KESAN PENGGUNAAN PETA PEMIKIRAN TERHADAP PENGAJARAN PENULISAN KARANGAN MURID TAHUN LIMA

Kajian lalu menunjukkan kebolehan mengarang karangan dalam kalangan murid sekolah rendah adalah rendah. Oleh hal yang demikian, kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji kesan penggunaan peta pemikiran terhadap tahap penulisan karangan Bahasa Melayu dalam kalangan murid tahun lima. Penyelidik menggunakan kaedah eksperimen kuasi melibatkan satu sampel kajian yang terdiri daripada 64 murid sekolah rendah yang dibahagikan sama rata kepada satu kumpulan perlakuan dan satu kumpulan kawalan. Para murid dalam kumpulan pertama menggunakan peta pemikiran dalam pengajaran karangan, sementara kumpulan kedua menggunakan kaedah tradisional. Ujian pra dan ujian pasca digunakan untuk mendapatkan data yang dianalisis dengan Statistical Package For Social Science (SPSS) versi 21. Bagi kumpulan perlakuan, analisis data menunjukkan skor pasca ujian min murid adalah lebih tinggi dari skor pra ujian min mereka, sekali gus menunjukkan mereka memperoleh peningkatan dalam penulisan karangan dari segi kandungan dan pengolahan idea. Dapatan yang sama juga menunjukkan skor pasca ujian min murid dalam kumpulan perlakuan adalah lebih tinggi dari min skor yang sama bagi mereka dalam kumpulan kawalan, sekali gus menunjukkan kumpulan perlakuan adalah lebih berprestasi daripada kumpulan kawalan. Dapatan kajian ini mempunyai implikasi dalam amalan pengajaran semasa. Guru mata pelajaran Bahasa Melayu boleh menggunakan peta pemikiran sebagai satu alat pengajaran bagi membantu murid sekolah rendah belajar menulis karangan dengan lebih berkesan. Studies have shown that students’ essay writing abilities of primary school students are low. As such, this study was carried out to examine the extent of the effects of using thinking maps on the teaching of Malay language essay writing among Year Five students. In this study, the researchers used a quasi-experimental method involving a study sample consisting of 64 primary school students were divided equally into a treatment group and a control group. The former used thinking maps in essay writing learning, while the latter used a traditional method. A pre-test and a post-test were used to obtain the data, which were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21. For the treatment group, the analysis of data showed students’ mean post-test scores were significantly higher than their mean pre-test scores, indicating they made significant improvements in essay writing in terms of content and ideation. The same analysis also showed students’ mean post-test scores in the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group, indicating the former outperformed the latter. These findings have a practical implication for the current teaching practice. Malay language teachers can use thinking maps as a teaching tool to help primary school students effectively learn to write essays.

The Knowledge of Geography Trainee Teachers on the Use of I-Think Thinking Maps in Learning and Facilitation (PdPc) in Schools

This article aims to identify the knowledge of Geography trainee teachers in the use of i-Think thinking maps in Learning and Facilitation (PdPc) in schools during their teaching practice. This study used the in-depth interviews method as a research instrument and primer data collected. Respondents consisted of 25 Geography trainee teachers who are currently studying for the sixth and seventh semesters but have been in the first phase of teaching practice. The data were collected by recording audio of each interview session conducted by the researcher with 25 respondents and transcribed in Microsoft Word and then categorized into sections and reviewed by the researcher to see the answers provided more clearly. The results of this study found that Geography trainee teachers' knowledge of i-Think thinking maps such as the meaning, type, function, and how to apply i-Think thinking maps in PdPc is moderate. This due to the lack of exposure and experience to use i-Think thinking maps either in their learning or in teaching practice. This study implies that there is a growing awareness among Geography teachers in enhancing their knowledge of the use of I-Think thinking maps. This will help the trainee teachers to apply it according to the topics to be taught when they become real teachers in future.

A Review on Primary School Students’ Narrative Essay Writing Skills: A Focus on an Intervention Based on Thinking Maps

In this study, the researchers reviewed the current literature of Malay essay writing that highlighted most students were lacking the essential skills to write good narrative essays, with most of their works lacking depth, elaborations, strong contents, coherence, and grammatical integrity. Against this backdrop, the researchers proposed a teaching and learning intervention with the use of thinking maps as a learning tool for the teaching and learning process of Malay narrative essay writing based on the year-five Malay Language curriculum by focusing on three principles of the writing of children’s stories, namely curiosity, challenge, and suspense. With such a thinking tool, teachers can help their students to search for and organize ideas for their essays in a structured, systematic fashion, the infusion of which can help them create interesting, moving stories. From a grammatical standpoint, students’ essays will consist of cohesive sentences and coherent paragraphs, which makes reading a smooth, enjoyable experience to the reader.

