Use Of ICT Tools Research Articles

Challenges to Attainment of Secondary Education Curriculum Objectives in Preparing Students for Industrialisation in Nyamagana District, Mwanza, Tanzania

This study specifically explored the challenges that hinder the attainment of secondary education curriculum objectives towards preparing students for industrialisation in Nyamagana District, Mwanza, Tanzania. The study employed a mixed research method under a convergent parallel design. A sample size of 119 was drawn from a population of 44,448 using both probability and non-probability sampling. The sample included 47 teachers, 64 students, 5 heads of schools, 1 ward education officer, 1 district education officer, and 1 school quality assurance. Questionnaires were used to collect data from students and teachers, while an interview guide was used in data collection from the heads of schools, the school quality assurance, the ward education officer, and the district education officer. The tools were obtained through a pilot study and the correlation coefficient of 0.81 demonstrated that the instruments were reliable for data collection. Quantitative data collected was coded using descriptive statistics with the help of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 20, and then presented in tables, figures, frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analysed thematically and presented in narratives. The study found that the attainment of curriculum objectives in preparing students for industrialisation is hindered by inadequate use of ICT tools and computers, poor medium of instruction, inadequate teachers, and shortage of school infrastructure. Therefore, the study recommends that the government should reform the curriculum, strengthen the media of instruction, invest in science and technology, improve school infrastructure, and introduce entrepreneurship and technical subjects to secondary schools.

Predictors Influencing Urban and Rural Area students to Use Tablet Computers as Learning Tools: Combination of UTAUT and TTF Models

University students use various ICT-based media a goal to help them learn. The Chinese government is also increasing the use of ICT tools in the education sector because they relate to university students’ learning outcomes. Several universities in China provide tablet computer facilities as learning tools for their university students. These learning tools are widely used in the country because they have many benefits in educational settings. For instance, they are paperless, practical, and portable and support sustainable education. Although tablets provide many benefits, their use as learning tools is not necessarily accepted by university students. Knowing the factors influencing the intention to use them as a learning tool increases their effective utilization by college university students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the factors predicted to relate to the intention and actual usage of tablet computers by university students in urban and rural areas. It combined the TTF model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT-2). The study sample comprised 232 university students in rural and 214 university students in urban areas. Data were analyzed using the partial least squares statistical technique to examine the structural model and test the initial hypothesis. The results showed that the intention of university students in the village to use tablet computers as learning media is influenced by hedonic motivation and task technology fit. In contrast, habit and task technology fit is the most significant factor for university students in urban areas to use tablet computers as learning tools.

E-agriculture Framework for Improving Agricultural Productivity among the Smallholder Farmers in Rural Kenya


 The economy of Kenya depends mainly on agriculture where smallholder farming has a significant role as it employs 65 percent of the work force and contributes 32 percent of Kenya’s GDP. However, the agricultural industry in Kenya is currently facing difficulties in low productivity. The rural areas have the largest concentration of poverty and food insecurity. Majority of the farming activities in Kenya are on small scale and the problems of these farmers are multifaceted including sub-divisions and small farm sizes, leading to diseconomies of scale and low productivity. The goal of this research was to develop and validate an E-agriculture Framework for Improving Agricultural Productivity among the Smallholder Farmers. Descriptive research design was used. The study was carried out in South Eastern Kenya. The target population comprised 224 meteorological staff, 421 agricultural extension officers, 208 ICT personnel and 3,833 farmers. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires, observation and interviews and analyzed using SPSS. The study found that challenges faced farmers were cost, illiteracy and ICT skills among others. Further, the study established that farmers required specific information such as soil management, pest management etc., for mainly improving their productivity. The researcher proposed an e-agriculture framework for improving agricultural productivity through promoting innovative use of ICT tools to bridge the distance between the farmers and the research communities. The proposed e-framework could be used by government policy makers and stakeholders on ICT on agricultural services in other developing countries to implement policies that speeded up the use of ICT on agricultural information.

