USM planning new ICT pedagogy (USM)

PENANG, 23 Feb – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is planning on using a unique teaching and learning methodology in the field of information and communication technology. This new methodology will allow the students to understand the lessons in their own way and at their own pace.
USM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said that the idea of using this methodology came about after a study by an ICT expert from India had shown that self-study has a positive effect on students. He added that this methodology can transform the current style of teaching and turn ICT into a field that will have a wider impact on the creativity and knowledge of students.

“In the study carried out by the ICT expert, a computer was placed in an open space, where students could use it without any fear or specific instruction. The students had to independently learn to use and understand the instructions from the computer according to their own creativity, including understanding learning materials saved in the computer,” he said.

Prof. Tan Sri Dzulkifli added that the previous generation learned a lot of things on their own using trial and error. So if this strategy could be applied to the present generation, it is believed that the results would be very encouraging.
At the press conference after launching the ”Facilitating Effective ICT – Pedagogy Integration Workshop”, he explained that specific groups, including the indigenous community would benefit from the use of this technique.  He added that this methodology would be tested in an indigenous community in Banding, Perak. This indigenous community was adopted by USM after the ICT expert from India agreed to collaborate on this effort.

He further explained that learning ICT using this method would enhance the quality of teaching and learning, in addition to fulfilling the needs of the ‘bottom billions’ to equip themselves with the requisite ICT skills. “According to the ICT expert, with only need minimal resources, this methodology is guaranteed to meet the learning needs of students, whose numbers might cross the billion mark. We have invited the ICT expert to USM to share ideas and implement this concept among the indigenous community in Malaysia by May 2010. If this is carried out successfully, it will fulfill another of our social responsibilities as a institution of higher learning,” he explained.

Meanwhile the three-day workshop, organized by The School of Educational studies (PPIP) was held in conjunction with the launching of the ICT UNESCO Bangkok Resource Centre- a collaborative effort with Unesco Bangkok for more systematic and effective ICT-Pedagogy integration. Also present at the function that was attended by more than 50 lecturers and educators, were UNESCO representative, Dr. Molly Lee; Head of the Academic Sector of the Penang Education Department, Che Fatimah Othman; and The Dean of PPIP, Prof. Dr. Abdul Rashid Mohamed. UNESCO Bangkok will set up the ICT Resource Center with the i-SMARTLAB – Integration of Smart Media in USM with funding from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).