TECHNOLOGICAL STATUS AND PLANS OF SCHOOL RESOURCE CENTERS IN KUALA LUMPUR

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the technological status of School Resource Centers (SRCs) in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and their plans for the future. The study examined the characteristics of the hardware and software available in the SRCs, the planning carried out prior to acquiring the technology for SRCs, the school’s vision of a Digital Resource Center, and steps taken to transform the existing SRC into a Digital Resource Center. This study is considered important to examine how SRCs are changing in line with the changing technological environment. To carry out the study a questionnaire-based survey was carried out involving 146 SRC Coordinators in Kuala Lumpur. The study collected data from the four types of schools, namely the National Type Secondary Schools, National Type Primary Schools, National Type Chinese Primary Schools, and National Type Tamil Primary Schools. The data obtained was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The two major findings of this study are: firstly, based on the study, Normal Type Primary School have 61.4% of its computer in the resource centre, National Type Chinese Schools have 72%, National Type Tamil Primary Schools, 16.6% while National Type Secondary Schools have 66.6%. Naturally the figures are not encouraging for National Type Tamil Primary Schools, which has a mere 16.6%. Secondly, the data acquired shows that 41.8% of the school resource centers are not linked to the internet. For schools that are connected, the most popular form of connection is Streamyx representing 34% of those with connections. The findings of this study are important to policy makers especially from the Educational Technology Division, State Educational Resource Centers, and School Resource Centers. The findings will help understanding the background of the SRCs and enable better planning to improve the present situation, with the aim of preparing SRCs for the digital age.