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A study of the perception of IT competencies of teachers in secondary schools in Singapore and their commitment to computer learning
Author
Seah, Jimmy Han Meng
Supervisor
Leong, Wing Fatt
Abstract
The Singapore Masterplan for IT in Education was launched in 1997 by the Minister for Education, Radm Teo Chee Hean. This was to mark a new emphasis of brining Information Technology (IT) to classroom. All schools were to be brought online in stages. Ten primary, ten secondary and two junior colleges were the first to experience the new initiative. Known as Demo (Demonstration) schools, teachers from these schools were made to undergo thirty hours of IT-based training. Computer hardware and the related peripherals were lavished onto these schools. Since then about one hundred schools formed the second phase and the remaining schools were put in phase three.
This study is a look at the perceived IT competencies of teachers in twenty secondary school in relation to their commitment to learning with the computer. It is based on studies by Levine et al. (1997) where they found, contrary to expectation, computer confidence was found to have a negative effect on commitment to learning.
A survey was conducted of teachers from twenty secondary schools in various phases of the IT Masterplan for Education in Singapore (MPITE); seven phase one schools, seven phase two schools and six phase schools. This survey found evidence similar to the study by Levine et al. (1997) on the relation between commitment to computer learning and teacher's perceived sense of self-confidence. It also found some possible variables that appear to be parameters relating to the above relationship.
In addition, the study also attempted to determine if there was any indication of the impact of the MPITE in terms of teacher's perceptions of IT across the three implementation phases. The study found evidence that in the different IT phases these teachers were in had no significant impact on their sense of confidence, commitment to learning with the computer.
This study is a look at the perceived IT competencies of teachers in twenty secondary school in relation to their commitment to learning with the computer. It is based on studies by Levine et al. (1997) where they found, contrary to expectation, computer confidence was found to have a negative effect on commitment to learning.
A survey was conducted of teachers from twenty secondary schools in various phases of the IT Masterplan for Education in Singapore (MPITE); seven phase one schools, seven phase two schools and six phase schools. This survey found evidence similar to the study by Levine et al. (1997) on the relation between commitment to computer learning and teacher's perceived sense of self-confidence. It also found some possible variables that appear to be parameters relating to the above relationship.
In addition, the study also attempted to determine if there was any indication of the impact of the MPITE in terms of teacher's perceptions of IT across the three implementation phases. The study found evidence that in the different IT phases these teachers were in had no significant impact on their sense of confidence, commitment to learning with the computer.
Date Issued
1999
Call Number
LB1028.5 Sea
Date Submitted
1999