Curtin E-FacT Straight A’s motivational camp for UPSR students a great success

Miri – 30 July 2010 – The Curtin Excellence Educational Facilitating Team (Curtin E-FacT) of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak), student volunteers committed to promoting learning in the local community through academic and motivational programmes, recently conducted yet another successful motivational camp for students of a local primary school.

15 Curtin E-FacT facilitators ran the 3-day, 2-night camp themed ‘Straight A’s’ at the Petronas Sports Village at the Miri Sports Complex for 120 Primary Six students of SK Lutong who are going to sit the UPSR examination in September.

The objective of the camp was to boost the students’ confidence in sitting for the upcoming examination. They were coached on the ‘Study Smart’ technique, which provides useful study techniques and tips on preparing for examinations.

After registration in the morning, students were divided into six groups with two facilitators in charge of each. This was followed by an ice-breaking activity and briefing session.

Further activities included an aerobics workout and five modules on building self-confidence, instilling leadership qualities, effective time management, and improving study skills.

At the start of each session, the facilitators summarised the purpose of the activities involved and the moral values and qualities to be derived to encourage keen participation from the participants.

Essentially, the participants were encouraged to be lifelong learners, creative and innovative, as well as to dare to be different and possess self-esteem.

The participants also had fun showcasing their creativity and talent in a ‘Malam Seribu Bintang’ show during the camp, which saw them giving a variety of performances ranging from traditional dances to pantomimes. In addition to encouraging them to be creative, it helped relieve some of the anxieties they were facing of the impending UPSR.

The camp concluded with a number of the participants sharing the knowledge and improved inter-personal and study skills they had acquired during the camp. All the participants were also required to jot down their aspirations and examination targets and read them out loudly to remind themselves of their personal goals.

The Curtin E-FacT has organised quite a number of such motivational workshops for both primary and secondary school students in Miri over the years, and is continually seeking opportunities to work with more local schools as well as schools in other parts of Sarawak on similar activities in the future.

More information on E-FacT can be obtained by logging on to www.curtin.edu.my/University%20Life/e-fact.htm or by e-mailing curtinefact@curtin.edu.my. For information on Curtin Sarawak, visit its website at www.curtin.edu.my.