Advantages, disadvantages, facilitators, and inhibitors of computer-aided instruction in Singapore's secondary schools

Abstract

The Republic of Singapore initiated a project titled a Student's and Teacher's Workbench in secondary schools in 1993. The project planned to use computer-aided instruction (CAI) for enhancing students' self learning both in the classroom and from a distance. The successful implementation of CAI depends on the cooperation of teachers. Thus, it is important to understand teachers' attitude towards CAI. This study investigated two important issues: first, what the teachers perceived to be the major disadvantages and disadvantages of implementing CAI. Second, what they perceived to be the major facilitators and inhibitors of CAI implementation. Usable responses were collected from 117 secondary school teachers. The respondents perceived that immediate feedback to students and provision of alternative teaching techniques are the major advantages of CAI, whereas isolation from human interaction and large capital investment are the major disadvantages. The respondents also felt that support from the Ministry of Education, availability of teachers' time and resources, as well as provision of administrative support facilitate CAI implementation. On the contrary, lack of time, too few computers, and lack of teachers' experience and skills in education technology were considered to inhibit CAI implementation. © 1995.