Siti Sarah Binti Mohd Johari, Nazirah Ahmad Azli, Marzuki Ab.Manan and Rozhan M. Idrus
Keywords: learners interactions, level of adoption, educational technology, constructivism, teaching and learning
Abstract: Supporting a constructivist approach to teaching and learning, technology is used as knowledge-building tools and that pretty much is what is understood about best practices for integrating technology into the curriculum. However, greater understanding of its impact on the interactions of learners of all ages is yet to be explored. The government allocated billions of ringgit providing a complete platform for schools and teachers to integrate ICT into their teaching and learning process in the classrooms, however ICT usage in schools continues to lag expectations-both in terms of quantity and quality (MoE, 2012). Many barriers preventing teachers from effectively using technology, such as teachers’ lack of knowledge and skills in technology integration and many teachers do not have the support needed to effectively integrate it. Therefore, four aspects of learning: tasks, interactions, situations and tools are formatively observed. This project introduces an innovative framework or process by using Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) model ‘level of adoption’ of technology integration to help teachers identify the level of adoption they are in. Through this framework, the teachers are able to rate themselves accordingly (Entry, Adoption, Adaptation, Appropriation and Invention) and will be able to help them find out their potential educational technology skills and make use of technology tools that will help them and students adjust to the innovation. Therefore, inspired by this model, researchers try to come up with a web application called Teacher’s Educational Technology Skills Identifier (TETSI) that will help teachers determine or identify what phase or level they might be in. Learning how to use the technology is hard enough for some teachers and by helping them to recognize their potential educational technology skills hopefully will be a good start to help support teachers who are looking for a powerful tool to support collaborative learning environment through technology.