This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a training program based on constructivist theory in improving the pedagogical competencies of female digital skills teachers. To achieve this aim, a quasi-experimental approach was employed with a sample of 20 female digital skills teachers. A pedagogical competency test was developed, and its validity and reliability were established. The findings revealed statistically significant differences at the significance level of α ≤ 0.05 between the mean post-test scores of the experimental and control groups in the dimension of subject-matter knowledge, attributable to the training program. Statistically significant differences were also found between the two groups’ mean post-test scores in the dimension of knowledge of students’ characteristics and educational needs, attributable to the training program. Finally, the results indicated statistically significant differences between the two groups’ mean post-test scores in the dimension of pedagogical knowledge, attributable to the training program. The study offered several recommendations, most notably incorporating constructivist theory-based training programs into teachers’ professional development across different disciplines because of their role in improving knowledge of instructional content, students’ characteristics and educational needs, and teaching principles and strategies. It also recommended providing specialized training programs in teaching methods and strategies, with particular emphasis on training teachers to select the most appropriate instructional strategy according to the nature and characteristics of their students.
This study investigates the internalization of moral education values through traditional games in an Islamic early childhood education institution, focusing on the implementation of play-based activities, teacher facilitation, and children's emerging moral behaviors. Adopting a qualitative field research approach, the study was conducted at RA Athfalul Huda GUPPI, Qurnia Village, Mataram, Indonesia. Research participants were purposively selected and included the school principal, teachers, and children involved in traditional game-based learning. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, and analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, comprising data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. Data credibility was supported through source and methodological triangulation and sustained observation. The findings identify four traditional games Cublak-Cublak Suweng, Gobak Sodor, Petak Umpet, and Dakon—as learning activities that provide opportunities for children to experience and practice moral values through shared rules, peer interactions, turn-taking, and collaborative participation. Teacher facilitation, particularly through behavioural modelling, rule reinforcement, guidance, and post-activity reflection, emerged as an important component of the moral learning process. The values addressed through these activities included honesty, trustworthiness, responsibility, patience, cooperation, sportsmanship, tolerance, humility, and social awareness. Furthermore, parent-reported observations indicated that some positive behavioral practices were also reflected in children's interactions at home. These findings highlight the pedagogical potential of culturally embedded traditional games as a context for experiential moral education. The study contributes a contextually grounded understanding of how traditional play and teacher mediation can support the development of moral awareness and emerging behavioral practices in Islamic early childhood education.
Online learning can improve access to educational materials, but it may also create additional demands for school-aged learners who experience learning disabilities. This study examined perceived academic, emotional, behavioural, and adaptation-related outcomes of online classes among students in Grades 1-10 with learning difficulties, drawing on student, parent, and teacher reports. The dissertation describes a quantitative, cross-sectional survey involving 95 participants and the use of the Learning Disabilities Checklist (LDC), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS), and a researcher-developed questionnaire. Reported findings indicate difficulties with attention, comprehension, task completion, and motivation in online settings, alongside lower perceived academic performance than in traditional classrooms. Parent and teacher reports were associated with students? reported learning difficulties. A significant association was reported between student and teacher reports, χ2(1, N = 95) = 20.5, p < .001, φ = .465; a similar association was reported for student and parent reports, χ2(1, N = 95) = 21.0, p < .001, φ = .471. Student and parent reports of emotional wellbeing were also positively correlated, ρ = .674, p < .001. The findings suggest that online learning requires structured routines, accessible teaching materials, trained educators, and coordinated family-school support to better accommodate learners with learning disabilities. Results should be interpreted cautiously because detailed descriptive scores and an effect estimate for the academic comparison were not reported consistently in the dissertation.
This study aims to apply the Project Based Learning model to improve the learning outcomes of Saman Dance among class XI students of SMA Mamiyai Al-Ittihadiyah Medan, based on KD 3.1 “concepts, techniques, and procedures” in the 2013 curriculum. The sample was determined using the Purposive Sampling method through a quantitative descriptive approach, using a 20-question pretest-posttest given to 28 class XI IPA students, with observation, documentation, and literature study as data collection techniques. The study was conducted in 6 meetings to produce a presentation project analyzing Saman Dance. The pretest, given before the Project Based Learning model was used, had an average score of 41, while the posttest after its application had an average score of 86. The t-test shows that t-count = 27.192 > t-table = 1.703 (df = 27, α = 0.05), so Ho is rejected and Ha is accepted. Therefore, applying the Project Based Learning model improves Saman Dance learning outcomes among class XI students of SMA Mamiyai Al-Ittihadiyah Medan.
