Electronic Mobile Devices, Transformative Pedagogy and Learning: Higher Education and Changing Times in Kenya

Abstract

Abstract The Fourth Industrial requires new concepts and skills to be acquired by learners at various levels. This has led to a new breed of learners joining our education institutions at various levels with prerequisite knowledge on technology which can be harnessed for learning and teaching purposes. This scenario has generated a lot of interest and more research on how first the process of knowledge acquisition is changing. There is excited attention among researchers, educators, education commentators and stakeholders on this aspect of learning. The new generations of techno savvy leaners joining institutions are a challenge to the old pedagogy of teaching. These young generations are creating a digital gap between the old ways of teaching and learning to new approaches in education. The nature of the generation change needs to bring some reforms in education especially in higher education in Kenya where electronic mobile devices penetration has escalated for the last ten years. This research paper, highlights issues around use of electronic mobile devices for knowledge acquisition purposes which if well utilized can aid the education systems in most African Countries in terms of access, affordability, ease of use and leaners wide interaction and independent study. The old pedagogy of the teacher being the absolute source of information is being transformed by the use of an array of emerging devices like Smartphone, ipads, laptops and others which are readily available to the leaner’s. The study was carried out among undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Nairobi, Kenya between 2016 to 2018.The researchers found out that, electronic mobile devices are with the students for ease of use. The study also found out that, some of leaners in higher institutions of learning are not well informed on how to utilize the mobile devices for learning purposes hence most of the time they are used for other purposes not related to learning. In general, most countries in Africa have tried to invest on internet connectivity, ICT Infrastructure, capacity building among others structure which can also be leveraged for Education needs.