Virtual Learning Space for Kindergarten By Nurul Liza bt Yusoff Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Technology (Hons) (Business Information System) JANUARY 2008 Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS Bandar Sen Iskandar 31750 Tronoh PerakDarul Ridzuan CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL Virtual Learning Space for Kindergarten by Nurul Lizabt Yusoff A projectdissertation submitted to the Business Information System Programme Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY (Hons) (BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEM) Approved by, (DrP.D.DDom4nit) UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS TRONOH, PERAK January 2008 CERTIFICATION OF ORIGINALITY This is to certify thatI amresponsible for thework submitted inthisproject/assignment, thatthe original work is my own except as specified inthereferences and acknowledgements, andthattheoriginal work contained herein have notbeen undertaken or done by unspecified sources or persons. (NURUL LIZA BINTI YUSOFF) ABSTRACT This report covers the final draft of the study in which the title Virtual Learning Space for Kindergarten has been researched. The Virtual Learning Space for Kindergarten is developed using Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash MX 2004, Barbarosa Gif Animator and Adobe Photoshop 7.0. This project is carried out using Waterfall System Development Life Cycle Model. The Virtual Learning Space for Kindergarten will assist the kindergarten kids since "Children are active thinkers who are constantly trying to construct new strategies and advanced understandings" (Piaget). As the word kids might propose several definitions and explanation to different individual, this research stress on kindergarten kids whose ages are between 4 to 6 years old. Several meaningful findings are made during the research, which suggestively enable the author to tackle the matter in a broader view. By using the integration of multimedia which is the combination of sounds, animations and text, Virtual Learning Space for Kindergarten helps kindergarten kids in Malaysia, to enhance their learning. The emphasis will shift from chalk-and-board method to interactive digital content delivered via the Internet. With sufficient access and support, teachers will be better able to help their students to understand concepts and engage in learning and to provide them with access to information and resources and better meet the students' individual needs. Technology opportunities presented leads to the enhancement of learning and improve students' achievement. It can enrich the exchange between kids and their families at home as schools are looking for greater parental participation in their children's educational. Virtual Learning Space for Kindergarten gives even the busiest parents an affordable and easy means to participate in their child's lessons and even work cooperatively with teachers where they can explore the world together. Inthe best of all worlds, parents and educators would be 'attached at the hip', working side by side, sharing information and planning opportunities to enrich kids' learning experiences at home and in the classroom. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This project is especially dedicated to all web builders who are interested in taking up opportunity to build children website, I was geared to start on the research after reviewing hundreds of websites loaded on web and reading several materials on children's issues which are related to the World Wide Web. It is a pleasant thing that I have now the opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the person who has been closely supervising me throughout the semester and keenly guided me to take up effective efforts to ensure that I am able to complete this project within its time frame. I would liketo thank my mostsupportive supervisor, Dr P.D.D Dominic for his constructive comments, suggestions, improvements and corrections regarding this project. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to him for providing me with the unique opportunity to work with him, for his expert guidance and mentorship, and for his encouragement and support at all levels. I am very fortunate to have many good friends around me. Their readiness to guide me really helped me in various aspects especially in understanding much more details about the function of Macromedia Flash MX 2004. Thanks to Kaksya for her encouragement and sharing of ideas and also a big thank to Paress for being such a nice friend all the time, for all the inspiring and invaluable support. I would also like to say thank you to all participants who were willingly spent their time answering questionnaires that have been distributed to them. And I also would like to say a big thank to all children and teenagers who had chatted with me through iRC and provided me with priceless information I need for my research. Last but not the least, I would liketo thank all lecturers, UTP staffs and to all people out there who had help me directly or indirectly throughout this semester. in TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATION OF ORIGINALITY . ABSTRACT . ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ui TABLE OF CONTENTS IV LIST OF FIGURES . VI LIST OF TABLES . VII ABBREVIATION AND NOMENCLATURES vin CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION . 1.1 Background of Study . 1.2 Problem Statement 1.3 Objectives and Scope of Study CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ... 8 2.1 Overview .... 8 2.2 Introduction to Web Based E-Learning System: An Evolution of Education . 9 2.3 Advantages and obstacles of E-Learning 10 2.4 How Children Learn 12 2.5 Effects of computers on Kindergarten Kids 12 IV CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY . 14 3.1 Hardware Preparation. 14 3.2 Software Preparation . 14 3.3 System Development . 14 3.4 The Design Prototype. 20 3.5 Tools Required 29 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIC 30 4.1 Data Gathering & Analysis 30 4.2 Results and Discussion. 33 CHAPTERS: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 34 5.1 Conclusion .... 34 5.2 Recommendation ... 35 REFERENCE 36 APPENDICES 39 APPENDIX 1: Sample ofQuestionnaire v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.1 Use Case Diagram ofVirtual Learning Space 16 for Kindergarten Figure 3.2 Context Diagram of Virtual Learning Space 17 for Kindergarten Figure 3.3 Data flow diagram of Virtual Learning Space 19 for Kindergarten Figure 3.4 Screenshot ofMenu page design 21 Fieure 3.5 Screenshot of Learn ABC page design 22 Figure 3.6 Screenshot ofCount 123 page design 23 Figure 3.7 Screenshot ofRecognize Colour page design 24 Figure 3.8 Screenshot of Hacalah Anakku page design 25 Figure 3.9 Screenshot oi' Mori Semhahyang page design 26 Figure 3.10 Development Process of Virtual Learning Space 27 for Kindergarten Figure 3.11 Gantt Chart for Final Year Project II 28 Figure 4.1 The survey result of impact ofcolor on children 31 mood in learning Figure 4.2 The survey result ofteachers' acceptance towards 32 the use of Internet for their students to learn VI LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Advantages of E-Learning 10 Table 2.2 Obstacles of E-Learning 11 vn ABBREVIATIONS AND NOMENCLATURES WWW World Wide Web IT Information Technology CAI Computer-aided instruction PHP PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor HTML Hypertext Markup Language XML Extensible Markup Language SDLC System Development Life Cycle PC Personal Computer RAM Random Access Memory viu CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1. BACKGROUND Integration of multimedia becomes a very powerful teaching and learning tool. It has been placed at the center of current development in learning technology. Many types of multimedia integration can be discovered through the e-learning in global internet and almost of these stuffs are free and downloadable. Multimedia is a term that generally describes a computer based program that integrates several forms of media that may include video, sound, animation, graphic and text to create a multi sensory experience. The term interactive implies that the media responds to some input from the user. There has been an explosion in the production of multimedia application for children in recent years. There are games utilities and educational programs. Besides modules and knowledge about the subject, quizzes and activities provided can give a good result in developing minds of kindergarten kids. 1.1 Background of Study As for this Final Year Project, the Virtual Learning Space for Kindergarten can be defined as an online system designed for both kindergarten's teachers and kids that serve as an e-center in order to create the teaching and learning process interactive. This e-!earning offers a 'classroom-friendly' website as well as to offer school boards new ways to help the kids experience an interactive learning process. Main purpose of the project is to develop an e-learning website for kindergarten kids in learning basic subjects in a very effective way. The prototype consists of basic modules which applied in Malaysia's kindergartens. Activities provided in way to enhance kids' mind and to generate their creativity. 1.2 Problem Statement 1.2.1 Problem Identification In depth study on 'Children on the internet' which was conducted in 1997 concluded that more than 98 million children were using the internet during that time. In the U.S alone, when the Clinton administration has enforced its' people to connect every classroom and library to the internet by year 2002, the percentage ofU.S public schools with internet access has increased to 78 percent (Kim Wimpsett,1998). An estimated 42 million kids will be surfing the web by 2002 but yet so little has been done in reinforcing people to produce children's websites with outstanding qualities. This exciting phenomenon however paved the way ofdiscussing the issue ofchildren and the web openly but most of them were only too concerned with legal issues like the manipulating of children's personal info by advertising computer, the need of getting parental consent for logging on to the web by children under 12, the need of filtering software to filter out filthy information on the web and some other related issues.