Background Patient education is an important component of nursing care, influencing treatment outcomes, quality of life, and healthcare costs. However, educational practices are often generalized and may not address patients’ individual needs, health literacy, or socio-cultural contexts. Individualized patient education tailors content to patients’ characteristics, goals, and capabilities, and enhances adherence, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes. Existing tools mainly focus on general aspects of patient education, such as educational quality or provider competencies, and no comprehensive patient-centered tool has been established to assess the individualized nature of patient education. This may constrain systematic assessment and improvement of individualized educational practices. Therefore, this protocol aims to conceptualize individualized patient education, develop a measurement tool, and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods This two-phase exploratory sequential mixed-methods study will be conducted in educational hospitals affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, northwest Iran. Phase 1 will involve hybrid concept analysis, including a literature review and directed qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with patients with chronic diseases and their family members until data saturation, followed by directed content analysis to clarify the concept, identify provisional dimensions, and generate initial items, which will be evaluated quantitatively. Phase 2 will assess the tool’s psychometric properties. Face and content validity will be evaluated using qualitative feedback and the Impact Score, Content Validity Ratio, Content Validity Index, and Modified Kappa coefficient. Construct validity will be examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in SPSS v.24 and AMOS v.24, with independent samples of at least 200 participants per analysis. Reliability will be assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega, and test-retest stability. Interpretability and feasibility will also be evaluated. Discussion If the tool demonstrates adequate validity and reliability, it may provide a standardized measure for assessing individualized educational interventions and support quality improvement, patient engagement, and evidence-informed health education strategies.
School accreditation in Indonesia is often reduced to completing documents before the assessment visit, so the quality it produces tends to be administrative and short-lived. SDIT Ar Refah Tanjungpinang faced the same problem before it raised its accreditation rating from C to A. This study aims to analyse the principal's strategies for building a quality culture from a Total Quality Management perspective, to explain how the values of amanah (trustworthiness) and ihsan (excellence) are internalised into that culture, and to reveal the impact of this culture on the accreditation transformation. The study employed a qualitative approach with a single case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis involving the principal, teachers, administrative staff, foundation board members, the school committee, and the accreditation team. The data were analysed using the interactive model of data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing, and their trustworthiness was tested through source and technique triangulation. The findings show that the principal built a quality culture through shared quality awareness, documented work cycles, improvement-oriented evaluation, team collaboration, and role modelling. Amanah and ihsan served as intrinsic motivation that shifted work orientation from compliance to worship. The study concludes that integrating TQM principles with amanah and ihsan produces a substantive accreditation transformation, because quality is embraced as a moral and spiritual responsibility of the entire school community.
The article analyzes the process of development and initiation of creative abilities at various stages of profession-oriented foreign language training for technical university students. Each stage of foreign language training is described by key characteristics that contribute to the development of students’ creative abilities in a non-linguistic university. The process of developing students’ creative abilities is a hierarchical one. Each stage of foreign language training serves as a preparatory step for the development and initiation of the student's creative abilities.
This article examines ethics education in schools in the light of three converging processes: the expansion of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), human rights education, and the growing importance of digital environments in everyday life. It argues that Ethics Education goes beyond the transmission of values and involves issues of justice, participation, care, and recognition. Drawing on recent literature, the article analyzes both the contributions and tensions surrounding CSE as well as the challenges posed by digital citizenship. It concludes that schools currently require a broader political-pedagogical horizon to address these issues in an integrated manner.
