Teachers’ Perspectives and Practices in Applying Technology to Enhance Learning in the Classroom

Abstract

The use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the classroom activities has become more famous to the teachers over the last decade. Many great deals of studies have proven the benefits of using ICT in the classroom. Unfortunately, there are evidences that the ICT reform efforts have failed due to teacher’s beliefs, skills and attitudes were never taken into consideration. The evidences found that most research only concern on students’ behalftowards ICT. Departing from that, this study tries to investigate the teachers’ perspectives and practices toward the use of ICT in their classroom activities. A survey was conducted to collect the data of the research. Using a revised expectancy-value theory called the Technology Implementation Questionnaire (TIQ), a questionnaire was administered among 20 elementary teachers. The findings revealed that there are still teachers who have more than 10 years experiences in teaching but they never got any formal training on using ICT. The lack of proficiency in ICT such as in using software, lack of technical support from the school also make them feel stressed out even though they have positive perspectives in applying ICT in their classroom activities.