Challenges to the Use of Information and Communication Technology Tools for Rural Livestock Production in Imo State Nigeria

The study examined the challenges faced by rural livestock farmers in the use of ICT tools. The specific objective included identifying IT tools used; livestock animals kept; information needs of rural livestock farmers examining challenges faced by the rural livestock farmers in the use of ICT tools and proffer solutions to the challenge. A total of 150 ICT user farmers were used to elicit information from respondents using a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed descriptively. Result showed that the livestock farmers used radio (98.6%), mobile phones(96.6%), television(90%). They also keep poultry birds (98%), pigs (92.6%), and goats (87%). The farmers need information on animal disease/control (90.8%), market & prices (100%), housing techniques (94.2%) availability of loan/credits (97.5%), check availability (86.6%), prices of drugs (84.2%) among others. The challenges facing rural livestock farmers included high communication costs (585), lack of regular electric power supply(87.3%), language problems (80%), lack of computer skills (83.3%), inappropriate content (58.6%), and high level of illiteracy (86.6%) among others. To address the challenges, a regular power supply is provided, network connectivity is improved and training of farmers in ICT use among others.

Contribution of ICTs to the Down Syndrome Children’s Language and Cognitive Development

Down syndrome is considered to be one of the most prevalent genetic causes of intellectual disability, derived from chromosomal disorder, which accounts for dysfunctions in many organs and has a characteristic phenotype, which consists of physical and behavioral features. Many studies have shown that language is one of the most impaired areas of function in Down syndrome and perhaps, the highest barrier for their substantial inclusion into formal education and community. The aim of this paper is to investigate the specific features of this linguistic phenotype, presenting the strengths and weaknesses of their language, as well as the factors that contribute to their formation, compared to normally developing children. In addition, it scopes to highlight the role of educational mobile apps, as innovative and interactive tools for the developmental learning of Down syndrome children. The results of the research indicate that their language goes through the same, with typical development sequences, but progressively erases a slowing trajectory and results in lower performance. However, the use of ICT tools can, significantly, improve language, literacy and sort-term memory skills, but also stimulate their cognitive and fine mobile functioning, in order to upgrade their quality of life.

ADOPTION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY AMONG SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined adoption of Information Communication Technology in Enhancing Food Security among Small-Scale Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. The objectives were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics and Likert scale while hypothesis one and two were analyzed with multiple regression and Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) respectively. Sample size adopted through multi-stage random sampling was 88. The mean age, farming experience, farm size and household size were 43.05 years, 12.66 years, 3.79ha and 7 persons, respectively. Most (82.96%) of the farmers were aware of ICT use on farm production. The use of ICT was constraint by high cost of ICT tools, poor network coverage, lack of funds and poor infrastructure. Socio-economic characteristics of the farmers like gender (b = 3.081), age (b = -2.017), educational level (b = 2.315), farming experience (b = 3.001) and farm size (b = 0.986) played significant role in their perceived contribution of ICT to farmers production. Result also revealed that significant relationship exist between farmers with low and those with high level of ICT awareness in agricultural production. The study therefore recommended that government should make policies that should help to improve infrastructure that concerns roads, electricity supply and network coverage so that they can be encouraged to the use of ICT tools for improved agricultural production.

E-Learning in Vocational Business Education during Covid-19 Pandemic in Nigeria; Challlenges, Benefits and Way Forward

During Corona Virus (Covid-19) lockdown, the introduction of the use of various applications such as zoom and the likes were on high side. Teachers were able to teach from their homes to the students in their respective homes. Unfortunately because of the economy of Nigeria, not everyone has the financial capacity to acquire phones, laptops and other related ICT tools to enable all to participate in the online teaching – learning process, in fact when it comes to adequate usage of ICT products, Nigeria is still far behind; only few are versatile in the use of ICT tools. The corona-virus is seen as the most trying time in the history of mankind. This period prompted concerned personnel and government to give more attention to the alternative to physical teaching-learning process called e-learning; audio, audio-visual, virtual learning and all forms of nonphysical contact teaching – learning process were more utilized. Though as good as it was, this exposes the major strength and huge weakness of the system owning to the fact very many things still need to put in place to take e-learning in Nigeria to its supposed place in the developmental trend of the world at large. This paper examined concept of E-Learning, historical development of E-learning, E-learning during COVID-19, disruptions of COVID-19 in Nigerian Educational Sector, challenges associated with E-Learning in Business education and benefits of E-Learning during COVID-19 pandemic in business education programmes.

