Development of ICT Competency Standard Using the Delphi Technique

The purpose of the paper is to discuss the application of the Delphi technique in the research design of developing a valid and reliable ICT (Information & Communication Technology) competency standard for teachers. Much investment has been placed on organizing ICT training programmes for in-service teachers but the effects of teaching and learning practices in the classroom have not achieved expected outcomes. In addition, allegations from teachers highlighted that the training programmes are inadequate to completely meet the needs of ICT competencies. Hence, an ICT competency standard is necessary and timely to be developed to serve as a guide for organizing ICT training programmes. The Delphi technique is a research approach used to obtain a consensus opinion from experts using a series of questionnaires. This study was carried out with the purpose to obtain a consensus opinion from the experts on the types of important ICT competencies to be mastered by secondary school Science and Mathematics teachers, and ultimately develop the ICT competency standard for Malaysian Science and Mathematics teachers. The developed competency standard using the Delphi technique is valid and reliable. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.