Academic literature on the topic 'Information technology (IT) and information– and communication technology (ICT) in school'

This study aimed to provide a general picture of ICT education in primary schools. Through this aim, students&rsquo<br>perceived ICT competencies, their attitudes towards the ICT course, the characteristics of the teaching-learning process in the ICT course, the deficiencies of the IT classrooms and the effectiveness of the ICT Student Workbook were analyzed. This study was designed as a cross-sectional survey study. In order to collect the data, a self-reported questionnaire consisted of 63 items was developed by the researcher. The sample consisted of 442 Grade 8 students in 11 primary schools located in the metropolitan area of Izmit. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to analyze the data. Multivariate Analysis of Variances with Pillai&rsquo<br>s Trace test was employed to investigate whether the significant differences among dependent variables across independent variables existed. Results of the study indicated that primary school students generally perceived themselves competent in ICT tasks and they had favorable attitudes towards the ICT course. Significant differences were found in students&rsquo<br>perceived ICT competencies and attitudes with respect to gender, educational background of parents, computer ownership and availability of home assistance related to the ICT course. This study also revealed several obstacles which prevent taking full benefits of IT classrooms, and problems with the implementation of the new ICT program.

The advent of the 21st Century has seen a number of technological developments which affect almost every spectrum or aspect of our lives. Castells (2001) likens the power of ICT to the impact that access to electricity and clean running water in a community have had on human development. In the field of educational, information and communication technology (ICT) has become a core part in helping to improve the efficiency and productivity of both teaching and learning of any particular subject (Fallows and Bhanot, 2002).The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent ICT had enhanced learning at Pearson High School in the Summerstrand area of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM). The results of the study were compared with similar studies in other schools in NMBM conducted at the same time. The study was qualitative and methods of data collection used were key informant interviews and focus group discussions.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Education (Early Childhood Education) in the Department of Foundations of Education at the University of Zululand, 2016<br>The increase in the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has caused a remarkable transformation in the field of education in the 21st century. This transformation has led to the restructuring of school curricula to incorporate ICT in order to equip teachers with the necessary tools to enhance achievement. The ability to read and write at the foundation level of education embraces the most fundamental skills learners obtain. To develop these skills, new methods and forms of teaching should always be considered. This is why the introduction of ICT innovation makes major demands on teachers’ professional skills. ICT plays a very crucial role in the expansion of language skills as it has become an indispensible way of learning and a valuable area of research for both teachers and learners. This paper explores the experiences of foundation phase teachers in integrating ICT into language learning and teaching focusing on Grade 3 teachers in six primary schools in UThungulu Education District. The following research questions were answered: What are teachers’ experiences in incorporating ICT into language learning? What are teachers’ attitudes towards the use of ICT? What is the level of teachers’ resistance to the use of ICT? What is the level of appropriate use of ICT for curriculum delivery in language learning and teaching? The study adopted a purposive sampling technique and a qualitative research method in which the researcher conducted focus group interviews and class lessons were also observed. The target population was primary school teachers from government and privately owned schools in the UThungulu district. Data were analysed using the descriptive analysis technique. The study revealed that only 1.2% of the schools investigated were well resourced in the field of ICT facilities. It was also observed that teachers who claimed to have ICT skills only have basic computer skills. The study also discovered that teachers in the UThungulu Education District are not familiar with any English language online learning resources and software. Schools lack proper funding to integrate ICT and teachers are rarely trained on proper integration skills. The study suggests ways that will lead to effective integration of ICT into language learning and teaching in UThungulu District schools: Policy makers should partner with teachers in drafting the English language curriculum so as to incorporate ICT; stakeholders in the education sector should provide and monitor funds allocated to schools in order to see to the successful integration of ICT in education; frequent ICT integration accredited trainings should be organised for teachers and ICT integration should be incorporated into the teacher education curriculum from the very first year.

This mixed method study sought to explore the perceptions of key stakeholders in education, on the role and contribution of ICT in Scottish secondary schools towards generic skills development among pupils for post school transitions. The timing of this study coincided with a period characterised by contextual pressures globally, marked with technology changes, youth unemployment and curriculum reviews. A review of literature was conducted systematically to evaluate the explicit permeation of ICT in Scottish schools. A sequential mixed method design was adopted for the two phased study commencing with a convenience sampling technique for the first phase, involving 1364 upper secondary school pupils from all eight schools, 64 teachers and the 17 employers in one local Council in Scotland. A purposive sampling technique was applied to select two sample schools for the second phase, based on best use and practices of ICT. Questionnaires were administered online and in person at the first phase, followed by a semi structured interview at the second phase. SPSS was used for descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and one way Anova, while Nvivo 10 software was used for thematic analysis from the interview transcript. The study offers a framework for personalisation starting with identification of pupils’ ability and ICT skill level at inception classes, followed by a personalised learning design incorporating pupils’ interest, ability and post school destination. The study also proposes separate roles for teachers and policy makers in order to maintain teachers’ autonomy, as policy makers’ interference has been identified to have an impact on teachers’ professionalism, effectiveness and confidence necessary for imparting generic skills in pupils. A series of recommendations are provided for future research, including a longitudinal evaluation of generic skills acquired from individual school subjects through the upper school years to post school destination, to ascertain effective transfer and sustainability of generic skills.

Despite advancements in the search of equity, females still struggle to find acceptance in the field of information and communication technology. Research indicates that differences in perception of ability of ICT use begin to manifest in the middle school level. This mixed methods study explored the experiences and perceptions of 46 middle school females and males to expose possible influential factors about the use of ICT by females. The dissertation study occurred in two phases. The first phase involved a survey that was given to the entire middle school. Data from the survey provided participants for the second phase, which involved a focus group discussion with six female students in grades 7 and 8 to examine influential factors in the use of ICT. Findings indicated statistically significant differences between males and females exist at the study site. Females were more likely to (a) access ICT at the after school program and at a relative’s house; (b) identify a relative as an important influence in ICT; (c) share created media; (d) declare higher experience with Photoshop; (e) seek medicine as potential career and less likely to (f) report building a robot or invention using technology; (d) use ICT to play multi-user online games; (f) express interest in action, competition, and graphics in games (h) know terms such as firewall and torrent; (i) pursue careers as computer programmers, engineers, or computer game designers than their male counterparts. The findings support the need for school leadership establishing or enhancing a technology integration program to consider the difference between males and females as foundational cornerstone in the technology integration program.