THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SPAGHETTI TOWER MARSHMALLOW CHALLENGE ON STUDENTS’ SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SOFT SKILLS AT HENRY GURNEY SCHOOL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEPC.1162054Keywords:
Communication, Experiential Learning, Rehabilitation Education, Self-Confidence, Soft SkillsAbstract
Experiential learning activities are becoming more widely recognized as an effective way to build students’ self-confidence and soft skills especially in rehabilitation-based education. The Spaghetti Tower Marshmallow Challenge (STMC) is often used for this purpose, but quantitative evidence of its effectiveness is still limited, particularly among students in rehabilitation institutions such as Henry Gurney School. To address this gap, this study explores how STMC contributes to the development of students’ intrapersonal skills specifically self-confidence, as well as their interpersonal skills. A total of 40 students completed pre and post intervention surveys using two validated instruments, namely the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and the Group Social Skills Inventory (GSSI). These instruments measured self-confidence, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. The comparison of scores before and after the activity showed a clear and significant improvement across all skill domains. The findings provide quantitative support that experiential learning activities such as STMC can enhance students’ personal and social development. This supports the incorporation of similar activities should be incorporated into rehabilitation education programs to strengthen students’ reintegration into society. Overall, this study contributes empirical evidence on the usefulness of experiential learning in alternative education settings.
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