Jitra, 19 Nov: According to Eyler and Giles (1999), Service Learning is a form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as students work with others through a process of applying what they are learning to community problems, and at the same time, reflecting upon their experience as they seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding for themselves. Hence, Mr. Mohammad Zukuwwan Zainol Abidin, lecturer of School of Quantitative Sciences (SQS) joined hands with the teachers at Sekolah Kebangsaan Jitra 2 organized a Service Learning Program known as Spreadsheet Challenge 2019. This program was previously initiated by Mdm. Ts. Fazillah Mohmad Kamal in 2018 for SQIT3014 Computer Aided Decision Making course which offered to Bachelor of Science with Honours (Decision Science). 

The program was aimed to give exposure on basic application of Microsoft Excel in daily lives for primary education students. On this first semester of session in 2019/2020, 30 undergraduate students from the course were able to be the facilitator to 30 students of Standard 6 from the school. With the guided from Mr. Mohammad Zukuwwan, facilitators successfully demonstrated to the students on how to develop a simple system called Student Performance Monitoring System.

At the end of the program, each student received a certificate of participation including a set of 'Pintar Solat' card sponsored by Overview Sdn. Bhd. The card is a local product innovation through games-based education. With the cost of RM35 per unit, the company has supported about RM1050 for the program. The accomplishment of this program is the result of continuous efforts from Mr Mohammad Zukuwwan and Mdm. Ts. Fazillah in providing meaningful tasks for their students while promoting communication and collaboration with community. Currently, they are working on Service Learning Module focusing on simple system development using MS Excel and looking forward to trademarking the Spreadsheet Challenge Program. 

Written by Mohammad Zukuwwan Zainol Abidin & Norhayati Yusof.

Reference: Eyler, J., & Giles Jr., D. E. (1999). Where’s the Learning in Service-Learning? San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.