Virtual Booth

RANGKUL, a Malay word meaning “to embrace”, is a proposed play-based digital system designed to support the early recognition of emerging communication, social-interaction and participation needs among five-year-old children in inclusive preschools. It responds to challenges associated with informal classroom observations, uncertainty in selecting immediate support strategies and concerns about diagnostic labelling.

Through a familiar Mini Market role-play activity, teachers follow five steps: Play, Observe, Support, Review and Connect. Observable behaviours are recorded using a strength-based scale and matched with practical inclusive strategies, including picture sequences, choice boards, turn-taking cards, peer modelling and quieter learning spaces. Teachers can review participation across repeated sessions using a Growth Map and respectfully discuss progress with families or relevant professionals.

The concept was informed by an initial consultation with six preschool teachers across two settings, together with reviews by relevant early-childhood and speech-language or intervention specialists. RANGKUL is currently at the concept-design stage. A planned feasibility evaluation will involve four preschool teachers and 16 five-year-old children, with three sessions per child and 48 planned child-session observations. Data collection will commence only after the required institutional approval, preschool permission and written parental consent.

RANGKUL is strength-based, teacher-led and non-diagnostic. It has potential to strengthen inclusive classroom support, teacher confidence, family collaboration and children’s meaningful participation. Proposed commercialisation pathways include a basic version, preschool licence, offline toolkit and teacher-training modules.

Keywords: Inclusive preschool education, play-based observation, early recognition, classroom support, teacher decision-making