Azam Ghazali, Zakiah Mohamad Ashari, Joanne Hardman, Sri Wiji Handayani
The declining number of Malaysian students opting for the science stream has impacted the country's global PISA ranking. This paper presents the development of a Project-based Learning-Technology-based Learning (PBL-TBL) science module for preschool children, aiming to foster early interest in science through collaborative activities. The study employs a mixed-method design, incorporating three phases of the ADDIE Model: needs analysis, design, and development. In the needs analysis phase, interviews were conducted with nine preschool educators to assess the necessity of the module. During the design phase, six experts evaluated the prototype to ensure its effectiveness. The development phase involved nine experts assessing the usability of the MyPraSains learning module, specifically designed for Malaysian preschools. In the implementation phase, 25 preschoolers engaged in an activity from the module to test its practical application. Finally, the evaluation phase involved an educator interview to assess the module’s impact based on expert feedback. Findings revealed that experts unanimously agreed on the validity of the MyPraSains module, achieving a content validity index (CVI) of 1.00. Additionally, children demonstrated significant social development through active participation in module activities. Educators also endorsed the module, recommending its adoption in preschool settings as a benchmark for science education quality in Malaysia. This study highlights the potential of early science exposure in nurturing long-term interest in STEM fields, addressing the ongoing decline in science stream enrolment. © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.
School of Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Johor Bahru, 81310, Malaysia; School of Education, Faculty of Humanities, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa; Labschool Universitas Negeri Semarang, Sekaran, Central Java, 50229, Indonesia
