ALIVE© virtual learning approach enhances student engagement and academic performance

PEKAN, 6 February 2025 – Active Lightboard Virtual Education (ALIVE©) is a virtual learning approach that has been shown to enhance student engagement and academic performance.

The Book-end Division Approach (BDA) through ALIVE © was developed by Nurul Wahidah Arshad, Ts. Dr. Rohana Abdul Karim, Dr. Suliana Ab Ghani, and Norazian Subari from the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology (FTKEE), along with Zul Idham Yahya from the Centre of Instructional Resources & e-Learning (CIReL), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA).

According to Nurul Wahidah Arshad, the initiative developed is the BDA approach through ALIVE©.

“It has been proven to significantly enhance student engagement and academic performance in the Digital Logic Design course.

“To address the issue of student engagement, ALIVE© introduces an immersive virtual learning approach by combining informal active learning pedagogy, lightboard technology, and teaching applications such as ClassPoint.

“Through this initiative, more than 60% of students reported a positive classroom environment, while course outcome achievement increased by 17%,” she shared.

ALIVE© also received the Special Award from the Minister of Higher Education under the category Innovative Curriculum Design and Delivery (AKRI) for Immersive (Virtual) Learning.

This award is organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to recognise innovation and the expertise of educators at higher education institutions.

According to Nurul Wahidah Arshad, she was interested in entering the competition following a call for participation by PSPe UMPSA.

“To face such a prestigious competition, I believe it cannot be done alone.

“I needed a support system and teammates who could provide input from various perspectives.

“I even approached close colleagues to go through the competition process together so that we could learn and succeed as a team.

“And that’s how this group came together,” she said.

Her team took a total of three years to complete the project.

“Based on the active learning techniques I have studied, I have applied them in the Digital Logic Design course for three semesters.

“With the lightboard facility at the EduCreator Studio—established by the Dean of FTKEE, Professor Ts. Dr. Hamdan—and the recognition as a ClassPoint Certified Trainer made it easier for me to implement this initiative.

“AKRI webinars and workshops organised by CIReL were extremely helpful for our team’s preparation, especially in selecting the right category and preparing quality supporting evidence and documentation,” she said.

By: Naqiah Puaad, Centre for Corporate Communications
Translation by: Dr Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press