Overview

The use of Information Technology in teaching and learning has now become a reality in classrooms and across different instructional academic disciplines in Singapore. Due to recent increases in the application of e-learning to the traditional mode of instruction, it is now timely for those examining classroom learning environments to begin focussing their research on the evaluation of e-learning as a viable approach to teaching and learning. However, no comprehensive instrument has been developed to evaluate e-learning environments for secondary school education. Using the context of lower secondary science, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using e-learning in addition to normal face-to-face interaction for learning science. Using the perceptual approach, a modified psycho-social classroom learning environment instrument called the E-learning Classroom Environment Questionnaire (ELCEQ) was administered to obtain the students perceptions of their e-learning classroom learning environments. The ELCEQ consisted of a 30-item questionnaire, with 5 scales, namely Investigation, Open-endedness, Organisation, Material Environment and Satisfaction. The collected data was analysed quantitatively. The results, implications and suggestions for effective implementation of e-learning in lower secondary science classrooms will be described in the following pages.

1. Introduction

In recent years, the rate of Information Technology use in teaching and learning across different academic disciplines has increased rapidly in Singapore. This increased use of e-learning (technologically-assisted or technologically-driven means of learning delivery) in the curriculum has given the teachers and students opportunities to extend learning beyond the physical classrooms and...