A Discussion on Interdisciplinary Approach of Visual Art Syllabus in Malaysian Higher Education

This article contributes to the discussion on the need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach in the visual art syllabus, specifically in higher education in Malaysia. Over the last two decades, the academic world has faced rapidly advancing technology and the rise of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0). Because of the increased level of high-tech software and hardware competency among students, universities are in dire need to improve and innovate their current syllabi. Hence, this study was carried out to discuss the need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to improve current visual art syllabi in Malaysia. The topics that are explored in this paper include the definition of an interdisciplinary approach in visual art syllabi, the current status of visual art syllabi in Malaysia, factors that are important for the integration of art with other fields, and how an interdisciplinary approach can be implemented. The data used in this research were obtained from a seminar, in-depth interviews, and a literature review, and were analyzed using a qualitative method. The findings indicate that visual art education duly needs a new program or needs to be revamped into a future-ready curriculum. Therefore, an interdisciplinary approach, or the integration of two bodies of knowledge in one program, could be one of the solutions to this issue

The Visual Arts Education Crisis in Malaysia: Placement of Students into the Arts Curricular Stream at the Upper Secondary Level in Malaysian Secondary Schools

In Malaysia, the curricular subject of visual art, especially at secondary school level, pays little attention to the aspect of artistic knowledge development. Students are assigned to the arts stream based on their Level Three assessment results, which ultimately causes problems in the visual art learning process in the classroom. On the other hand, formal art education is absent among students in the science stream and visual art is perceived to be only for underperforming students, when in fact visual art can be a valuable subject for all students. This study used a qualitative triangulation method to assess the similarities between data from face-to-face interviews, observations and literature study. Visual arts education is duly needed at the upper secondary level of education in Malaysia to cultivate future generations with creative and critical minds. However, does the art education offered in the arts stream actually benefit the students who are assigned to this curricular stream based on the existing student placement system? This study aimed to investigate problems and issues in Malaysian visual arts education based on the system of student placement into curricular streams

The Visual Arts Education Crisis in Malaysia: Placement of Students into the Arts Curricular Stream at the Upper Secondary Level in Malaysian Secondary Schools

In Malaysia, the curricular subject of visual art, especially at secondary school level, pays little attention to the aspect of artistic knowledge development. Students are assigned to the arts stream based on their Level Three assessment results, which ultimately causes problems in the visual art learning process in the classroom. On the other hand, formal art education is absent among students in the science stream and visual art is perceived to be only for underperforming students, when in fact visual art can be a valuable subject for all students. This study used a qualitative triangulation method to assess the similarities between data from face-to-face interviews, observations and literature study. Visual arts education is duly needed at the upper secondary level of education in Malaysia to cultivate future generations with creative and critical minds. However, does the art education offered in the arts stream actually benefit the students who are assigned to this curricular stream based on the existing student placement system? This study aimed to investigate problems and issues in Malaysian visual arts education based on the system of student placement into curricular streams

A Discussion on Interdisciplinary Approach of Visual Art Syllabus in Malaysian Higher Education

This article contributes to the discussion on the need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach in the visual art syllabus, specifically in higher education in Malaysia. Over the last two decades, the academic world has faced rapidly advancing technology and the rise of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0). Because of the increased level of high-tech software and hardware competency among students, universities are in dire need to improve and innovate their current syllabi. Hence, this study was carried out to discuss the need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to improve current visual art syllabi in Malaysia. The topics that are explored in this paper include the definition of an interdisciplinary approach in visual art syllabi, the current status of visual art syllabi in Malaysia, factors that are important for the integration of art with other fields, and how an interdisciplinary approach can be implemented. The data used in this research were obtained from a seminar, in-depth interviews, and a literature review, and were analyzed using a qualitative method. The findings indicate that visual art education duly needs a new program or needs to be revamped into a future-ready curriculum. Therefore, an interdisciplinary approach, or the integration of two bodies of knowledge in one program, could be one of the solutions to this issue

A Discussion on Interdisciplinary Approach of Visual Art Syllabus in Malaysian Higher Education

