Utilization of Information and Communication Technology in Teaching and Learning of Chemistry at Senior High Schools in Ghana

Abstract

The study investigated the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) in the teaching of chemistry at Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Ghana. The study uses a cross-sectional survey design while employing purposive and simple random sampling techniques to select the SHSs and science teachers, respectively. A total of three chemistry teachers were sampled from 10 SHSs purposely selected making a total of 30 teachers. The study investigates the competence and ICT tools usage by science teachers and how the usage of these tools can be sustained and improved for the teaching of chemistry in Ghana. Furthermore, the study identifies the possible factors that impede science teachers’ use of ICT tools in teaching chemistry at the SHSs in Ghana. The study has found that science teachers are competent in using ICT tools in performing teaching and learning activities. However, the utilization of ICT has not been most effectively utilized in secondary schools in teaching and learning chemistry since the general usage of ICT by teachers was low. Besides, the study found that the utilization of ICT tools in teaching chemistry is bedeviled by myriads of factors and these factors greatly influence the science teachers’ and students’ capabilities of using ICT for the teaching-learning process. These factors were found to be teacher-level factors, cost-related factors, technological-related factors, management and leadership-related factors, and environmental-related factors. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the Ministry of Education should ensure that adequate ICT resources and facilities needed for proper utilization of ICT tools for teaching and learning chemistry in SHSs in Ghana are provided in the right numbers.