This study examined teachers' readiness, attitudes, challenges, lived experiences, and assessed effectiveness of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program in the Division of Bohol during School Year 2026–2027 as a basis for a comprehensive action plan. Anchored in program implementation, reading readiness, constructivist, and sociocultural learning perspectives, the study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-method design involving 277 Grade 7 ARAL teachers from 129 public secondary schools. Data were collected using a validated researcher-developed questionnaire and semi-structured interviews and analyzed through descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and thematic analysis. Findings revealed high teacher readiness (M = 3.16), highly favorable attitudes (M = 3.22), highly encountered challenges (M = 2.88), and highly assessed program effectiveness (M = 3.08). Regression analysis showed that readiness, attitudes, and challenges significantly predicted assessed effectiveness (R² = 0.643, p < .001), explaining 64.3% of its variance, with attitudes emerging as the strongest predictor. Teachers reported challenges involving limited instructional time, inadequate resources, additional workloads, irregular learner attendance, and insufficient parental support. Qualitative findings highlighted differentiated instruction, diagnostic assessment, collaboration, and adaptive teaching practices as coping mechanisms. The study concluded that teacher preparedness, positive attitudes, and effective challenge management were essential to ARAL implementation. It recommended continuous professional development, adequate resources, flexible scheduling, stronger stakeholder collaboration, and regular monitoring. The study supported Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by promoting equitable learning recovery and collaborative educational interventions. Its sustainability contribution emphasized institutional capacity building, educational continuity, and strengthened stakeholder participation for long-term program implementation.
Background Despite the substantial growth of research on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in higher education, the field remains characterized by geographic concentration, methodological constraints, and conceptual fragmentation between established competence frameworks and emerging demands such as climate literacy and green skills. No prior review has simultaneously mapped the bibliometric architecture and conducted an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted inductive thematic synthesis of this domain. Methods A dual-method design integrated bibliometric network analysis—co-citation, bibliographic coupling, and keyword co-occurrence—with AI-assisted inductive thematic synthesis. A total of 442 peer-reviewed documents were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and ERIC (2015–2026) through systematic multi-database search, deduplication, and PICO-adapted relevance screening evaluated by a specialized multi-rater panel (Fleiss’ κ=0.55 – 0.69 , 98.4% unanimous agreement on the retained corpus). Thematic extraction was performed using two complementary large language model architectures (Qwen3-235B and DeepSeek V3.2), governed by a stringent verification protocol achieving a 92.0% alignment score; 37 hallucination flags were audited and corrected via human expert review. Results The corpus exhibits substantial and accelerated scientific expansion since 2019 ( R2=0.91 for exponential fit; compound annual growth rate of 18.4%), with Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany accounting for over one-third of output. Five thematic clusters emerged: curriculum integration, transformative pedagogies, institutional and faculty roles, sustainability literacy and behavioral outcomes, and digital innovation. Surveys and case studies dominate research designs (37.7%), while experimental approaches represent only 4.0% of the corpus. Green skills and climate literacy remain conceptually peripheral despite their policy urgency, institutional collaboration is fragmented (20.3% of institutions isolated), and faculty populations are understudied (7.0%) relative to students (32.7%). Fifty-six knowledge gaps were identified across structural, declared, and emergent categories, with methods-by-concepts coverage reaching 64.0%. Conclusions The field would benefit from a methodological transition toward longitudinal and experimental designs, enhanced visibility of Global South scholarship (contextualizing database indexing constraints), systematic pedagogical theorization of simulation-based approaches, and deliberate cross-institutional consortia to transition from conceptual proliferation to evidence-based pedagogical science.
Since the large-scale displacement of Ukrainian families following the escalation of the war in 2022, community- and school-based initiatives have become increasingly important in supporting refugee children's adaptation in host countries. Although play, resilience, and belonging have each been widely recognised as important for children's well-being and development, they have largely been examined within separate strands of scholarship. This theoretical article develops an integrated three-tier framework that brings together Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, social-ecological resilience theory, and research on play and belonging to explain how displaced children adapt within host-country contexts. The proposed framework conceptualises children's adaptation as a recursive process operating across three interconnected tiers. Tier one situates children within their ecological environments; tier two identifies resilience as a multisystemic process emerging through interactions between children and the protective resources available within those environments; and tier three positions play as the primary mechanism through which resilience processes are enacted, while belonging functions as both an outcome and a reinforcing relational process. The framework is illustrated through the context of Ukrainian refugee children in Estonia and generates empirically testable propositions to guide future research. By integrating ecological context, resilience processes, and play-based relational mechanisms into a single explanatory framework, the article offers a conceptual foundation for understanding children's adaptation following forced displacement and provides implications for the design and evaluation of community- and school-based initiatives supporting displaced children.