This article contributes to the discussion on the need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach in the visual art syllabus, specifically in higher education in Malaysia. Over the last two decades, the academic world has faced rapidly advancing technology and the rise of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0). Because of the increased level of high-tech software and hardware competency among students, universities are in dire need to improve and innovate their current syllabi. Hence, this study was carried out to discuss the need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to improve current visual art syllabi in Malaysia. The topics that are explored in this paper include the definition of an interdisciplinary approach in visual art syllabi, the current status of visual art syllabi in Malaysia, factors that are important for the integration of art with other fields, and how an interdisciplinary approach can be implemented. The data used in this research were obtained from a seminar, in-depth interviews, and a literature review, and were analyzed using a qualitative method. The findings indicate that visual art education duly needs a new program or needs to be revamped into a future-ready curriculum. Therefore, an interdisciplinary approach, or the integration of two bodies of knowledge in one program, could be one of the solutions to this issue

The Visual Arts Education Crisis in Malaysia : Placement of Students into the Arts Curricular Stream at the Upper Secondary Level in Malaysian Secondary Schools

In Malaysia, the curricular subject of visual art, especially at secondary school level, pays little attention to the aspect of artistic knowledge development. Students are assigned to the arts stream based on their Level Three assessment results, which ultimately causes problems in the visual art learning process in the classroom. On the other hand, formal art education is absent among students in the science stream and visual art is perceived to be only for underperforming students, when in fact visual art can be a valuable subject for all students. This study used a qualitative triangulation method to assess the similarities between data from face-to-face interviews, observations and literature study. Visual arts education is duly needed at the upper secondary level of education in Malaysia to cultivate future generations with creative and critical minds. However, does the art education offered in the arts stream actually benefit the students who are assigned to this curricular stream based on the existing student placement system? This study aimed to investigate problems and issues in Malaysian visual arts education based on the system of student placement into curricular streams

Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model as a Conceptual Framework for Visual Research in Rural Tourism Sites: Batuh Narit Arur Bilit as a Case Study

This paper demonstrates the implementation of Kolb’s experiential learning model (ELM), a learner-centric learning method that often used in classrooms and organizational training as a method of research on the visual aspects of rock carving named Batuh Narit Arur Bilit in Kelabit Highlands, Sarawak. This study will highlight thoroughly on the visual research process of Batuh Narit Arur Bilit from acquiring to the interpretation of data to be suited into ELM. The research of visuals in culture is usually conducted in visual anthropology method, however, this practice is often time-consuming, and visuals only serve as a tool to document and describe, but not as a subject of research. The method involves a systematic, stage by stage process of recording visual images, observation, sense of touch, transferring images into digital format, and presenting the outcomes to the public. ELM does not just offer an organized method of collecting and analyzing data in a short period but has also contributed in establishing a dialogue between researchers and the public, especially the local community and thus benefit both parties. The versatility of ELM will hopefully benefit more visual researchers in conducting research within a short period as an alternative to visual anthropology method

Organising Visual Information Of Traditional Ornaments Adorned By Embhan’s Ring Ladies

This article aims to discuss an alternative system to organize information in the context of visual ethnography study particularly on the documentation of diminishing traditional ornaments worn by the remaining Ring Ladies of Embhan Community, the only community in Sarawak who still practice this culture. The system was developed based on problems faced by the researcher when visual and data collected during the investigation has difficulty with storage due to the lack of a systematic compilation method. Thus, it is challenging for the researcher to identify or retrieve the information, especially relating to visual data on the cultural objects. Through visual ethnography method, visual information related to cultural objects of Bidayuh Embhan particularly with the Ring Ladies was collected and analyzed. Hence, an alternative system in organizing visual information relating to the cultural object called, Digital Ethnographic Organizer (e-Divo) was created using Adobe InDesign and published in a Flash format. It is hoped that this system can be developed further as an information seeking tool that can be used in the context of cultural objects and ethnography exhibition, especially in the galleries or museums

Organising Visual Information Of Traditional Ornaments Adorned By Embhan’s Ring Ladies

This article aims to discuss an alternative system to organize information in the context of visual ethnography study particularly on the documentation of diminishing traditional ornaments worn by the remaining Ring Ladies of Embhan Community, the only community in Sarawak who still practice this culture. The system was developed based on problems faced by the researcher when visual and data collected during the investigation has difficulty with storage due to the lack of a systematic compilation method. Thus, it is challenging for the researcher to identify or retrieve the information, especially relating to visual data on the cultural objects. Through visual ethnography method, visual information related to cultural objects of Bidayuh Embhan particularly with the Ring Ladies was collected and analyzed. Hence, an alternative system in organizing visual information relating to the cultural object called, Digital Ethnographic Organizer (eDivo) was created using Adobe InDesign and published in a Flash format. It is hoped that this system can be developed further as an information seeking tool that can be used in the context of cultural objects and ethnography exhibition, especially in the galleries or museums