Implementation of the 21st century learning in learning and facilitation of Thirukural in Tamil primary schools

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the implementation level of the 21st Century Learning Model among teachers and to analyze the impact of it in activities and facilitation of 21st Century Modeling in Thirukkural teaching in Perak state's Tamil Primary Schools. Qualitative research methods were used in this study to obtain the data. This study involved two Tamil Primary Schools as respondents. Observation in the process of learning and facilitating Thirukkural for Year 5 students was implemented using Malaysian Standards Quality Education Waves 2 (known as SKPMg2) instruments that had been set by the Ministry of Education. The results show that the classroom atmosphere involved in the observation meets the positive elements of a classroom, as recommended by the Ministry of Education Malaysia. However, there are some weaknesses in the availability and application of certain aspects such as `learning resource center', `selfaccess learning' and digital technologies. A fairly narrow classroom and financial factors are the barriers to creating an excellent classroom filled with positiveness. In addition, the findings show that the achievement scores were outstanding for the role of teachers as guards, mentors, managers of learning environments and students' emotional drive. This score is seen as a great achievement. However, the achievement of scores in the role of teachers as planners, motivators, and appraisers should be further worked out. At the same time, the role of students as active learners also has low scores due to the actions of the passive student actions. Overall, it can be stated that Thirukkural learning and facilitating can be done well based on the 21st Model of Learning, but certain aspects in this model such as the teacher's role to as motivator and student's role as active learner need to be further improved. The results of this study are expected to help educators and related parties in implementing the learning and facilitation of Thirukkural more effectively, in accordance with the 21st Model of Learning. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by IASE.