The Convergent Parallel Design mixed method is used as the research methodology to assess the usage of multi-touch hand gestures towards fine motor skills among preschool children. This study involved 30 pre-school children aged between 5 to 6 years old from Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam. The samples are divided into multi-touch gestures group and single touch gestures group. The quantitative data were the test scores of a dot-to-dot activity and the qualitative data were the preschool children's emergent behaviors while engaging with mobile apps and controlling writing instruments. The quantitative data were analyzed by using independent sample T-Test and paired sample T-Test. The findings showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups as the independent sample T-Test indicate the value of sig, p = 0.029. The paired sample T-Test also indicate that the pre-test score and post-test score are significantly positive correlated (r = 0.503) and the value of sig, p = 0.005 showed that there is significance difference between pre-test score and post-test score. The statistical data proved that there is an effect of the use multi-touch hand gesture in mobile application towards pre-school children's fine motor skills which is also supported by qualitative findings. As for conclusion, the use of multi-touch hand gestures can help the pre-school children to implement small movements of their fingers which indirectly develop their fine motor skills thus helping them holding and using pencils and some other instruments appropriately.

Education, either formal or informal, plays an important role to help the masses. As such, educators, especially trainees, are entrusted to teach young generations all important elements, principles, or concepts in a wide range of disciplines. Surely, such an undertaking, especially for early childhood care and education, requires quality teachers. In this regard, existing early childhood care and education modules or curricula should be periodically reviewed and revamped (if necessary) to help produce competent teachers who are excellent in all aspects encompassing content, pedagogical, and technological knowledge. This paper discusses the professional growth and development of trainees in early childhood care and education (ECCE) in terms of short- and long-term goals, missions, and career path-planning. The paper also elaborates on the relevant training workshops, courses, modules, and curricula that can be implemented to help improve their practical skills. The discussion also highlights the importance of incentives, such as attractive salaries, bonuses, acknowledgments, and awards, from employers that can not only motivate trainees but also advance their professional growth and development. Certainty, strong development knowledge, practical skills, and experiences can help such trainees to be become highly competent, which can significantly contribute to nation-building efforts in Malaysia.

Preschool multimedia interactive courseware (Mengelaskan Objek) PMICMO, is a multimedia application product which requires a detail and systematic planning to ensure high quality product development that is acceptable by targeted audience (preschoolers). Requirement analysis and multimedia interactive courseware testing involved teachers and preschoolers from National Child Development Research Centre (NCDRC), Sultan Idris Education University, Perak, Malaysia. This courseware development consists of many crucial decision-making stages such as analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation (ADDIE model). Within analyzing phase, the instructional problem is clarified, the goals and objectives are established, and the learning environment and learner characteristics are identified. Design phase is a phase where instructional strategies are designed and media choices are made. In the developmental phase, materials are produced according to decision making in design phase. The implementation phase included testing of prototypes (with targeted audience) and putting the product in full production. Formative evaluation is presented in each stage whilst summative evaluation covers criterion-related reference items test and providing opportunities for user's feedback. Final study on PMICMO's content understanding and usability towards 15 NCDRC, UPSI preschoolers (Malay) and 10 preschoolers (non-Malay) around Tanjong Malim district in Perak, Malaysia indicate that all 100% preschoolers simply understand the content being disseminated. All 100% NCDRC preschoolers understand the Malay language being used in PMICMO and about 70% non-Malay preschoolers can also understood it well. Every directive instruction on PMICMO was read to 30% non-Malay preschoolers before they start to use it. For usability, it showed that 100% NCDRC preschoolers succesfully used PMICMO without any difficulties and 70% of non-Malay preschoolers can operate PMICMO without any problems. The rest (30%) were aided by researcher during the early stage of using mouse. Findings from PMICMO testing indicated that 100% preschoolers are well-satisfied with this courseware and gain fast understanding on a given topic. The courseware activities also assist preschoolers to develop cognitive, psychomotor and problem solving skills.

<span>This paper discusses the qualifications of operators of Malaysian childcare centers, namely TASKA and TADIKA, and the challenges faced by practitioners in the industry of early childhood education (PAKK). This research used both qualitative and quantitative methods involving interviews and a survey. The sample study comprised 727 respondents consisting of 282 operators of TASKA and 343 operators of TADIKA. The research used a set of questionnaires and interview guidelines. The findings of the quantitative method showed the operators of TASKA and TADIKA had a diverse range of professional and academic qualifications, while the findings of the qualitative method highlighted a wide spectrum of challenges faced by operators of centers involved in the early childhood education industry. Collectively, such findings suggest that running a childcare center is fraught with a myriad of challenges encompassing economic, logistical, social, educational, and financial factors, which have to be addressed effectively. Certainly, prospective operators must seek assistance from those who are involved in the running, monitoring, and managing of such centers, notably experienced practitioners and relevant government officers. Also, to become successful entrepreneurs in this industry, they need to develop the passion and zeal to operate such centers with great success.</span>

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Subsequently, there exist various kinds of screening tools for learning disabilities but most of these screening tools only restricted to static binary output, less attractive, stressful, boring, and time consuming which lead to incomplete activities and unfulfilled objectives. In addition, most of them only targeted on dyslexia, dyscalculia and autism. This preliminary study aims to identify current automated screening tools tailoring for learning disabilities domain. It is guided by several important steps starting from the selection from multiple digital databases (information sources), categorization (study selection), comparison (search and data selection) and summarization of appropriate literature reviews, leading towards a more thorough analysis. Findings indicate that there are various kinds of screening tools available in the market with such different techniques and methods, majorly are interactive and attractive multimedia approaches and artificial intelligence approaches. Thus, the findings are beneficial in the enhancement of future works towards screening and diagnosis in learning disabilities.