Scrapbooking for Character: Preschool Experiences Across Sabah’s Diverse Ethnic Groups

Abstract

This study exploress how experiential learning, implemented through digital scrapbook-based activities, can serve as a medium for character development among preschool children from five ethnic groups in Sabah. Anchored in Kolb’s experiential learning theory, the research adopts a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental action-research design, featuring teacher-guided scrapbook projects that promote reflection, creativity, and cultural expression. By triangulating quantitative data from character development assessments with qualitative evidence drawn from scrapbook content, classroom observations, and interviews, the study examines how experiential and culturally responsive learning nurtures traits such as empathy, cooperation, and respect for diversity. The anticipated findings suggest that scrapbooks act not only as creative instructional tools but also as reflective cultural artefacts that support identity formation and intercultural understanding in early learners. The study contributes to early childhood education by presenting an innovative, culturally grounded model for holistic character education in Malaysia’s multicultural setting.