Swee Ngoh Moo

Enhancing multipoint desktop video conferencing (MDVC) with lesson video clips: recent developments in pre-service teaching practice in Singapore

Abstract Rapid technological development in computer video conferencing and digital video photography over the last decade makes it easier than ever for teacher educators to use the technology in facilitating reflective practice. This paper reports recent developments in the use of multipoint desktop videoconferencing (MDVC) in preservice teaching practice in Singapore. In addition to regular video conferencing, preservice teachers now have opportunities to view their own teaching video clips and receive feedback from their peers and university supervisors. The experience helped enhance professional development of preservice teachers by allowing them to share ideas, experiences and teaching resources in real time with an audience wider than the schools where they taught.

Using lesson video clips via multipoint desktop video conferencing to facilitate reflective practice

Rapid technological development in computer video conferencing over the last decade makes it easier than ever for teacher educators to use the technology in facilitating reflective practice. As a computer-supported collaborative learning tool, computer video conferencing provides increasing opportunities for student teachers to share experiences across time and space. This article describes a Singapore experience in which lesson video clips were streamed via multipoint desktop video conferencing for pre-service teacher education. The experience provided opportunities for the professional development of the student teachers by allowing them to share ideas, experiences and teaching resources in real time with an audience wider than the schools where they taught.

Building a learning community via videoconferencing

Rapid technological development in the last decade makes it easier than ever to use technologies as collaborative learning tools. Computer video conferencing as a computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) technology provides increasing opportunities for learners to share experiences across time and space. The following describes how multipoint desktop video conferencing (MDVC) is used in preservice teacher education programs in Singapore to enhance the professional development of preservice teachers by allowing them to share ideas, experiences and teaching resources in real time with an audience wider than the schools where they teach.

Job Satisfaction and Withdrawal Cognition among Preservice Teachers

Abstract This study attempts to survey the different levels of job satisfaction among 350 preservice teachers who had experienced their first teaching practicum at the end of their first year of training. Four scales for job satisfaction (perception of the work environment, intrinsic reward, career prospects and career commitment) and a scale for withdrawal cognition were administered to the preservice teachers. A study of their attitude profiles revealed that a high proportion of the preservice teachers experienced negative feelings about various aspects of career prospects, particularly, salary and career advancement. In the area of career commitment, nearly 37% of the trainees felt that the teaching profession was not always their ambition. Despite the less‐than‐expected commitment level and perception of career prospects, trainees had positive feelings for the work environment and intrinsic reward for the profession in many aspects. A multiple‐regression model fitted to the data gave the result that p...