Implementation of Ptechls Modules in Rural Malaysian Secondary School: A Needs Analysis

Abstract

Research has shown that the strategy of matching learning style with certain technology enhances students’ learning experience. This study seeks to identify the learning styles among students in a rural secondary school, based on the Felder Silverman Model (1988) which comprises four dimensions (visual/verbal, active/reflective, sequential/global, sensing/intuitive). A PTechLS module developed by Norlidah Alias (2010) will be implemented in secondary school. The main objective of this study is to analyze the needs for a pedagogical module based on technology and learning style (PTechLS) for the Form 4 Physics curriculum before the implementation. Data were collected through surveys among 47 students in a rural secondary school in the Jempol district in Negeri Sembilan. Two instruments were used: learning style instrument and computer skills and usage questionnaire. From the learning style instrument, most of the students were identified as active (89.3%), reflective (10.7%), sensing (78.7%), intuitive (21.3%), visual (95.7%), verbal (4.3%), sequential (70.2%) and global (29.8%) learners. The computer skills and usage questionnaire shows that students in the selected rural school have access to technology and are already using it for learning. Therefore, the researchers suggest the implementation of PTechLS modules among rural Malaysian secondary schools.