Browsing by Author "Zuraidah Abdullah"

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    Exploration of leadership development challenges among MARA college lecturers
    (2024) Norashdimah Misdi; Fadzliyati Kamaruddin; Zuraidah Abdullah; Bambang Sumintono
    The educational change in the 21st Century has resulted in more dynamic leadership among educators. Thus, the issue of challenges in terms of leadership among educators becomes the focus of the present study. The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges faced by MARA College lecturers in an effort to improve their leadership level. The research design uses a qualitative method involving two instruments, namely an open-ended questionnaire and a face-to-face structured interview. A total of 37 lecturers from four MARA colleges, consisting of 9 males and 28 females participated in this study. The findings identified several factors that hinder the development of leadership among the lecturers at MARA College. It was discovered that factors such as time constraints, an unsupportive environment, and the level of lecturers' readiness became obstacles for the lecturers at MARA College to conduct action research related to T&L activity. Furthermore, feeling insecure and being negative are the internal factors, in addition to negative reactions from peers around, that also prevent the lecturers of MARA College from carrying out their knowledge-sharing activities. Thus, the management and lecturers at MARA College are advised to collectively evaluate and pay attention to action research activities that address local problems so that the learning atmosphere among lecturers can be strengthened and this can subsequently empower leadership among lecturers at MARA College
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    Exploring teacher collaboration: what's inside the Malaysian PLC black box?
    (Emerald Publishing Limited, 2023-10-30) Zuliana Mohd Zabidi; Zuraidah Abdullah; Bambang Sumintono
    Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore mathematics teachers’ collaboration within their professional learning communities (PLCs), and to gain insight into how the teachers developed their collective efficacy through it to focus on improving student learning. Design/methodology/approach – Using a qualitative approach, data were collected from three high- performing secondary schools, mainly through semi-structured in-depth interviews with the Heads of Mathematics Unit. For explication and triangulation purposes, focus group interviews with the mathematics teachers and students and document analysis were also conducted. Findings – The findings indicate that PLCs were the vessel through which a culture of disciplined teacher collaboration was fostered. More importantly, this culture encouraged teachers to participate in reflective dialogues that became a driver for their learning, and eventually led to their changed professional practice for improved student learning. The collaborative setting within the PLCs allowed teachers to pool their resources, knowledge and individual expertise to identify their student learning focus, and administer and measure their student intervention strategies. This collaborative professional learning reduced professional isolation, and as a result, improved teachers’ collective pursuit of professional growth to impact student outcomes. Research limitations/implications – The aim of this qualitative study was to provide a detailed description of the teachers’ collaboration within their PLCs based on the researchers’ interpretation of how the participants make sense of their PLC practices and experiences. Hence, findings are indicative, and not definitive. In addition, the Heads of the Mathematics Unit, and the mathematics teacher participants in this study illustrated salient aspects of subject subcultures, where their beliefs, norms and practices were non- generic, or specific only to their subject context. Therefore, the implications to practice were built from commonalities shared only among the mathematics units. Originality/value – This is a study in a Malaysian context that provides empirical evidences that are concerned primarily with the process of teachers developing their collective efficacy through disciplined collaboration within their PLCs.
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    Menuju komuniti pembelajaran profesional: kajian kes di institusi TVET MARA di Malaysia
    (Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, 2023-03-06) Fazlina Mohd. Sani; Zuraidah Abdullah; Bambang Sumintono
    Adalah menjadi visi MARA untuk memperkasakan sumber manusia secara holistik sebagai persediaan melahirkan tenaga kerja profesional dan berkemahiran tinggi. Untuk mencapai matlamat ini, budaya bekerja secara individu perlu digantikan dengan gerak kerja kolaboratif melalui satu konsep yang tidak asing lagi iaitu konsep ‘Komuniti Pembelajaran Profesional’ (KPP). Oleh itu, tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk meneroka tahap pelaksanaan KPP dalam populasi sepuluh Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA (KKTM) di Malaysia. Menggunapakai reka bentuk kajian kes kualitatif, data dikumpul melalui teknik temu bual separa berstruktur dan soalan tinjauan terbuka dengan penglibatan 16 orang pemimpin pendidikan (atau Educational Leader, EL) dan 47 orang pendidik daripada keseluruhan empat buah kolej KKTM yang dipilih secara bertujuan bagi menjayakan kajian ini. Dapatan kajian mendapati tahap pelaksanaan KPP dalam konteks empat kolej KKTM ini dapat dicirikan kepada enam dimensi iaitu 'Autonomi terkawal’, 'Kepentingan perkongsian nilai visi & misi', ‘Mengamalkan pendekatan kolektif untuk penambahbaikan', ‘Pendekatan kolektif ke arah perkongsian peribadi’, 'Sokongan dalam bentuk fizikal / perhubungan' dan 'Sokongan dalam bentuk struktur'. Seterusnya, dapatan ini berupaya memberikan implikasi praktikal dan cadangan untuk penyelidikan masa hadapan dalam melaksanakan KPP dalam konteks TVET MARA di KKTM khususnya dan Malaysia amnya.