SIBU: Sibu Vokasional College returned with a gold and a bronze medal from the national-level Kolej Vokasional 1Malaysia Innovation Competition in Pahang recently.
School lecturer Tiong Siew Jen said the school bagged the gold medal award in the Teacher Product category and the bronze medal award in the Classroom of 21st Century category.
For the Teacher Product category, the participating lecturers were Tiong, Lokman Kussin, Bohari Kamis and Yong Ping Ping .
Members in the Classroom of 21st Century category included two lecturers, Yong Jitt Weng and Aileen Lau Ek Ling while the three students were Helena Hengkiling, Jasmin Sharmira and Maisarah Mohamed Anis.
Tiong said the model of Classroom of 21st century was designed for the active interaction between students and teachers and among students as well.
“This model is the result of evolution from the shortfalls of the existing classroom design incorporating the best classroom practice, needs in pedagogy as well as the artistic element,” she explained.
She said the mix of all these elements was expected to cultivate a better suited classroom for future generation.
“The design will see the transformation of the conventional lecture hall which focuses on information delivery to space utilisation that encourages interactivity.
In terms of pedagogy, the focus is on task oriented, faculty as facilitator, student as participant and active learning rather than information oriented, faculty as performer, 1-person ‘show’, students as observer and passive.
She said the design was proposed for use by secondary level and college students.
It highlighted the 10 design concepts that feature the essential needs in a 21st-century classroom.
The 10 design concepts are collaborative learning, distance learning, students centered, multi-purpose space, no front, connectivity, adaptive learning, sufficient electrical resources, facilities for everyone including the disabled (safety environment, creativity) and active learning.
Tiong added that cost saving and environment-friendly were their concept to build the classroom model.
“Most materials used were recycled items such as 7-Up drinking bottles, polystyrene board, PVC pipes and cotton. Other materials were mounting board and Perspex.”