Concept Maps as a Technique for Organizing, Analyzing, and Transforming Knowledge

The chapter begins with the origins of concept maps as a tool to promote constructivist learning, an educational philosophy and practice, and is followed by a concept map taxonomy. A definition of concept maps is provided and the main differences between Mind Maps©, Thinking Maps®, and Concept Maps are discussed with Thinking Maps classified as a type of concept map that is separate and different from both other maps. The chapter then offers a second definition of the term “concept maps,” with a detailed discussion of Thinking Maps resulting in a new taxonomy of knowledge or concept maps. The authors then investigate integrating concept maps with cognitive styles theory to determine if concept mapping might have a neuro-psychological basis and if mapping theory can be related to different academic fields and professions. The chapter concludes that the use of concept mapping can promote more holistic and effective teaching, learning, and practice in STEM education.

Effectiveness of Using Thinking Maps Through the Edmodo Network to Develop Achievement and Mathematical Connections Skills Among Middle School Students

Aim/Purpose: This research aimed to measure the effectiveness of using thinking maps through the Edmodo network to develop achievement and mathematical connections skills among middle school students. Background: One of the most important and major problems in education is reduced levels of academic achievement among students generally and in mathematics specifically. This is having a negative impact on academic outcomes. As mentioned in statement of the problem, several studies have identified weaknesses in academic achievement in mathematics. The results and recommendations of previous studies have referred to the effectiveness of thinking maps in developing numerous variables. Previous studies have identified weaknesses in mathematical connections skills. No Arabic studies have addressed the effectiveness of thinking maps through the Edmodo network in developing achievement and mathematical connections skills among middle school students. Methodology: The participants were a purposive sample of 102 second-year middle school students. These were divided into two groups: experimental (n = 49) and control (n = 53). To achieve the research objectives, the experimental approach in its quasi-experimental design was adopted with (pre-post) measurement for both groups. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Contribution: This study added information to the literature on the effectiveness of the thinking maps strategy through the Edmodo network in developing achievement and mathematical connections skills. Devising a modern teaching strategy to help students solve mathematical problems and thus can be generalized to various fields of life. This also the first study on this subject in Saudi Arabia. Findings: The results showed there was a significant difference between the mean post-test scores of the experimental and control groups on the achievement test in favor of the experimental group. Additionally, there was a significant difference between the mean post-test scores of the experimental and control groups on the mathematical connections skills test in favor of the experimental group. There was also a positive correlation between the development of achievement and mathematical connections skills among middle school students who used thinking maps through the Edmodo network. Recommendations for Practitioners: At a practice level, holding courses and training workshops for middle school mathematics teachers that include training on how to use modern learning models enhanced with technology, including the thinking Maps strategy, in the mathematics curriculum. Preparing guidelines for middle school mathematics teachers on how to use Thinking Maps via the Edmodo Network and how to train students in its use. Recommendation for Researchers: Further research is needed to study the Effectiveness of the Thinking Maps strategy via the Edmodo network on developing achievement and mathematical connections skills in other subjects and at different educational stages. Impact on Society: Our findings encourage teachers and educational supervisors to adopt the use of thinking maps on learning platforms for mathematics teaching as an effective method for developing achievement and mathematical connections skills. Benefiting from the applications and experiences of developed countries who have used e-learning in teaching curricula in order to keep pace with contemporary developments. Future Research: Future studies could be extended to identify the effectiveness of maps of strategic thinking across Edmodo network variables within other subsidiaries, such as mathematical communication, creative thinking, mathematical proof, mind habits, and so on. Assess the effectiveness of play-based learning strategies via the Edmodo network in developing achievement and mathematical connection skills. Conduct a study that measures teachers’ and students’ attitudes toward using the Thinking Maps strategy via the Edmodo network. Assessing the effectiveness of using the Thinking Maps strategy via an Edmodo network in achieving and developing creative skills among secondary school students.