Enhancing Childrens Awareness on Energy Efficiency through the

Utilisation of Web-Based Resources

Amelia Abdullah
1+
, Nooraida Yakob
2
and Hashimah Mohd. Yunus
3

1
School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang
2
School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang

3
School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang
Abstract: The main aim of this qualitative study is to investigate if pre-school childrens awareness on Energy
Efficiency (focusing on electricity) can be enhanced through the utilisation of web-based resources in teaching and
learning is. The samples of this study consist of 20 pre-school children, 5 to 6 years olds who come from two private
Islamic pre-schools around Penang Island. The children are taught using a specific website which was developed
especially for the study: ktlestari.usm.my. The children are exposed to this specific method of teaching for five
months. These web-based lessons include interactive activities for the children, teachers lesson plans, forums and
videos, focusing on Energy Efficiency. The data is collected through three open-ended interview sessions, conducted
after the lessons. The findings show that the children show positive signs of awareness in using energy efficiently. The
data also highlights that the web-based teaching and learning is able to increase the childrens motivation to learn and
enhance their basic literacy on ICT skills.
Keywords: websites, energy efficiency, awareness, pre-school
1. Introduction
The education system in Malaysia is undergoing several reformation processes in the effort of achieving the
nations aspirations on becoming a fully developed nation by the year 2020. One of the goals of the education system
in a fully developed nation is to practice a change in the pedagogical practices where students are encouraged to be
more independent and autonomous in charting their own learning processes. In addition to that, with the dawning of
the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the expansion of the use of social networking tools in
education, 21
st
century students should be able to enhance their learning processes by incorporating technology. As
ICT has become a catalyst in the transformation of the Malaysia education system, the utilisation of web-based
resources is becoming more popular, especially among pre-school children. It is seen as a trend that has the potential
to enhance learning and increases the importance of knowledge of new education strategy which applies to new
learning environments (Romero, Berger, Healy & Aberson, 2000). Web-based resources have provided beneficial
gains in the educational system by changing the way teaching and learning is conducted. The process becomes more
interesting and challenging especially in equipping pre school children with the 21
st
century skills and knowledge.
Brown (2001) also perceives that web-based resources offer an abundance of opportunities in aiding childrens
development of their own awareness and learning.
The www.ktlestari.usm.my website is developed in order to offer a one-stop platform for the teachers and the pre-
school children to interact as well as to generate the childrens awareness on energy efficiency. This website focuses
on the integration of Energy Efficiency across the curriculum, mainly on the subjects of Mathematics, Science and
Language Skills. The aims of the website are:
i. to provide opportunities for preschoolers to learn and be aware of Energy Efficiency interactively
through the use of web-based resources
ii. to provide additional resources about Energy Efficiency for pre school teachers

Corresponding author
Email address: amelia@usm.my