digital learning, multimedia-based classroom has been commonly used in higher education including Malaysian higher education institutions. A case study has been performed to evaluate web-based learning using Level 1 to 3 of Kirkpatrick’s model in a multi-disciplinary course at Multimedia University, Malaysia. In this study, mixed method research was employed in which triangulation was performed from multiple sources of data collection to give deeper understanding. Instruments used in this study were guided by Kirkpatrick’s model that involved survey, questionnaire and test. Results showed that student reaction was positive in the web-based learning environment. Students perceived that learning with multimedia was enjoyable. They were also motivated in learning and engaged through the use of web module as multimedia was perceived to motivate them and make learning fun. Students showed significant improvements in their knowledge based on the pre-test and post-test results on learning evaluation. Students were perceived to transfer the learning from web-based learning into the learning outcome. The systematic evaluation can provide the feedback that educators and institution as a whole need to improve the learning environment and programme quality. This study contributes to the research field by adding another perspective in evaluations of web-based learning. It also provides empirical evidence on student perspectives, learning and behaviour in a private university. It demonstrated that the Kirkpatrick’s model is useful as an evaluation tool to be used in higher education. The model may be used to evaluate other types of learning environments as well as different types of study domain that exist in higher education

A Case Study on Web-based Learning Environment Evaluation in Higher Education: Learner Perspectives in a Private University in Malaysia.

In the era of digital learning, multimedia-based classroom has been commonly used in higher education including Malaysian higher education institutions. A case study has been performed to evaluate web-based learning using Level 1 to 3 of Kirkpatrick’s model in a multi-disciplinary course at Multimedia University, Malaysia. In this study, mixed method research was employed in which triangulation was performed from multiple sources of data collection to give deeper understanding. Instruments used in this study were guided by Kirkpatrick’s model that involved survey, questionnaire and test. Results showed that student reaction was positive in the web-based learning environment. Students perceived that learning with multimedia was enjoyable. They were also motivated in learning and engaged through the use of web module as multimedia was perceived to motivate them and make learning fun. Students showed significant improvements in their knowledge based on the pre-test and post-test results on learning evaluation. Students were perceived to transfer the learning from web-based learning into the learning outcome. The systematic evaluation can provide the feedback that educators and institution as a whole need to improve the learning environment and programme quality. This study contributes to the research field by adding another perspective in evaluations of web-based learning. It also provides empirical evidence on student perspectives, learning and behaviour in a private university. It demonstrated that the Kirkpatrick’s model is useful as an evaluation tool to be used in higher education. The model may be used to evaluate other types of learning environments as well as different types of study domain that exist in higher education