Introduction

My area of research is very much based on my area of interest – which is on professional development in introducing ICT into curriculum. My current work portfolio is on development of professional development programmes for faculty and staff in higher education.

Being a trainer in the area of ICT for teaching & learning and personal effectiveness for more than 10 years, I always feel greatly satisfied when participants ‘see light at the end of the tunnel’. For example, they are excited about learning the new concepts/strategies/skills and ready to try out in their teaching/curriculum. At times, I walked through the journey with them in re-designing the curriculum by incorporating new pedagogies and it is fulfilling to know that I have shared something useful to them, like a set of life skills. And I know that that is one of the forte. I enjoy being with my participants.

However, I feel that some of the strategies that have been adopted are quite limited. I feel that it would be great if some new findings could be learnt and applied into these programmes so that faculty members could be better equipped in using ICT for their teaching. This, in return, would definitely enhance students’ learning in the university.

Having recently learnt about the TPCK model, I’m excited to explore how the model could be piloted and tested within the professional development programmes which I have influenced on. My experience in working on my master’s dissertation on the impact of a particular professional development model on faculty’s adoption of a particular ICT tool has spurred me to take on this study as well.

I have been exploring the use of authentic learning environments for the past 1 ½ years in the various professional development programmes, including in blended learning environments.
The TPCK model can be used is in-line with my believe in authentic learning environment, that learning is ‘best supported when the content is part of a context that the students can perceive as meaningful, assign value to the subject matter, and develop and understanding of the relation of it with lives’ (Lave, 1997).

It is hoped that the findings which I learnt from the study could benefit the various communities (both practitioners and academic) in the University and beyond.

This blog is intended for anyone who is interested in TPCK, particularly at tertiarly level.