Integrating ICT in teaching and learning: a preliminary study on Malaysian Private Preschool

Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the rapid growth of ICT has become one of the important agendas discussed by many scholars in education. Undoubtedly, this is due to the ability of ICT in providing effective teaching and learning. Along with today's digital era, a study done by Copriady (2015) indicated that teachers were required to integrate of ICT in their daily teaching and replace them with the tools of traditional methods and modern amenities. Looking at this issue, therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the use of ICT in teaching and learning among the preschool teachers in private preschools in Malaysia. A total of 60 preschool teachers from 10 private preschools in the district of Hulu Bernam, Selangor were randomly selected in this study. The findings indicated that the level of computer skills and knowledge of the preschool teachers is at low level (M = 1.92). The findings also indicated the level of ICT integration in teaching and learning preschool children is at low level (M = 1.90). The results also showed that the attitude of the teachers on important ICT in teaching and learning is encouraging (M = 2.66) which can be considered as moderate level. The problem of using ICT in schools also needs to be addressed as the analysis mean score (M = 2.19), which indicates the level of the problem is not encouraging.

References

1. Albirini, A. (2006). Teachers’ attitudes toward information and communication technologies: The case of Syrian EFL teachers.Computers & Education,47(4),373-398. 2. Alessi, S.M. & Trollip, S.R. (2001). Multimedia for learning. 3rd ed.USA: Pearson Education. 3. Burnett, C. (2010). Technology and literacy in early childhood educational settings: A review of research. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy 2010 10:247. DOI:10.1177/ . 4. Copriady, J. (2015). Self-motivation as a Mediator for Teachers’ Readiness in Applying ICT in Teaching and Learning. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 176, 699-708. 5. Ghavifekr, S., Razak, A. Z. A., Ghani, M. F. A., Ran, N. Y., Meixi, Y., & Tengyue, Z. (2014). ICT Integration in Education: Incorporation for Teaching & Learning Improvement. Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Technology, 2(2), 24-45. 6. Ibharim, L. F. M., Borhan, N., & Yatim, M. H. (2013). A field study of understanding child's knowledge, skills and interaction towards capacitive touch technology (iPad). In Information Technology in Asia (CITA), 2013 - 8th International Conference on IEEE, 1-5 7. Ismail, Z., Zakaria, H. M., & Aziz, Z. (2007). The implementation of Internet integration in the teaching of History subject in Putrajaya. Proceedings of the 1st International Malaysian Educational Technology Convention, 94-100. 8. Jonassen, D.H. (2003). Using cognitive tools to represent problems. Journal of Research in Technology Education. 35(3), 365-381. 9. Kamaruddin, K., Abdullah, C. A. C., & Idris, M. N. (2016). Parental Stress in Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities: A Limited Demographic Factors. International Review of Management and Marketing, 6(7S). 10. Masnan, A. H. (2014). Amalan Pedagogi Guru Prasekolah Permulaan, Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Sains Malaysia). Ministry of Education (MOE), (2012). Education Development Blueprint 2013-2025. Putrajaya: Ministry of Education. 11. Moganashwari, K. & Parilah, M.S. (2013). “Knowledge, attitude and use of ICT among ESL teachers”, Proceeding of the Global Summit on Education. 11-12 March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net. 12. Mohamed. N, Hassan, H. &. Abu Hassan, M. N. Z. (2012). Tahap Kesediaan Pengintegrasian ICT dalam Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Murid-murid Prasekolah. Proceedings of the Seminar on Education of Dean council, Johor Bahru, 2012, 84-90. 13. National Curriculum Development Centre (2007). Early Childhood Care and Education Policy Implementation Review. Putrajaya: Ministry of Education Malaysia. 14. Ng, W.K., Miao, F. & Lee, M. (2010). Capacity-building for ICT integration in education, in S. Akhtar & P. Arinto (Eds.), Digital review of Asia Pacific 2009-2010, International Development Research Centre, Canada, 67-76. 15. Norijah, M., Haslina, H. & Md. Nor Zamani, A.H. (2015). Tahap Kesediaan Pengintegrasian Teknologi Maklumat dan Komunikasi (ICT) dalam Pengajaran Terhadap Murid-Murid Prasekolah: Satu Tinjauan, https://www. ipgkik.com/v2/uploads/2015/05/Artikel18. 16. Norton, P., & Wilburg, K.M. (2003).Teaching with technology: Designing opportunities to learn. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth / Thomson. 17. Papanastasiou, E. C., & Angeli, C. (2008). Evaluating the use of ICT in education: Psychometric properties of the survey of factors affecting teachers teaching with technology (SFA-T3). Journal of educational technology & society, 11(1), 69-86. 18. Parker, L.L. (2008). Technology-mediated learning environments for young English language learners: connections in and out of schools. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 19. Puteh, S. N., & Salam, K. A. A. (2011). Tahap kesediaan penggunaan ICT dalam pengajaran dan kesannya terhadap hasil kerja dan tingkah laku murid prasekolah. Jurnal Pendidikan Malaysia, 36(1), 25-34. 20. Rahman, S., Nordin, A.B & Alias, N, (2013). Penggunaan ICT Merentas Kurikulum Standard Prasekolah Kebangsaan (KSPK): Tinjauan di Prasekolah Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia, Jurnal Kurikulum & Pengajaran Asia Pasifik, Bil. 1 Isu 4: 12-20. 21. Rohani, A., Nani, M., & Mohd Sharani, A. (2003). Panduan Kurikulum Prasekolah. Pahang: PTS Publications & Distributors Sdn. Bhd. 22. Samuel, R. & Zaitun, A. (2007). Do teachers have adequate ICT resources and the right ICT skills in intergrating ICT tools in the teaching and learning of English language in Malaysia schools? The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 29(2), 1-15. 23. Singh, M.R. & Chan, R. (2014). Teacher Readiness On Ict Integration In Teaching-Learning: A Malaysian Case Study. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 2014, 4(7): 874-885. 24. Umar, I. N., & Hassan, A. S. A. (2015). Malaysian teachers’ levels of ICT integration and its perceived impact on teaching and learning. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 197. 25. Zaidatun, T. & Lim, B.Y. (2011). Level of knowledge, attitude and problems of computer usage among teachers in secondary schools in Alor Gajah, 2011, Journal of Social Science,3, 83-103.