Designing the Integrated Thematic Preschool Stream Module

Phang, Anna Wai Leng

Abstract

Malaysian Blueprint (2013-2025), under Malaysian Ministry of Education (MoE) has placed great emphasis on STEM education. Currently preschool STEM education has evolved from STEAM to STREAM. STREAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. However, methods of promoting STREAM are barely adapted in preschool classroom practice. There is hardly substantial research that emphasize on the design and development of STREAM module to foster STREAM at the preschool level. This requires a reliable and effective teaching and learning STREAM module that can train or guide teachers using the Integrated thematic instruction (ITI) model to address the National Philosophy of Education for developing the potential of individuals in a holistic and integrated manner. Therefore, this research paper aims to design and development of integrated thematic preschool STREAM module by using the design and development research (DDR) approach. In order to determine the instructional goal, the researchers had performed the 3 phases of study based on the DDR approach. The first phase is to investigate the needs and challenges faced by the teachers towards STREAM education using quantitative approach; the second phase is obtaining expert consensus for the main inputs of the STREAM module using Fuzzy Delphi method; the third phase is to evaluate the usability and practicality of the module using focus group interview with the experts. The overall findings provide potential for developing the Integrated thematic Instruction (ITI)-preschool STREAM module for professional development. This developed module therefore would represent a reliable and credible ITI-Preschool STREAM module for fostering preschool STREAM education nationwide in the local context. Keywords: design and development research, thematic, integrated, preschool, STREAM module

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