This study examined sustainability-oriented school leadership, environmental management practices, and climate resilience among selected school heads in Sapa-Sapa I District, Tawi-Tawi, as a basis for developing a Sustainable School Governance Framework. Anchored in the Whole-Institution Approach to Education for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Educational Leadership, and Organizational Climate Resilience, the study employed a descriptive-correlational design using a structured five-point Likert-scale questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Kendall's tau-b correlation were applied to 12 school-head response profiles. The illustrative results indicated High levels of sustainability-oriented leadership (M = 3.55) and environmental management practices (M = 3.43), while climate resilience was rated Moderate (M = 3.33). Limited financial resources (66.67%), insufficient training (58.33%), inadequate infrastructure (50.00%), and limited technological support (41.67%) emerged as major challenges. A significant positive relationship was observed between leadership and environmental management (τ = 0.467, p = 0.048), while relationships involving climate resilience were not statistically significant. A preliminary Sustainable School Governance Framework was proposed, emphasizing strategic leadership, environmental resource management, disaster preparedness, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. The study recommends strengthening institutional monitoring, resource conservation, capacity-building initiatives, and learning continuity mechanisms, subject to validation using actual survey data. The study aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Its potential sustainability impact involves strengthening environmental responsibility, institutional resilience, collaborative governance, and climate-responsive educational management in island-based school communities.
Despite global advances in digital pedagogy, structured professional development that integrates technology into martial arts instruction remains scarce. Grounded in the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined the self-described TPACK proficiency of Wushu teachers and the specific proficiency gaps they experience in practice. A researcher-developed questionnaire was administered to a random sample of Wushu teachers, and ten of them were subsequently interviewed. Quantitative findings indicate that teachers are generally proficient across all three TPACK domains (overall M = 2.98, SD = 0.26), with Content Knowledge ranking highest (M = 3.01) and Technological Knowledge lowest (M = 2.96). Qualitative findings, however, revealed three concrete gaps: limited use of mobile and wearable technologies, absence of standardized tools for performance assessment, and inadequate understanding of biomechanics and physical conditioning principles. The study concludes that Wushu teachers possess strong mastery of technique and instructional strategy but require targeted development in technology integration, objective assessment, and the science of movement. A four-module ITM-Wushu (Integrated TPACK Training Model for Wushu Teachers) is proposed to address these gaps. Implications for teacher education and suggestions for future research are discussed.
The article examines the concept of democratic behavior skills as an integral system of personal qualities that help individuals socialize, build partnerships within society, communicate without aggression, pressure, or humiliation, resolve conflicts constructively, establish peaceful relationships, and take responsibility for their decisions. Attention is drawn to the relevance of this issue, as under the current conditions of democratic transformations in Ukrainian society, globalization processes, and information challenges, focusing on the education of young people is a strategic task of the state. Ukrainian society needs citizens who embrace democratic values, are active and responsible, respect the rule of law, think critically, hold strong civic positions, and are culturally educated. It is specified that democratic behavior skills are a component of the model of civic competencies that should be developed from primary school age. By making use of the sensitive developmental periods of younger schoolchildren, educators can lay the foundations of communication and behavioral culture, and related qualities. The educational potential of the integrated course «IEW» is analyzed, with particular emphasis on its social content strand. From Grades 1 to 4, the curriculum includes topics aimed at developing the child’s personality as an active member of society, capable of responsible behavior, partnership and cooperation, respect, tolerance, and empathy. It is emphasized that primary school students do not merely become familiar with concepts such as «citizen», «state», «rights», «responsibilities», and «accountability». Through learner-centered, activity-based approaches, they gain experience in democratic interaction across various activities. Discussions of problematic situations and collective decision-making contribute to the development of democratic behavior skills. It is emphasized that the use of practice-oriented methodologies in teaching the integrated course “I Explore the World” contributes to the development of primary education students’ conscious understanding of social processes and their ability to critically analyze information, which is particularly important for fostering democratic behavior skills. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential to apply the proposed methodological approaches to the educational activities of general secondary and higher education institutions.
