Abstrak

This study was carried out to find out the teachers perception on virtual mentoring
in ICT skills training based on Zone Proximal Development (ZPD) levels. The study
involved 120 teachers from five Tamil schools Gurun, Kedah. The quantitative data
of the study was gathered through questionnaire that consists of 3 parts: Section A
gathers respondents demographic details, Section B regarding the level of
understanding and help of ICT, Section C is about the virtual mentoring that carried
out with 4 level of Zone Proximal Development (ZPD) method. Section C consists
of 4 levels that derived from 4 levels of ZPD. The sample of the study is 92 teachers.
They are randomly chosen based on sample size suggested by Krejcie & Morgan
(1970). The data gathered from the study was analysed using inferential statistics.
Descriptive statistic and T-test had been used to analyse the data from the
questionnaire. The result of the study reveals that gender affect the teachers
perception on virtual mentoring. There are significant difference in all 4 levels of
ZPD. The study also shows that female teachers whom are less proficient in ICT
skills at the beginning of the study showed higher interest after underwent the virtual
mentoring. However, some of the male teachers that did not apply either their
existing or newly learnt ICT skills the affected the statistical values. The findings of
the study able to expose the teacher regarding the importance of the virtual
mentoring in increasing teachers ICT skills that provide the flexibility to the
teachers to learn according to their suitability and time. The study also recommends
the administrations of the schools to consider the ICT requirement in developing the
education system efficiently by providing feedback to the education ministry. Hence,
the ministry can ensure that the education system is aligned with the current ICT
development and progress.

Keywords: virtual mentoring, ICT skills training, Zone Proximal Development

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