COMPLETION REPORTThe Use of Japanese Paper Folding Art, Origami, in Increasing Learning Skills among
Children with Disabilities
Dr Manisah Mohd Ali
Associate Professor
Faculty of Education
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Malaysia
Effective study strategies are the gateway to school success. However, for many children who havelearning disabilities and attention deficits, studying is an overwhelming challenge. Prestia (2003) statedthat many students with special needs have neurological, biological and sensory difficulties that affect
how they learn and respond to classroom environments. Students with learning disabilities are found tobe weak in the retention of learned skills because of short attention span and have difficulty following
lessons at the appropriate rate.

The Japanese paper folding art, Origami, is a form of assistive

technology which could be of use in increasing the learning skills in the classrooms of children withlearning disabilities. According to Sze (2005), origami enables children to visualize the creative processof learning in terms of its’ outcome and process in a short time frame, with a tactile demonstration thatis easily accomplished.

This study investigated the effect of using origami on the development of learning skills of children
with learning disabilities. A case study using single subject design was employed involving students
with learning disabilities who have lesser attention span on lessons. Data were collected using theBaseline Observation Form, Intervention Observation Form and the Intervention Module and wereanalyzed using descriptive statistics based frequencies and the percentage of attention span. The results
showed that the samples’ attention span increased above 60% when intervention was given. Maximum
concentration of 100% was found in at least two intervention sessions. Motivation and feeling curious
have helped in sustaining the attention span during the intervention sessions. In addition, the hands-on
nature of origami also contributed to the increase in attention span of the samples. Lesser disruptive
behavior during the session was another contributing factor in sustaining the attention span.

This study has shown that the art of Origami uses the different intelligences that a child has. The
kinesthetic intelligence is represented in the hands on activity of folding the paper, the inter and intra
personal intelligences emerge through the inter and intra communication activities which occur whilefolding the paper. The listening and reading directions engage the students’ linguistic intelligence. The
technical sequential steps in the paper folding

not only able to promote accuracy, organizational

management skills, increase attention and fine motor skills, it also enables children to experience fun andsuccess in learning. May (2012) stresses the hands on activities involving origami enable the students
to use the different sensorial aspects of touch, auditory and visual that can help boost positive andmeaningful learning experience.

The students in the study were observed to be very engaged in theiractivities. The use of colorful and different Origami paper texture have helped boost create a morestimulating learning environment.

An Origami based learning module which inculcated Japanesecultural art heritage was developed during the study and can be suggested as a tool in providing
alternative teaching in classroom for children with special educational needs.

Awards and Publication of the Results Research Project
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)
1) 17-18 September 2014 / Institut KWSP Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia / The 4th International Conference on Learner
Diversity (ICELD 2014)/. Intervensi peningkatan tumpuan dalam pembelajaran murid bermasalah pembelajaran
melalui lipatan kraf tradisi Jepun (Intervention on Increasing Attention in the Learning of Children with Learning
Disabilities through the Use of Japanese Traditional Paper Folding Craft) / Manisah Mohd. Ali & Norizza Sahal.
2) 30 September 2015/ Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ Origami dalam Pendidikan
Khas (Origami in Special Education)/ Manisah Mohd. Ali.
Main Prize Category: 3rd Place & Gold Medal Award3) 26 January 2016/ /Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ International Conference on Special
Education in South East Asia 6th Series/ Seni Lipatan Kertas Jepun dalam Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Kemahiran
Motor Halus Murid Bermasalah Pembelajaran (Japenese Paper Folding Craf in the Teaching and Learning of Fine
Motor Skills to Students with Learning Disabilities)/ Yusni Yusoff & Manisah Mohd. Ali.
Conference proceedings.
4) 16-18 February 2016/ Centre for Teaching and Learning Technologies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. ApplikasiOrigami dalam Kemahiran Belajar (Application of Origami in Learning Skills)/ Manisah Mohd. Ali.
Gold Medal Award

Education Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
1) Norizza Sahal. 2014. Keberkesanan Pengajaran Menggunakan Origami Dalam Meningkatkan Daya Tumpuan
Murid Bermasalah Pembelajaran. (A Study on the Effectiveness of Using Origami in Increasing Attention Spanamong Students with Learning Disabilities) Unpublished Undergraduate Academic Project. Fakulti Pendidikan
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia2)

Yusni Yusoff. 2016. Penggunaan Origami dalam Meningkatkan Kemahiran Belajar Murid Bermasalah
Pembelajaran. (The Use of Origami in Increasing Learning Skills of Students with Learning Disabilities)Unpublished
Masters Project. Fakulti Pendidikan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

3) Manisah Mohd. Ali & Norizza Sahal “Intervensi Peningkatan Tumpuan Dalam Pembelajaran Murid Bermasalah
Pembelajaran” – accepted dan in press for publication in Malaysia Journal of Education, 41(1); May 2016.
Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)
1) Manisah Mohd Ali, Modul Origami untuk Pendidikan Khas – in progress