Professional communication is an important learning outcome in higher education, yet different active learning pedagogies may provide different communicative affordances for its development and enactment. This study comparatively examined how four active learning pedagogies-group discussion, role play, case study analysis, and student-led seminars-were associated with professional communication across five dimensions: clarity and precision, logical structuring, adaptability and tone, active listening, and persuasive expression. Using a mixed-methods, within-subject repeated-measures design, data were collected from 72 postgraduate management students across two cohorts. All participants experienced the four pedagogies through a Latin Square rotation. Data were drawn from pre-post self-reports, instructor-rated session-level communication performance, and qualitative reflections. Findings were examined across three analytical levels. At the aggregate level, pre-post results indicated significant gains in students’ self-perceived communication competence across both cohorts. These findings indicate perceived development rather than objective gains in demonstrated competence. At the session level, observed communication performance varied across pedagogical conditions, with group discussion and role play associated with higher performance scores than case study analysis and student-led seminars. At the dimension level, qualitative findings revealed distinct pedagogy-dimension linkages. Group discussion was associated with clarity, logical structuring, active listening, and persuasive expression, whereas role play was particularly associated with adaptability and contextual responsiveness. The findings suggest that active learning pedagogies should not be treated as interchangeable approaches to communication development. Instead, their communicative affordances may be considered in relation to specific instructional objectives and desired dimensions of professional communication. The study contributes a differentiated account of how pedagogical structures shape opportunities for communication enactment and provides an evidence-informed basis for aligning active learning design with professional communication objectives in higher education.
The validity of assessment instruments is a crucial aspect in ensuring the quality of learning evaluations in Islamic Religious Education (PAI). However, there are still evaluation instruments that are developed without considering the alignment of indicators, constructs, and measurement objectives, which may result in inaccurate data. This study aims to examine the concepts, types, testing procedures, and methods for determining the validity of assessment instruments through a literature review. The method used is library research with a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were obtained from various books, scientific journals, and relevant documents, and then analyzed descriptively. The results of the study indicate that the validity of an instrument encompasses logical validity and empirical validity, which complement each other in ensuring the accuracy of measurements. Validity testing was conducted systematically through construct definition, development of a test blueprint, expert validation, instrument pilot testing, and statistical analysis. A valid instrument is capable of producing data that is accurate, credible, and supports sound educational decision-making.
ABSTRACT Differences in Arabic language-use environments offer a perspective for understanding why speaking instruction does not always provide learners with comparable language experiences. This study examines mahārah taḥadduts through a comparison of the Arabic Language Education Program at UIN Raden Intan Lampung, Indonesia, and the Arabic Literature Program at Yarmouk University, Jordan. A qualitative approach was employed using a comparative case study design. Data were collected through observations, semi-structured interviews with lecturers, program heads, students, and alumni, as well as document analysis. The data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model, supplemented by within-case and cross-case analyses, while triangulation was employed to establish data trustworthiness. Both programs demonstrated relatively similar instructional patterns involving topic selection, preparation, presentations, dialogue, and question-and-answer sessions. The most notable distinction concerned their language-use environments. At UIN Raden Intan Lampung, speaking practice was largely confined to formally structured learning settings (by design), whereas at Yarmouk University, Arabic was also used in academic interactions and everyday communication (given). These differences were associated with variations in practice opportunities, forms of oral production, and affective-linguistic barriers, without treating the language environment as the sole determining factor. These findings inform the proposed Tiered Oral Production Model, which distinguishes scheduled production (Layer 1) from contextual production (Layer 2). Developing speaking proficiency therefore requires broader opportunities to use Arabic beyond the classroom, alongside further testing of the model