The Cerdik BM App Enhances Reading And Writing Skills Of Linus Pupils

In a bid to help pupils develop reading and writing skills, particularly in Bahasa Melayu (BM), a group of researchers led by fellow lecturer from the School of Education and Modern Languages (SEML), Dr. Nurulwahida Azid @ Aziz developed an interactive application called Cerdik BM Series 1.

Dr. Nurulwahida said the application built using Flash software with a combination of five multimedia elements namely text, graphics, animation, audio and video was especially designed for pupils who have not mastered the LINUS constructs, acronyms - LI (Literacy), NU (Numeration) and S (Screening).

According to her, the creation of the first edutainment application was derived from the ideas inspired by the Ministry of Education together with the Institute of Language and Literature (DBP) in efforts to help pupils who face problems in mastering the LINUS construct.

Dr. Nurulwahida explained that Cerdik BM has three constructs: construct 1 (vowel and consonant), construct 2 (vocalization of the syllable) and construct 3 (vocalization of two syllables as well as read and write open syllable).

"The structure of the learning content in Cerdik BM is based on constructive alignment model and outcome based education consisting of learning outcomes, lesson contents, learning activities and assessment to measure each learning outcome.

"The contents of the lesson, learning activities and assessments are built on interactive games based on the concept of entertaining environment. In this edutainment environment, the learning process of LINUS pupils are strengthened when they receive learning motivation through automatic achievement scores and words of encouragement such as 'congratulations, you are successful', 'try again' and 'well done' as the elements which are included in the Cerdik BM App, " she said.

The innovative project which was developed in seven months last year with a fund of MYR20,000 also involved a lecturer from the School of Languages, Civilization and Philosophy (SLCP), Assoc. Prof. Dato' Dr. Nuraini Yusoff with two Special Remedial teachers, Mr. Mohd Zaini Ishak from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Batu Lima, Sik and Mdm. Nordiana Mohd Ali from SK Suka Menanti, Alor Setar.

Dr. Nurulwahida said that in order to attract pupils, the application also included game-based learning elements so that the pupils will not get bored quickly; even the learning instruction system utilizes voice to enable them to understand the instructions easily and accurately.

According to her, at the end of each lesson, the pupils will be able to identify vowels and consonants based on animations, pronounce the syllables as they are heard again, pronounce the combination and combine the two syllables into CVCV words, read passages that contain open syllables and retype the open syllabic words.

"It was not easy to develop this application within a set period (seven months), in addition, the content in the app should commensurate with the educational context outlined and fulfil the seven types of intelligence of LINUS pupils.

"Consequently, this app was built with the focus on how to attract pupils to learn, thus motivating as well as optimizing the mastery of the reading and writing skills by creating a fun learning space.

"I hope that through Cerdik BM Series 1, the students involved will be able to master the three constructs of the Malay language, and at the same time can enhance the Malay language with the help of this innovation," she said.

The Cerdas BM research application is now in the process of being published in the SCOPUS Q-3 and will take part in the 2019 Bangkok International Intellectual Property, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exposition (IPTEX2019) in early February.