For science teachers, teaching attitude, or “will” is more important factor when it comes to integrating information and communications technology (ICT) into the classroom, while teaching ability, or “skill” has the strongest influence on the ICT integration, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).
The study entitled, “Will–skill–tool (WST) model of technology integration in teaching science and mathematics in the Philippines” showed that will and skill have the highest significant effect on ICT integration for science and mathematics teachers, respectively.
“Among science teachers, the importance of ICT integration in teaching should be highlighted first to increase their level of attitude toward ICT prior to skills development,” it said.
“On the other hand, ICT knowledge and skills should be a primary focus in providing teacher training programs for mathematics teachers who may have technical requirement to facilitate integration of ICT in teaching the subject,” it added.
A total of 325 teachers from 16 science, technology and engineering (STE) implementing high schools participated in the study. Of the number, 163 are science teachers, while 162 are mathematics teachers.
The researchers noted that in the science teaching area, attitude toward ICT has the strongest influence on ICT integration, followed by ICT skills and then, availability of ICT resources.
In the mathematics teaching area, on the other hand, the skill was the best predictor, followed by attitude toward ICT, they said.
“Tool was not found to be a significant predictor in the mathematics teaching area,” they noted.
The study was published on March 9, 2021, in the Journal of Computers in Education. It was conducted by Randolf S. Sasota, Ruby R. Cristobal, Imelda S. Sario, and Josette T. Biyo, and Joselito C. Magadia of the School of Statistics, University of the Philippines – Diliman.
Biyo serves as the DOST-SEI director, while Cristobal leads the DOST-SEI’s Science Technology Manpower Education Research Promotion Division (STMERPD).
Sario and Sasota are supervising science research specialist and senior science research specialist, respectively, under the STMERPD.