THE IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES ON THE INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT: GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIATION

The article presents the results of a research aimed at identifying the level of proficiency in the use of ICT tools (ICT skill levels) among employed and unemployed and also generational groups (youth, middle and older generation), as well as identifying the quality of employment and income depending on the level of ICT skills of employed and their generational groups. The author’s classification of the ICT skills levels is presented and, on its basis, a quantitative identification of the ICT skills levels among the employed and unemployed is carried out. It was found that among the employed, 40.5% have the ICT skills required for work, including 1.8% are distinguished by the presence of specialized skills corresponding to the third (highest) level, the remaining 59.5% have basic ICT skills. Among the unemployed, compared to the employed, the share of those with only basic ICT skills not related to professional activity (75.1%) is significantly higher, while the share of those with the third (highest) (0.9%) and second (24.0%) the level of ICT skills, on the contrary, is lower relative to the employed. Generational differences in the levels of ICT skills among employed and unemployed were revealed. Among the youth, the proportion of those who possess the highest ICT skills and have realized their labor potential is higher than for the employed as a whole and their other generational groups. Estimates of the distribution of employed and their generational groups according to the level of income from the main employment, determined on the basis of original system of social standards, depending on the level of ICT skills, are obtained. As a result of the research, it was revealed that a higher level of ICT skills increases the chances of realizing the existing labour potential. Meanwhile, as higher the level of ICT skills, the greater chances of “converting” them into higher incomes due to employment. It is shown that implementation of labour potential in the labour market with a higher level of ICT skills determines lower risks of reducing the quality of employment, and also increases the chances for employed people to ensure higher standards of material prosperity in their households.

THE IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES ON THE INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT: GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIATION

The article presents the results of a research aimed at identifying the level of proficiency in the use of ICT tools (ICT skill levels) among employed and unemployed and also generational groups (youth, middle and older generation), as well as identifying the quality of employment and income depending on the level of ICT skills of employed and their generational groups. The author’s classification of the ICT skills levels is presented and, on its basis, a quantitative identification of the ICT skills levels among the employed and unemployed is carried out. It was found that among the employed, 40.5% have the ICT skills required for work, including 1.8% are distinguished by the presence of specialized skills corresponding to the third (highest) level, the remaining 59.5% have basic ICT skills. Among the unemployed, compared to the employed, the share of those with only basic ICT skills not related to professional activity (75.1%) is significantly higher, while the share of those with the third (highest) (0.9%) and second (24.0%) the level of ICT skills, on the contrary, is lower relative to the employed. Generational differences in the levels of ICT skills among employed and unemployed were revealed. Among the youth, the proportion of those who possess the highest ICT skills and have realized their labor potential is higher than for the employed as a whole and their other generational groups. Estimates of the distribution of employed and their generational groups according to the level of income from the main employment, determined on the basis of original system of social standards, depending on the level of ICT skills, are obtained. As a result of the research, it was revealed that a higher level of ICT skills increases the chances of realizing the existing labour potential. Meanwhile, as higher the level of ICT skills, the greater chances of “converting” them into higher incomes due to employment. It is shown that implementation of labour potential in the labour market with a higher level of ICT skills determines lower risks of reducing the quality of employment, and also increases the chances for employed people to ensure higher standards of material prosperity in their households.

The Civil City Framework for the Implementation of Nature-Based Smart Innovations: Right to a Healthy City Perspective

This paper aims to expand the current debate concerning the implementation of health-related innovations by employing the rights-based approach. Specifically, we address the challenges related to the implementation of technological and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) from the right to the city perspective. As a result, we present a comprehensive Civil City Framework that involves the synergic use of ICT tools and participation models to mobilize grassroots potential for building healthier cities, while ensuring equity and respect for diverse needs. We explain the participatory and technological aspects of implementing and monitoring innovative NBS, involving data gathering through environmental sensors, personal wristbands, and smartphone apps. Finally, we highlight opportunities and challenges stemming from the use of health- and environment-monitoring technologies. To build such a vision one needs to reconceive the city as commons, enabling collective action of city residents and cooperation between different local stakeholders. This can be achieved by embedding a pentahelix approach of multi-governance in urban planning, based on a close interaction between five key stakeholders, including public authorities, industry and business sector, academia, civil society organizations, and individual citizens.

