Teachers’ Perceptions and Challenges to the Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning during Covid-19 in Malaysia

Abstract

The use of technology in education has been an ongoing debate among educators. Although educators are highly encouraged to integrate technology in the classroom, they are still sceptical to fully utilize them. This changed drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 which forced educators and learners to rely heavily on the use of technology to support learning. This paper identifies teachers' technology usage in the classroom, their perceptions on the use of technology in the classroom and the challenges of integrating technology in teaching and learning. We employed a quantitative research approach with survey design and non-probability snowball sampling. To collect the data, a questionnaire was distributed to 78 primary and secondary school teachers. We found that teachers in that particular area mostly used smart phones to access internet and conduct lessons due to the limited availability of devices from the students’ end, internet connectivity, and limited instructional time. Despite the challenges presented, they believed the importance of technology in education, and it helped enhance students' digital competence and responsible use. This research, thus, present an insight to the educational authorities in Malaysia of the general perceptions of teachers on the technology used during the pandemic and in turn, will increase digital access and awareness for a better quality of technology integration in teaching and learning.