How it began for me?
In 1997, I initiated a research project at University of
Malaya to examine the application of information and communication technology in teaching and learning. A computer lab equipped with a dozen PCs connected to a server and the internet was made available. Primary and secondary school students; as well as university students, were brought in to enable reseachers to try-out different pedagogical strategies.
In one of the studies, I taught a graduate course
(PXGM 6104 Information and Communication Technology in Educational Management) to 14 students in the computer lab. To support my teaching a website was designed for the course to which were uploaded lectue notes, powerpoint slides, self-tests, graphics, simulations, case studies, articles and a forum. The website was built using the free hosting facilities and the friendly site builder provided by Homestead.com.
Student evaluation of the teaching method was very positive and realising the potential of the web as a supporting tool or scaffold for onsite teaching, I purchased a dot.com and subscribed for enhanced hosting facilities. (The findings of the study was reported at an International Conference on ICT integration in Teaching & Learning). I have since adopted this blended approach for teaching all my courses and have delved deeply into the concept and its applications.
- John Arul Phillips