PROFILE AND EFFICACY TO THE TEACHERS’ SKILLS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the teacher?s profile and the efficacy of the teachers? skills in Information and Communication Technology. Specifically, it once determines the following: First, the profile of the respondents in terms of age, civil status, educational attainment, gender, specialization, and training or seminars attended relative to ICT. Next, is the level of teacher?s efficacy in terms of adaptability, flexibility, growth mindset, and patience. Then the extent of teacher?s skills in using ICT relative to data management, email management, internet navigation, word processing and touch-typing skills. It also determines if the profile and efficacy have a significant relationship to the teachers? skills in ICT. Most of the respondents were aged 30 and below, female, married, with Master?s Units, with 3-4 seminars and training related to ICT, and teaching all subject areas. The teachers? efficacy in terms of adaptability, growth mindset, and patience were very high while flexibility was high. The extent of Teachers? skills in using ICT relative to Data Management, Touch Typing, and Word Processing were interpreted as To a Great Extent while Email Management and Internet Navigation skills were To a Very Great Extent. Teachers? age showed a significant relationship in terms of Data Management, Email Management, Internet Navigation skills, Touch Typing, and Word Processing Skills while teachers? civil status, educational attainment, gender, specialization, and training or seminars attended have no significant relationship. Teachers? efficacy such as adaptability, flexibility, growth mindset, and patience showed significant relationships in terms of Data Management, Email Management, Internet Navigation skills, Touch Typing, and Word Processing Skills. Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusions were drawn, the profile of teachers was partially accepted in the use of ICT tools in chosen elementary schools in Nagcarlan District. The teachers? efficacy has a significant relationship with the use of ICT tools in chosen elementary schools in the Nagcarlan District. Based on the conclusions of this study, the following recommendations were formulated. To be more computer and information literate, comprehensive and extensive computer literacy programs for teachers may be conducted frequently to meet the needs of the teachers. Using ICT in doing work tasks such as preparing lessons and reports, communicating online, searching for information and other related activities may be strengthened to lessen the burden of teacher?s workloads

Determinants of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) towards ICT Use for English Language Learning

Background. The use of ICT in learning English can assist learners to improve their language skills, aside from empowering and motivating them in English language learning. ICT utilization can provide opportunities for collaboration and interaction in the learning process.
 Purpose. The present study was conducted to examine the motivation, ICT skills, equipment, and attitudes factors towards the use of ICT tools for English learning in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context.
 Methods. The quantitative method was applied involving 303 pre-service teachers of English department at a state university in Jambi, Indonesia. A questionnaire was employed to collect the data and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the proposed hypotheses developed in fulfilling the study objectives. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used to examine the attitudes of student teachers toward the use of ICT for English language learning.
 Results. Findings suggested that the determinants of the technology acceptance model are the major factors influencing the usage of ICT. In addition, the effect of equipment, motivation, and ICT skills towards the use of ICT had been mediated by three main variables of TAM, namely perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and attitudes. Furthermore, it was found that the motivation, ICT skills and attitudes factors affect the actual use of ICT for English learning while the equipment factor does not.
 Implications. The results of this study are beneficial for students and teachers both in schools and universities. For students, they need to equip themselves with ICT literacy, ICT skills, motivation, and positive attitudes towards the use of ICT in English learning activities. Teachers should also equip themselves with ICT skills so that they can provide learning experiences according to the needs of students in today's digital age.

