PENANG-based non-profit organisation Arts-ED, dedicated to arts and heritage education, has developed a special portal known as the Community-based Learning Action Portal (CLAP).
The launch of CLAP platform was held at the Think City office in Gat Lebuh China yesterday (June 6). It was officiated by Penang Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen.
The CLAP portal can be accessed at https://clap.arts-ed.my/ .
Arts-ED president Dr Molly Lee said CLAP is a free access online resource developed by Arts-ED with support from Yayasan Sime Darby.
According to her, CLAP is designed to empower educators by providing comprehensive resources and tools for incorporating community-based learning into their educational practices.
“It is an initiative by our organisation to share cumulative experiences and insights gathered over the years and to reach out to more educators seeking effective and engaging teaching methods.
“This innovative online platform bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, fostering a sense of connectedness and belonging among students and empowering them to become responsible members of their community,” she said in her speech.
Dr Lee also highlighted the collaborative efforts that made CLAP possible.
She stated that the platform is the result of over 25 years of partnerships with local teachers, cultural workers, communities, and institutions like the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Unesco Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU).
“We are excited to see how CLAP will transform educational practices and deepen students’ understanding of their cultural heritage.
“CLAP also offers a variety of resources for educators, including project planning templates, detailed lesson plans, teaching aids, and examples of students’ work.
“These tools are designed to help teachers incorporate local cultural and heritage elements into their curriculum, making learning more engaging and relevant for students,” said Dr Lee.
She also urged educators to join the CLAP community and leverage this valuable platform to enrich their teaching practices.
Yayasan Sime Darby chief executive officer Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin emphasised the foundation’s commitment to supporting community-based learning initiatives.
She stated that as part of their broader mission under the Arts and Culture pillar, their support for the Community-based Learning Action Portal aims to equip educators with the necessary tools to bring community narratives into classrooms, making learning more relevant and engaging.
She noted that this initiative aligns with their goals of promoting quality education and cultural preservation to contribute to a better understanding of society.
“The portal breaks down barriers to education and cultural engagement by digitising and making important cultural assets that are interactive and accessible to all, from local students to global researchers.
“Thus, I encourage all of you to explore the portal, and work with us to broaden its reach and impact,” Dr Yatela said.
Gooi commended Arts-ED for developing the platform and Yayasan Sime Darby for their invaluable support in bringing this project to fruition.
“I have no doubt, that, this platform, CLAP, will play a crucial role in bridging these education gaps by providing educators with the resources and support needed to integrate cultural and heritage education into their curriculum.
“As we move forward, I am excited to see how educators will utilise this platform to enrich their teaching methods and inspire their students,” he said.
Also present during the launching ceremony were MoE deputy director (curriculum development division) Dr Fazlinah Said and Think City chairman Datuk Seri Dr Anwar Fazal.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Law Suun Ting