Usability of ICT as a Tool for Professional Development of Teachers at Secondary Level

Abstract

The use of information and communication technology (ICT) has been influencing every field of human life including education sector all over the world since its inception. Although Pakistan is a developing country but like other developed countries of the world, its teachers are trying to use ICT in their teaching learning activities to improve their existing knowledge, skills, and other competencies because ICT helps teachers in enhancing their morale, personal and professional development. In this regard, a very few studied have been conducted to explore the usability of ICT as a potential tool for professional development teachers in Pakistan. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to explore the perceptions of research subjects regarding the usability of ICT as a tool for professional development of public sector secondary school teachers of the province Punjab, Pakistan. The sampling population of the present study is comprised of all head teachers, secondary school teachers of public schools, and master trainers of Directorate of Staff Development who are engaged in professional development of secondary school teachers in Faisalabad division. A sample of 296 research subjects (head teachers n = 84, secondary school teachers n = 175, and master trainers n = 37) is drawn through proportionate stratified random sampling technique. A cross sectional survey is conducted to explore the perceptions of respondents of the study. A self-developed and structured questionnaire is used as a research instrument on a five point Likert rating scale, and all psychometric properties (e.g., reliability and validity) were ensured in the development of the final version of the research instrument. The Mean and Standard Deviation are used as descriptive statistics, while one-way between groups ANOVA as inferential statistics. It is recommended that Punjab Education Department should conduct effective information and communication technology based trainings, workshops, and refresher courses for the proper usability of ICT at secondary level public sector schools; and for the improvement of information and communication technology based knowledge and skills of secondary school teachers.