Technology Adoption for STEM Education in Higher Education: Students’ Experience from Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries

Abstract

Challenges of a lack of formal technology-embeded teacher training, collaborative learning models, adequate technology know-how, and internet access are barriers to adopting technological-enabled teaching and learning STEM subjects in the African context. This study examined technology adoption for STEM in higher education while evaluating students’ experiences with evidence and implications for less developed countries. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The study population was students in higher learning institutions in selected countries in the sub-Saharan African region using a multi-stage sampling procedure consisting of convenience and purposive sampling techniques. A self-developed questionnaire titled Technology Adoption for Teaching and Learning Questionnaire “TATLQ” premised on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model was used for data collection. The instrument had an overall reliability coefficient of 0.96. The collated data were analysed using descriptive of the median and a network chart to answer the research questions. In contrast, the inferential statistics of t-test and Analysis of Variance statistics were used to test the hypothesis generated for the study and implemented in the psych package of R programming language version 4.0.2 software. Findings revealed that students had a positive experience with online teaching and learning and concluded that technology adoption for STEM education online teaching and learning is feasible in sub-Sahara Africa, with the need for improvements in internet access and technical support on the basis for which recommendations were made.