An Exploratory Study on the Effectiveness of the SmartJawi Application in Enhancing Reading, Writing, and Motivation among 5-Year-Old Children

Abstract

Early literacy is essential in establishing a child's educational foundation, especially for Jawi literacy, which is a fundamental aspect of Islamic education in Malaysia. The use of digital tools like the SmartJawi program presents intriguing opportunities for improving children's engagement and foundational abilities in Jawi. This exploratory study assessed the initial efficacy of the SmartJawi application in five-year-old children. A quantitative experimental design was utilised, comprising one early childhood educator and five children from a private kindergarten in Jelawat, Bachok, Kelantan. The study was conducted over a three-week period, consisting of a pre-test, a one-week intervention using the SmartJawi application (implemented over four days at one hour per day), and a post-test. Evaluations concentrated on three areas: learning motivation, reading, and writing in Jawi. The results indicated a substantial enhancement in learning motivation and writing skills subsequent to the intervention. Despite an enhancement in reading scores, the alteration was not statistically significant. The initial findings indicate that the SmartJawi application may serve as a useful instrument for improving early Jawi literacy, especially in cultivating motivation and writing proficiency. It is advisable to conduct more study with a larger sample size and prolonged length to corroborate and enhance these preliminary findings.