Fonny Hutagalung

Creativity in Messy Play Among Preschool Children

This study was aimed at investigating creativity in messy play among preschool children. The concern was to identify three stages of messy play that can stimulate preschoolers in deriving their creativity and, similarly, to observe the creative ability exhibited by preschool children during the whole of messy play activities. Participants consisted of two preschool principals and a total of eight children 5 or 6 years of age from two selected preschools in Selangor, Malaysia. An interview was conducted with the principals, which along with their verbal answers were taken into account and transcribed into data. Three stages of messy play activities that vary in material were engaged by the eight children. They were interviewed, observed, and recorded in video while the activities were carried out. Outcomes collected were transcribed and analyzed based on the development of young children’s creativity. The study was based on qualitative research methodology. We found stages of messy play are practicable to develop preschool children in the development of creativity. Moreover, the creative ability in preschoolers has been comprehensively testified through all stages of messy play. To sum up, it is certain that messy play does entice preschool children’s creativity. Further proposal of research could target on children aged 4 years and younger to investigate their creativity through messy play, plus further aspects of young children’s development that could be enhanced through messy play.

Cognitive Ability Among Preschool Children in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

The objective of this study is to determine the level of cognitive abilities of preschool children in Malaysia. A total of 100 preschool children aged 5–7 years were selected as respondents. Purposive sampling was done using McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities (MSCA) to measure the level of cognitive abilities of the children. This instrument consists of three scales: verbal, perceptual-performance, and quantitative. The overall results show the level of cognitive ability of majority preschool children in Malaysia at moderate level.

Taking Epistemological Beliefs into Account in Students’ Performance

The concept of beliefs has a long history and has been defined in a variety of ways. Beliefs are clustered as a set of interrelated beliefs in a broader, general belief structure or system; they can vary in strength. The more a belief is interrelated with others in this structure, the more difficult it is to alter the belief in question (Pajares F, Britner SL, Valiante G, Contemp Educ Psychol 25:406–422, 2000). Epistemology is the area of philosophy that deals with the nature and formation of human knowledge (Hofer B, Pintrich P, Rev Educ Res 67(1):88–140, 1997). Since the early 1960s, a line of research has drawn to study the relation between dimensions of epistemological beliefs and learning, the correlation between these dimensions, and academic motivational learning in this area. Schommer as one of the pioneers in this research line believed that the epistemological beliefs have different dimensions that are less and more independent. These dimensions include knowledge structure, knowledge finality, knowledge source, acquisition speed and ability to learn. The aim of the research is to study the view that learning ability can be improved and how it is related to sophisticated beliefs. For teachers, in particular, it is also critical to explicitly teach students that scientific knowledge is complex, constantly evolving, and is empirically developed (Lederman NG, J Res Sci Teach 36:916–929, 1999). Suggestions about what instructional techniques to employ are relatively sparse, mostly because researchers have little empirical evidence about how students acquire beliefs and how they change their beliefs (Hofer BK, J Educ Psychol Rev 13:353–383, 2001).

Effectiveness of Guidance and Counseling Services Amongst Secondary School Teachers in Malaysia

This study examined the effectiveness of guidance and counseling services in secondary schools by using Model Theory Context, Input, Process and Product (CIPP) developed by Stuflebeam (1960). The study used a survey design to examine the effectiveness of Guidance and Counselling services in schools. Theoretical Model CIPP by Stufflebeam used as a model study in view of the effectiveness of these services in secondary schools in Malaysia. A total number of 420 counseling teachers in secondary schools in the national 5 Zone in Malaysia were selected. Based on the results, the C dimension (Context) shows a total of number of 8 teachers counseling (1.9%) and use 10% less time only to carry out individual and group counseling sessions. A total number of 8 counseling teachers (1.9%) and 10% less time use only to carry out individual and group counseling sessions. Process (P) indicates that total number of 420 respondents. A total number of 48 teachers (11.4%) show only a high effectiveness in carrying out their duties. Product (P) indicates 48 teachers (11.4%) show only a high effectiveness in carrying out their task of product dimensions. The majority of effectiveness of guidance and counseling services showed moderate level.

The Relevance of Dynamic Brand Image Campaign in Corporate Advertising: A Conceptual of Theory

This paper conducts a good corporate advertising campaign theory to develop a good brand name, name recognition and brand awareness as well as establishing good will for an organization in Malaysia and its products and services. Corporate advertising also targeted at both internal and external audiences and involves the promotion of the organisation as well as its ideas. Corporate advertising are designed with two main goals namely creating a positive image for the organisations and communicating the organisation’s views on social, business and environment issues. Through corporate advertising, the organization may convince the public that it has a positive attitude towards important issues and generate public concern about issues that are positively related to its corporate identity.