Assessing the ICT competency among Postgraduate students in the Higher Learning Institutions (HLI) is crucial. Therefore this paper presents in detail the process of developing an instrument to assess the competency in ICT which is called ICTC-Test (Information Communication Technology Competency Test). The details are on the utilization of the seven domains in the 21st Century ICT Competency Model to determine the competency level among students. The development of the items in ICTC-Test is based on the application of the performance-based assessment and the task-based assessment. The assessment of ICT competency using ICTC-Test is different compared to existing instruments where ICTC-Test changes the focus in assessing the competency in ICT from the ability to use and maintain the hardware, software and network to competency in ICT that includes technical ability and cognitive skills. Moreover, ICTC-Test also integrates the five generic skills highlighted in MQF which are critical thinking skill, problem solving skill, information technology and communication skill, communication and management skill.
This study aims to examine reflective capacity among students when learning about computers in education. The study involved 35 e-portfolios written by first-year students who enrolled on the Computers in Education course in the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. All the students taking this course were required to publish "reflections" based on their weekly learning activities via individual e-portfolios. Thematic analysis was done using Nvivo 10 software to categorize the content of the students' reflections. The analysis reveals that a large percentage of the "reflections" were non-reflective rather than reflective actions. This finding has implications for the way the course is designed, requiring a supportive environment, mentoring and group discussions, as reflective thinking is not spontaneous, but should be deliberately stimulated by the educational context.
Teachers' professional development is not only important for teachers, also for schools' development. This study aims to explore teachers' engagement in communities of practice in schools and their views on the most effective professional development approach that they had experienced. The participants were 16 teachers from five schools in two states in Malaysia. The data was generated through semi-structured interviews. The analysis was done using thematic analysis, using Nvivo as a tool. The findings indicate that although for these teachers, attending courses, training and seminars helped them to gain new knowledge and related skills, their involvement in informal learning communities was significantly more meaningful for their professional development. This paper discusses the implications of this finding on the implementation of professional development currently being practiced in the Malaysian education system.
This study explored the psychometric properties of a locally developed information skills test for youth students in Malaysia using Rasch analysis. The test was a combination of 24 structured and multiple choice items with a 4-point grading scale. The test was administered to 72 technical college students and 139 secondary school students. The data from the test were fitted to the Rasch partial credit model using the Winsteps program in which the unidimensionality, reliability and person-item distribution map of the test were examined. The analysis showed all 24 items meet the Rasch model expectation and thus have a potential in assessing information skills of youth students in Malaysia. The findings showed that Rasch analysis could help researchers to refine the developed test in a systematic and informed manner.
ICT in the Malaysian education system serves as a tool to accomplish the National Education Blueprint 2015-2025. Under this blueprint, privileged groups such as the aborigines or Malaysian aboriginals will be given equal opportunity in education. However, a specific classroom teaching method is required to maintain the aboriginal students' focus and attention on their learning experiences due to their unique paradigm of learning. This study used the Partial Least Square (PLS) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) tool to examine the factors influencing personalised learning and digital self-learning ICT literacy module. It also measured the impact of personalised learning and digital ICT literacy module among secondary aboriginal students. This study involved 92 aboriginal students who participated in a transferable skills and ICT programme held in a public university in Malaysia. Results show that personalised learning positively supported the use of a digital ICT literacy module as a teaching and learning approach. Therefore, this study suggests that the digital ICT literacy module is an adaptive educational resource for personalised learning to meet the learning needs of aboriginal students.
Young children often face difficulty in acquiring Mathematics concepts. This study examined how photograph assist young children to understand the concept of early number and engage in addition activities within classroom learning. The study employed case study research design and involved six children (aged six years) in one preschool centre. Data was collected using observation, informal interviews and analysis of photograph produced by the focus group whilst engaged in various addition activities. The findings showed that photographs function as visual mathematical representations that facilitate and reinforce young children's understanding of addition concept. The study implicated that young children's creation of visual mathematical representations is an essential learning approach among young children and could be best assisted by the use of information technology and communication applications.
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