The Development of Preschool Nature Education Module (PreNEM) for Preschool Teachers Based on Higher Order Thinking Skills.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop the Preschool Nature Education Module (PreNEM) based on Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) as a professional exercise and guide for preschool teachers to undertake teaching and learning related to the environment. The process of developing the module involved three phases, which were the phase of needs analysis of the module elements, the module development phase, and the module implementation and evaluation phase. The developed module encompassed based on HOTS in the Malaysian Nature Education in Preschool (MyNEPs). Program in the components of weather, flora, fauna, insects and microbes for children to face the environment, environmental care and independence of life. This qualitative study involved four excellent preschool teachers who had at least 10 years of teaching experience as well as the quantitative study involved 29 children from four preschools in Selangor state, Malaysia. The research found that preschool teachers had great knowledge on preschool nature education, however, they lacked the skills and attitudes to implement teaching and learning based on HOTS. The teaching and learning implementation results using the PreNEM based on HOTS helped to increase the teaching skills of preschool teachers and increase knowledge, skills and the attitudes of children towards the MyNEPs program.