Effects of family functioning on socioemotional behaviour of children in low income family

This study examines the effects of family functioning on socioemotional behavior of children in low income family. Participants comprised of 518 parents of children aged four to six years old of low income family. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Family functioning was measured using Malaysian Family Strengths Scale, while socioemotional behavior of children was measured using Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The findings of the study revealed that high level of family functioning contributed to low level of socioemotional behavior problems of children. Mothers and fathers of low income family had similar perception in family functioning and children socioemotional behavior. This study highlights the importance of enhancing family functioning in order to reduce emotional problems, conduct problems and peer problems and also incerasing prosocial behavior of children in low income family

Attitude and behavioral intention to develop and use MOOCs among academics

Several practice-oriented courses are currently integrated into online learning plat-forms, providing a new wave of instructional approaches among academics. These include the use of Open CourseWare and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). It is worthwhile to explore how learners respond to new teaching methods when practice-oriented courses are placed online. The primary purpose of this study is to determine levels of attitude and behavioural intention to develop and use MOOCs and the possible relationships between those variables. Partici-pants consisted of 238 academics in a Malaysian public university. Descriptive and Pearson Correlation analyses were employed to determine relationships. Re-sults show that: (a) respondents are receptive towards MOOCs as an alternative platform to deliver teaching content; (b) they are mostly ready to develop MOOCs; (c) they are generally prepared to use MOOCs in teaching and learning and (d) there are significant relationships between academic staffs’ attitude and behavioural intention to develop and use MOOCs. The findings of this study are pertinent in understanding MOOCs from the perspective of academics so that proper support can be provided accordingly

Impact of perceived teachers' competence on students' performance: evidence for mediating role of achievement motivation among vocational colleges students' in Malaysia

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of perceived teachers’ competence on students’ performance mediated by achievement motivation through students’ perception among the vocational colleges students’ in Malaysia. The sample for this study consists of 360 students from 13 selected vocational colleges all around Malaysia. Participants were between the age of 16-18 years old. Instrument for Teachers’ Competency (ITC) and Achievement Motivation Scales (AMS) that have been adapted and adopted from the original version were used to measure the perceived of teachers’ competence and achievement motivation, respectively. The data was analyzed using AMOS version 22.0 through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Analysis indicated that perceived of teachers’ competence was predicted the students’ performance and achievement motivation. The model fit was p=.000, RMSEA=.062, GFI=.925, CFI=.954, TLI=.936 and CMIN/df=2.397. Therefore, this study concluded that achievement motivation has a mediation effects on the relationship between teachers’ competence and students’ performance

National identity: Prediction model of relationship between language decency and language character

The expression of decency in communication triggers individual character in formation of national identity. Language decency always applies in Malay language education context during learning session. But, how far it can shape the generation’s identity is still vague. Aim of this research was to thorough the relationship of language education decency with language character among students in public and private universities. A survey was conducted on 380 students of several universities in Malaysia. The data were collected by using Google Form with cooperation from university representatives. The quantitative data was analyzed by using SPSS and AMOS software through correlation and regression analysis by structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings showed that the most decency form used by students was words with value β=.67, p=.000. Language decency education had contributed 80% of R2 value for language character among students. The prediction model of relationship between decency language and character language had achieved equivalence value which RMSEA=.067, GFI=.977, CFI=.995, TLI=.991 and Chisq/df=2.682. Therefore, factor of decency language that applies among students in Malay language course can contribute on generation with nice language character and strong national identity

Importance of teachers' competency through students' perception in relationships between parental involvement and motivation with students achievement

Teachers’ competency is important for the process of student ‘well development’ in ensuring quality learning especially for students in vocational colleges. Teachers’ competency will give positive effects on students’ academic development and skills, and help teachers to improve their teaching techniques. Therefore, collaboration between vocational college management and parents shall be increased to achieve integrated quality education, efficient teachers and contributes to positive impacts on students’ standard achievement. Sample of 430 students were randomly stratified and the data had been collected by using questionnaire. The collected data had been analysed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) by using AMOS 22.0. Result of analysis showed that the hypothesized model had fulfilled the fitness indexes criteria where RMSEA = .062, CFI = .954, TLI = .936 and Chi square/ df = 2.404. Implication of this study is giving contribution on improvement of theoretical model for the relationship of teachers’ competency, parental involvement, achievement motivation and students’ achievement in the Malaysian education system

Teachers’ perspectives of assessment and alternative assessment in the classroom

This study aims to explore teachers’ perspectives of the elements in assessment, choice of the types of assessment and perspectives of alternative assessment. The study was a case study involving seven in-service secondary school teachers who were interviewed. The findings indicate that respondents develop questions based on bloom’s taxonomy and higher order thinking. Formative and summative assessment are used to create a more comprehensive classroom assessment. Also, the respondents view alternative assessment as consisting of various techniques

An application of professional learning community approach to enhance language learning among students in higher education institution