USE OF ICT TOOLS IN TEACHING SYNTAX OF UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE TO PHILOLOGY STUDENTS

The paper highlights the psychological and pedagogical conditions for the use of ICT tools in teaching syntax and reveals the ways of introducing the experience of using them in the professional training of future language teachers within the course "Modern Ukrainian Literary Language: Syntax". The research literature on the didactic principles of ICT use in the educational process of future teachers, the application of ICT in the process of language training of students-philologists was reviewed. The study stresses the significant role of syntax in the linguistic hierarchy. Syntax helps students get aware of the laws of phrase and sentence structure, their expressive potential and means, and ways of their implementation in any discourse. It is important to follow the provisions developed by M. Zhaldak and S. Selian, N. Berger, Z. Dovedan. The paper outlines didactic principles, methods and techniques of ICT use in the professional training of future language teachers. The paper suggests some criteria for building a system of exercises and assignments with the help of ICT. It describes the ways of applying ICT tools in mixed and distance learning of students-philologists. A system of cognitive, training, research and creative exercises is presented. The study established that the use of digital narrative, mental maps, infographics, flashcards, electronic dictionaries in the training of future teachers of Ukrainian language and literature has a positive effect on students' mastering the educational material, it motivates and stimulates students; encourages students to apply self-cognition, self-learning, reflection, self-improvement; develops critical and creative thinking; offers them different strategies for memorizing information; enables interactive interaction between all participants in the educational process; provides the possibility of interval revision; makes the learning process active and interesting. The prospects of the research are determined in the study.

Assessment of the Farmers' Use of Ict Tools in Farming Practices

It has been two decades into the current century which is marked by the revolutionary development and expansion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially across the socioeconomic structure in the underdeveloped and developing countries. The emerging practices of integrating ICT facilities in agricultural sector has shown to be quite promising. This study was designed to determine the use of ICT as an extension tool by farmers in Diyar region (four villages) of Chapainawabganj district, Bangladesh. In this particular area, with many shortcomings, traditional public extension services have been prevalent. The use of ICT as dynamic agricultural extension tool has the potential to fill in the voids left by the traditional extension services. The research work presented in this paper studied the socio-demographic characteristics of the famers, extent of use of ICT tools by the farmers and the attitude of the farmers towards ICT use. Most of the respondents had shown moderately favourable attitude. Education, land ownership and cosmopoliteness showed positive significant relationship. And age, family member, number of children and farming experience showed negative significant relationship with the attitude of the farmers towards using ICT tools. Some basic resistances such as need for availability, accessibility, knowledge, interest and some others are keeping the growth of ICT usage low among the farmers of the chosen area. Evidently more work needs to be done to reach the expected rate of ICT led solutions for the promising agriculture in Chapainawabganj.

ДИСТАНЦІЙНЕ НАВЧАННЯ В КОНТЕКСТІ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ СТУДЕНТСЬКО-ВИКЛАДАЦЬКОЇ ВЗАЄМОДІЇ

The article presents a brief overview of scientific and theoretical research on a new form of distance learning. The main attention is paid to such an aspect as psychological and pedagogical interaction in the dyad «student-teacher». Interaction is defined as a system of mutual influences of subjects involved in joint activities on the basis of common goals of vocational education. The main negative consequences of this format of interaction are presented: the problems of dialogic communication; reducing the ability to qualitatively control the student’s activities and encourage him/her to be active; insufficient technical conditions to involve all students in the learning process. The list of the basic skills of the teacher for increasing the quality of distance learning is given: involvement in discussion, expression of one’s own opinion and establishment of interpersonal interaction; optimal use of ICT tools for communicative interaction; the right choice of communication strategies and tactics in accordance with the purpose of training; conducting training sessions taking into account the psychological characteristics of students’ behavior in a virtual environment; application of mechanisms for diagnosing communicative conflicts, removing barriers in indirect communication. The value indicators of the teacher-student format are also empirically studied. The level of positive and negative assessment of teacher and student interaction on behalf of both subjects of its organization is determined (emotional and positive attitude of students to the work of the teacher). An analysis of difficulties that potentially affect the level of teacher-student interaction in the format of offline-online learning is made (inability to conduct training sessions considering the psychological characteristics of students’ behavior in a virtual environment, students’ lack of independent work skills, leading to incomprehensibility). Conclusions are made on changes in the levels of empathy of teachers and students before and after the organization of forced transition to distance learning due to the threat of COVID-19: with the emergence of an objective factor (forced transition to distance education). Subjective factors for teachers and students became less significant due to the fact that the priorities in the assessment of the situation have changed at the stage of difficulties, which was still too subjectively assessed. The general level of teacher-student interaction has changed in the direction of increasing student empathy and general positivizing of teachers.