across diverse educational contexts. ABSTRAK Perbedaan lingkungan penggunaan bahasa Arab memberikan perspektif untuk memahami mengapa pembelajaran keterampilan berbicara tidak selalu menghasilkan pengalaman berbahasa yang serupa. Penelitian ini menelaah pembelajaran mahārah taḥadduts melalui perbandingan Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Arab UIN Raden Intan Lampung dan Program Studi Sastra Arab Yarmouk University, Yordania. Kajian dilakukan dengan pendekatan kualitatif melalui desain studi kasus komparatif. Observasi, wawancara semi-terstruktur dengan dosen, ketua program studi, mahasiswa, dan alumni, serta dokumentasi digunakan untuk memperoleh data. Analisis mengikuti model Miles dan Huberman, kemudian diperdalam melalui penelaahan dalam-kasus dan lintas-kasus; triangulasi digunakan untuk memeriksa keabsahan data. Kedua program studi memperlihatkan pola instruksional yang relatif serupa, meliputi penentuan tema, persiapan, presentasi, dialog, dan tanya jawab. Pembeda yang menonjol terdapat pada ekologi penggunaan bahasa. Di UIN Raden Intan Lampung, praktik berbicara lebih banyak terikat pada ruang pembelajaran yang dirancang secara formal (by design), sedangkan di Yarmouk University bahasa Arab juga hadir dalam interaksi akademik dan keseharian (given). Perbedaan ini berkaitan dengan variasi kesempatan praktik, bentuk produksi lisan, dan hambatan afektif-linguistik, tanpa menempatkan lingkungan sebagai faktor tunggal. Temuan tersebut melandasi usulan Model Produksi Lisan Bertingkat, yang membedakan produksi terjadwal (Lapis 1) dan produksi kontekstual (Lapis 2). Pengembangan keterampilan berbicara karena itu perlu memperluas kesempatan penggunaan bahasa Arab di luar kelas sekaligus menguji model tersebut pada konteks pendidikan yang beragam.
The diversity present in schools is a reality that demands pedagogical practices that areincreasingly sensitive to the singularities of both subjects and committed to promoting equityInthis sense, the present article intents to discuss the contributions of literary literature as a bookin multiformat Jean and the party across cultures, aiming for an inclusive and accessible practice.Therefore, it aims to reflect, from the Brazilian legislation, or directly to everyone in reading,to understand the books in multiformats with the resource of augmentative and alternativecommunication and to present some accessible literary reading strategies. Methodologically, itis a qualitative approach, of an applied nature, configuring itself as a bibliographic review. Theresults demonstrate that accessible reading strategies are promoted even by considering thediversity and needs of students. This approach does not only enrich or learn, but also strengthenssocial ties, making literary reading an accessible and transformative experience for all.
In the modern world, students should be equipped with critical thinking, problem-solving, and autonomous learning skills. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is designed to foster these competencies by shifting the focus from teacher-centered instruction to student-centered learning. However, many instructors struggle with this transition and tend to take control of the classroom instead of encouraging students to take charge of their own learning. This study investigates how teachers implement PBL and what factors contribute to teacher dominance in a student-centered approach. We employed a mixed-methods design, incorporating classroom observations and semi-structured interviews with 20 teachers from two universities in East Java, Indonesia. Findings revealed that teachers correctly implemented only 37.50% of PBL phases, while in 62.50% of cases, the instructors misapplied or didn’t complete the PBL phase. Teacher-centered activities dominated 64.17% of classroom interactions, limiting opportunities for learner autonomy. Interview results highlighted that many teachers misunderstood problem presentation, while some believed PBL was only effective for high-achieving students. These findings highlight a need for targeted professional development programs to help teachers become facilitators rather than content deliverers. Without proper training, PBL risks becoming a modified version of traditional teaching. Future research should explore long-term changes in teacher autonomy and incorporate students’ perspectives in order to better understand the impact of PBL implementation.
Secondary students in Malaysia turn away from STEM partly because the curriculum content is abstract and disconnected from real life. This mixed-methods study evaluated a Student-as-Trendsetter framework in which 10 gifted students codesigned 3D-printed STEM kits and mentored 88 peers. The classroom participants highly rated the peer-led sessions (M = 4.14–4.57), including the trendsetters’ expertise (M = 4.35). The trendsetters’ self-rated technical competency decreased significantly after the project (from 4.30–4.90 to 1.80–3.00; p < .001). Reflective journals showed that this decline was a healthy recalibration: moving from digital design to physical fabrication exposed real engineering constraints and built grounded, resilient confidence. The framework offers a low-cost route to engaging in student-led STEM learning.