Educators need to take action in terms of acquiring, creating and transferring their knowledge to students based on the professional learning community approach. It involves building a learning community in their classrooms. Researchers and professional organizations have cited the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process as having the potential to impact student achievement positively. As the current era of high stakes accountability has left educators struggling to improve the quality of teaching and learning, PLCs have been recommended to foster collaboration and make educator practices public. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine educator’ descriptions of their PLCs to determine if the practice of the principles influenced student academic performance in language teaching. A quantitative research design was implemented to explore the extent to which educator training in PLC principles, the actual practice of PLC principles, and student achievement in language teaching were related. A survey was utilized to collect data regarding 365 educators’ perceptions of the existence of three dimensions and seven sub-dimensions of PLCs within their institution. Final years of language course students’ data were examined to measure student achievement in language learning, and inferential statistic by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach was used to look for possible relationships between the variables. Statistical examination indicated PLC members who observed peers, provided feedback on instructional practices, worked with colleagues to judge student work quality, and collaboratively reviewed student work to improve instructional analysis were more likely to improve their quality of teaching. Further results indicated positive correlations between the dimensions belonging to values, vision and mission, a dimension of subject to support: relationship and structural and also dimensions of collective learning and applications. Finally, the model achieved the goodness of fit indices which is resulted in Chisq/df= 2.185; GFI=.980; CFI=.991; TLI=.983; RMSEA=.065

Professional learning community (PLC): approach to enhance students' achievement in language learning at public university, Malaysia

Professional Learning Community (PLC) is a form of self-development for educators which has been known internationally and currently through the phase of implementation in Malaysia. Purpose of this study was focused on PLC implementation that had been applied widely in Higher Education Institution (HEI) which; 1) to identify the relationship between educators' comprehension, readiness and strategies for language learning, and 2) to form a predictive model of relationship between educator's knowledge, preparation and strategy toward improving student's language learning. Three dimensions of PLC which comprehension, readiness and strategies in PLC were analyzed by using SPSS and AMOS. Three hundred sixty students and five lecturers involved as respondents. Correlation analysis and structured equation modeling were used to answer the research objectives. Qualitative data as The predictive model achieved a good fit value of RMSEA=.055, GFI=.980, CFI=.981, TLI=.983 and Chisq/df=2.164. Interview data of 5 educators showed that decency was the main key theme in improving student language learning achievement. The implementation of PLC that related to language as well decency learning had given a new approach in teaching, particularly for educators and students in a language course. The predictive model can be used as primary source guidelines in elevating the Malay language at a higher level, especially for next researches. Secondary source supported the findings. Results showed that there were significant values derived from the relationship between comprehension and language learning (r=.401, p=.000), the relationship between readiness and language learning (r=.541, p=.000), and the relationship between strategy and language learning (r=.891, p=.000)

The Relationship Between Principals’ Leaderships Towards TVET Teachers’ Motivation in Implementing ICT

The leadership role in a school organisation is crucial for long-term success, particularly in relation to teachers' motivation, especially in the implementation of ICT. School leaders possess the opportunity to employ diverse leadership styles that can influence teachers' motivation, specifically in integrating ICT into teaching and learning. Technical and vocational education is an area where ICT integration holds significant potential for productivity enhancement, given its pivotal role in developing students' college-ready skills. However, previous studies have shown uncertainties in the relationship between principals’ leadership styles and teachers' motivation in certain schools. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between principals' leadership styles and TVET teachers' motivation in implementing ICT. A correlational study was conducted, employing survey methods, and utilizing the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) for instructional leadership styles and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) for transformational leadership styles. The instruments used to measure teachers' motivation were adapted from the instruments aligning with the TAM model. Data analysis included percentage, mean, standard deviation, frequency, regression, and Pearson's correlation analysis, with a significance level set at p = 0.05. The results revealed that TVET teachers' responses to the leadership styles of school principals in Malaysia are satisfactory. Furthermore, a significant correlation exists between the principal's leadership styles and TVET teachers’ motivation. In addition, regression analysis demonstrates that transformational dan instructional leaderships influence TVET teachers’ motivation in implementing ICT. These findings provide support for previous research indicating that the principal's leadership styles indeed influence teachers' motivation

Kesahan dan kebolehpercayaan Instrumen Motivasi Pencapaian (IMP) dalam kalangan pelajar kolej vokasional, Malaysia

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti kesahan dan kebolehpercayaan Instrumen Motivasi Pencapaian (IMP) dalam kalangan pelajar Kolej Vokasional, Malaysia. Instrumen yang diguna pakai dalam kajian ini merangkumi tiga aspek motivasi iaitu motivasi intrinsik, motivasi ekstrinsik dan kurang bermotivasi. Perakuan oleh tiga orang pakar digunakan untuk menguji kesahan kandungan. Manakala, seramai 430 orang pelajar tahun akhir di kolej vokasional terlibat sebagai responden dalam kajian ini. Ujian Analisis Penerokaan (EFA) dilakukan menunjukkan ketekalan dalam yang tinggi, α=.921 bagi instrumen tersebut. Begitu juga, nilai factor loading yang > .50 bagi setiap item yang diuji diperoleh melalui Ujian Analisis Kesahan (CFA).Kajian ini melibatkan seramai 430 orang responden kajian yang dipilih daripada 13 buah kolej vokasional seluruh Malaysia. Model pengukuran hasil analisis CFA yang diperoleh memenuhi kriteria fitness indexes di mana RMSEA= .062, CFI=.914, TLI= .904 dan Chisq/df= 2.636. Hasil analisis EFA dan CFA menunjukkan Instrumen Motivasi Pencapaian Pelajar mencapai kesahan dan kebolehpercayaan dalam konteks kajian motivasi pencapaian dalam kalangan pelajar di kolej vokasional