KOTA KINABALU: A local college teacher has developed a mobile application (app) to help students improve their skills in writing essays in the national language.
As remote learning becomes part of today's new norm in education, 28-year-old Lerry David has found a solution to assist his students in writing essays effectively while they study at home.
He said it was essential for teachers to be able to create their own technology-based tools in teaching their students.
Since the first Movement Control Order (MCO), brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Bahasa Melayu subject teacher of Keningau Vocational College dedicated his time to researching and gaining knowledge about building his own mobile app.
"I was toying with the idea of developing an app that my students can benefit from. It took me some time to build the mobile app because I had zero knowledge.
"I watched a lot of YouTube videos before I finally found a free app builder and developed 'Bijak Karangan'," he told the New Straits Times.
The app is available for download at http://mobincube.mobi/ESHR8I. It is a reference targeted at weak students, especially those struggling with the essay writing component of the Bahasa Melayu subject in schools.
Although there are many mobile apps for downloads, Lerry preferred to develop his own so he could tailor the features and functions of his application to meet his students' learning needs.
Lerry said the general look of the application was very simple and straight to the point.
His students started using the 'Bijak Karangan' app in early October during the second phase of Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
He explained some of his students were very good in skills and practical subjects, but weak in academic components such as writing - even basic format essays - because they were unable to grasp the technique and expand ideas.
Lerry, who is also a school warden chief, said his app proved useful and effective as there were weak students who had shown improvement in their essay writing skills.
"Of course, these students have always wanted to improve. Previously, I always made and used traditional cue cards to teach my weak students how to compose a basic format essay.
"However, such teaching and learning method was ineffective as students tend to lose or misplace their cards," said Lerry, adding he was currently working on upgrading the 'Bijak Karangan' app to make it look attractive.
His app has been accepted to be presented at the International Conference on Teaching, Education, and Learning, which is organised by Eurasia Research that will be virtually hosted in Tokyo, Japan, next month.
At that conference, Lerry is expected to present and demonstrate his application to a panel of international judges.