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Chinese language teachers' attitude towards use of IT in education
Author
Lim, Bee Kim
Supervisor
Chua, Chee Lay
Abstract
The teaching of Chinese Language has always been perceived as very traditional and conservative. Singapore education system is constantly being rejuvenated to move along with the changes in social and economic demands. In 1997, the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced Information Technology (IT) Masterplan to meet the demands of social development. The Plan prescribes that all school's teachers are required to attend basic IT training courses and conduct 30% of their lessons using IT. Just like many other teachers, the Chinese Language teachers, especially the senior ones, have a certain phobia and anxiety, doubting their own ability in using IT to teach Chinese Language. The general observation is that using IT has brought psychological challenges to Chinese Language teachers.
The main objective of this study was to collect information on Singapore Secondary Schools Chinese Language teachers' overall attitude towards the use of IT in teaching Chinese Language; to relate these attitudes to Chinese Language teaching and examine the likely causes; to analyse the findings and discuss the implications; and finally, to deduce conclusions from the interpretations and make recommendations.
There were 281 teachers who responded to the 40 items surveyed. These items were adapted from existing computer attitude scales with modification to suit local situations. Different types of school -- Government, Government-aided, Independent and Autonomous, were covered in this survey.
The research shows that Chinese Language teachers are generally positive towards use of IT in teaching and learning. There is also a marked difference between young and senior teachers' attitude in terms of anxiety, confidence level, liking and vision. Male teachers are found to be more positive and have higher confidence level than their female counterparts. Government schools were found to be less positive as compared to other types of schools.
The study arrives at four main findings and answers the research questions:
(1) The general attitudes of the Chinese Language teachers are positive towards use of IT in teaching and learning.
(2) The likely causes of such attitudes are: low anxiety, high confidence level, liking and vision.
(3) The factors, which encourage or retard the use of IT are: problems encountered when conducting IT lessons, training and development programmes, support from MOE and school management, resources and facilities.
(4) Some recommendations to improve the application of IT in its current and future use range from MOE raising teachers' confidence and efficiency level in the use of IT in teaching and learning through re-structuring of training programs; improving the IT environment in neighbourhood schools, investigating teachers' negative perception of their colleagues, provision of updated and ample facilities and resources to use of video conferencing for more interactive lessons globally.
This research also confirms the general observation made with respect to Chinese Language teachers and their attitude towards using IT.
The main objective of this study was to collect information on Singapore Secondary Schools Chinese Language teachers' overall attitude towards the use of IT in teaching Chinese Language; to relate these attitudes to Chinese Language teaching and examine the likely causes; to analyse the findings and discuss the implications; and finally, to deduce conclusions from the interpretations and make recommendations.
There were 281 teachers who responded to the 40 items surveyed. These items were adapted from existing computer attitude scales with modification to suit local situations. Different types of school -- Government, Government-aided, Independent and Autonomous, were covered in this survey.
The research shows that Chinese Language teachers are generally positive towards use of IT in teaching and learning. There is also a marked difference between young and senior teachers' attitude in terms of anxiety, confidence level, liking and vision. Male teachers are found to be more positive and have higher confidence level than their female counterparts. Government schools were found to be less positive as compared to other types of schools.
The study arrives at four main findings and answers the research questions:
(1) The general attitudes of the Chinese Language teachers are positive towards use of IT in teaching and learning.
(2) The likely causes of such attitudes are: low anxiety, high confidence level, liking and vision.
(3) The factors, which encourage or retard the use of IT are: problems encountered when conducting IT lessons, training and development programmes, support from MOE and school management, resources and facilities.
(4) Some recommendations to improve the application of IT in its current and future use range from MOE raising teachers' confidence and efficiency level in the use of IT in teaching and learning through re-structuring of training programs; improving the IT environment in neighbourhood schools, investigating teachers' negative perception of their colleagues, provision of updated and ample facilities and resources to use of video conferencing for more interactive lessons globally.
This research also confirms the general observation made with respect to Chinese Language teachers and their attitude towards using IT.
Date Issued
2003
Call Number
PL1068.S55 Lim
Date Submitted
2003