Physical Environment and Learning through Play: Case Studies in Malaysian Preschools

As acquisition of knowledge includes the role of experience in acquiring knowledge, Learning through Play (LTP) becomes essential for children’s physical, social and cognitive development. LTP has also been identified as one of the teaching and learning approaches in Malaysia’s National Preschool C...

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Main Authors: Lim, Pearly Pei Li, Bahauddin, Azizi
Other Authors: A Kadir, Nadhrah
Format: Book Section
Language:English
Published: School of Social Sciences, USM 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.usm.my/40685/
http://eprints.usm.my/40685/1/ART_52.pdf
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author Lim, Pearly Pei Li
Bahauddin, Azizi
author2 A Kadir, Nadhrah
author_facet A Kadir, Nadhrah
Lim, Pearly Pei Li
Bahauddin, Azizi
author_sort Lim, Pearly Pei Li
building USM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description As acquisition of knowledge includes the role of experience in acquiring knowledge, Learning through Play (LTP) becomes essential for children’s physical, social and cognitive development. LTP has also been identified as one of the teaching and learning approaches in Malaysia’s National Preschool Curriculum Standard (NPCS) to achieve its specified learning and development components. With physical environment capable of providing sensory stimuli and learning opportunities, physical environment aligned with the vision and principles of LTP should equally be given emphasis. This paper examines the physical environment of preschools in an attempt to demonstrate the relationship between LTP practices and a preschool’s physical environment. A case study research was undertaken based on a sampling frame with purposive homogeneous sampling employed to select four privately operated preschools within converted residential houses in Johor Bahru. Findings of qualitative analysis indicated that albeit physical environment of preschools are less supportive of LTP, children used ingenuity to modify and adapt their physical environment in support of their individual play needs. LTP was hindered due to lack of children’s own free will and accessibility to materials and equipment as well as constrained independent mobility and allowable play with restrictions imposed due to safety concern and time factor. Finally, conclusions are presented and suggestions for possible future direction are discussed.
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spelling usm-406852018-06-05T00:52:15Z http://eprints.usm.my/40685/ Physical Environment and Learning through Play: Case Studies in Malaysian Preschools Lim, Pearly Pei Li Bahauddin, Azizi H1-99 Social sciences (General) As acquisition of knowledge includes the role of experience in acquiring knowledge, Learning through Play (LTP) becomes essential for children’s physical, social and cognitive development. LTP has also been identified as one of the teaching and learning approaches in Malaysia’s National Preschool Curriculum Standard (NPCS) to achieve its specified learning and development components. With physical environment capable of providing sensory stimuli and learning opportunities, physical environment aligned with the vision and principles of LTP should equally be given emphasis. This paper examines the physical environment of preschools in an attempt to demonstrate the relationship between LTP practices and a preschool’s physical environment. A case study research was undertaken based on a sampling frame with purposive homogeneous sampling employed to select four privately operated preschools within converted residential houses in Johor Bahru. Findings of qualitative analysis indicated that albeit physical environment of preschools are less supportive of LTP, children used ingenuity to modify and adapt their physical environment in support of their individual play needs. LTP was hindered due to lack of children’s own free will and accessibility to materials and equipment as well as constrained independent mobility and allowable play with restrictions imposed due to safety concern and time factor. Finally, conclusions are presented and suggestions for possible future direction are discussed. School of Social Sciences, USM A Kadir, Nadhrah Rahmat, Siti Rahyla Mohd Tayeb, Azmil Mohd, Saidatulakmal 2017 Book Section PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://eprints.usm.my/40685/1/ART_52.pdf Lim, Pearly Pei Li and Bahauddin, Azizi (2017) Physical Environment and Learning through Play: Case Studies in Malaysian Preschools. In: Social Sciences Postgraduate International Seminar (SSPIS) 2017. School of Social Sciences, USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, pp. 400-408. ISBN 9789671544013 http://www.sspis.usm.my
spellingShingle H1-99 Social sciences (General)
Lim, Pearly Pei Li
Bahauddin, Azizi
Physical Environment and Learning through Play: Case Studies in Malaysian Preschools
title Physical Environment and Learning through Play: Case Studies in Malaysian Preschools
title_full Physical Environment and Learning through Play: Case Studies in Malaysian Preschools
title_fullStr Physical Environment and Learning through Play: Case Studies in Malaysian Preschools
title_full_unstemmed Physical Environment and Learning through Play: Case Studies in Malaysian Preschools
title_short Physical Environment and Learning through Play: Case Studies in Malaysian Preschools
title_sort physical environment and learning through play: case studies in malaysian preschools
topic H1-99 Social sciences (General)
url http://eprints.usm.my/40685/
http://eprints.usm.my/40685/
http://eprints.usm.my/40685/1/ART_52.pdf