Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 90 (2013) 832 – 841 1877-0428 © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the Faculty of Education, University Technology MARA, Malaysia. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.07.158 ScienceDirect 6 th International Conference on University Learning and Teaching (InCULT 2012) Practice based research in craft education: approaches to research work book Sumardianshah Silah a * , Abdul Shukor Hashim b m , Badrul Isa c , Raiha Shahanaz Redzuan d a Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, 40200, Malaysia a Abstract Knowledge and understanding towards the variety of cultures that exist among Malaysians are important assets for tra inee teachers especially for subjects that involve craft and culture such as courses that are being offered by the Bachelor of Education (Hons.) Art and Design Education, Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia (UiTM): ADE630 (Craft Desig n and Function) and ADE680 (Craft, Design and Society). The skill of recognising different cultures that exist in Malaysia should be exposed to the trainee teachers once they are being enrolled into the program. For trainee teachers from UiTM, the exposure towards culture diversity is being conducted by using two approaches. The first approach is via the production of the Research Work Book (RWB) while the second approach is via the production of artwork in the form of traditional and contemporary craft by using the studio based research method. This paper will discuss on the approaches used and challenges towards the implementation of the mentioned approaches. © 2012 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer - review under responsibility of t he Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Keywords : Art and Design Education, Faculty of Education UiTM, Research Work Book, Studio Based Research; 1. Introduction ( This paper discusses on the experience of the implementation of cultural understanding that is conducted by the B.Ed (Hons.) Art and Design Education, Faculty of Education, UiTM. The implementation is made via the teaching and learning activity for the cra ft art subject. Various programs and activities have been conducted through the subject to give chances for the trainee teachers to learn and to experience the importance of understanding various cultures for their future teaching. It is admitted that the ability to understand various cultures is not an easy task and may most of the time, test the patience and emotion of teachers. Therefore, this * Sumardianshah Silah. Tel.: +6 - 017 - 978 - 1914; fax: +6 - 03 - 5522 - 7412. E - mail address: sumard02@salam.uitm.edu.my Available online at www.sciencedirect.com © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the Faculty of Education, University Technology MARA, Malaysia.