Factors Affecting Mobile Phone Usage by Farmers As A Source of Agricultural Information In Sharqia Governorate, Egypt

Mobile phones are one of the most important ICTs that contribute to farmers’ adoption of agricultural innovations around the world, this study was conducted to identify the factors influencing mobile phone usage as a source of agricultural information for farmers in Sharqia Governorate, Egypt. A random sample of 355 respondents was interviewed during the period from January to April 2021. The results showed the diversity of sources that farmers depend on to obtain agricultural information such as fertilizer and supplies dealers, experienced farmers, relatives, and neighbors which were the main sources of agricultural information for respondents. Results indicated that only 9.9% of the respondents had a high mobile phone usage as a source of agricultural information, while 69.3% of them had a low degree of usage. A negative statistically significant relationship was found between the total degree of respondents' use of mobile phones as a source of agricultural information and their age at a 0.01 level of significance. while the relationship was positive with variables such as educational level, farm size, possession of a smartphone, and membership in social organizations. The mobile network's weak coverage in the village, lack of knowledge about agricultural applications, lack of knowledge about mobile phone operation, and the high cost of internet services were at the forefront of these problems facing the surveyed farmers who use mobile phones for agricultural purposes. Therefore, this study recommends the agricultural extension to make greater efforts to spread the use of ICT tools, including mobile phones technology among farmers.

POTENTIAL POSSIBILITIES OF USING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF FUTURE EDUCATORS INSTITUTIONS

The article raises issues of introduction of ICT in the educational process of higher education institutions. The phenomenon of the concept of ICT is substantiated and the peculiarities of the application of information and communication technologies in the professional training of future educators as a factor in improving the educational process in higher education institutions are outlined. The potential opportunities for the use of ICT in the professional training of future educators of preschool institutions contribute to improving students' knowledge of various educational tasks and solving pedagogical situations; practicing the skills of higher education seekers in the use of ICT in further professional activities; providing a personality-oriented, differentiated, integrated approach to the training of future educators in higher education institutions; motivating students to lifelong learning and self-education. The following theoretical research methods were used: analysis and generalization of scientific sources in order to determine the essence of the basic concepts of research; generalization and systematization of the experience of leading teachers to form their own views on the issue; generalization and formulation of research conclusions. Positive practice of application of ICT in the educational process of higher education institutions are noted by all teachers-innovators; the use of ICT can motivate students to educational activities, promote their professional development, stimulate self-education; introduction and active use of ICT tools by teachers in the educational process of the university, implementation of individual research tasks, development of ICT tools for their own professional activities form the readiness to use ICT in working with preschool children.

Mental health in smart cities: The role of technology during COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has changed the daily lives of citizens around the world and exposed the vulnerability of life and the functioning of cities. The pandemic has forced citizens to adapt to new models of remote work during quarantine and access to smart technology-based services. The article aims to assess citizens' perceptions of the technological solutions provided by smart cities and, in particular, the municipality of Paphos before and after the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as to evaluate their impact on citizens' mental health. The results of the study contribute to the understanding of the mental health benefits for citizens living in smart cities compared to people living in low-tech areas, revealing the potential positive effects of smart technologies, as well as the change in people's digital decision-making before and after the pandemic

An Assessment of Computer and ICT Skills at Botswana Open University: Implications of ICT in Business Subjects

This paper presents a study that focused on assessing computer and ICT skills of business subjects’ learners at Botswana Open University (BOU). The study explored the levels of computer skills; existence of ICT skills and perception of business subject learners on the adoption and use of ICT skills for teaching and learning. A sample size of 223 participants from BOU’s five regions was studied and data was collected quantitatively using survey questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The results showed that most of the respondents had average ability to navigate on the e-learning school platforms (E-library, portals, websites, etc.) and average awareness of the business learning software and applications; they were familiar with most MS package elements, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher. They were familiar with the use of emails, social sites and blogs as well as internet searching and browsing. Results also showed that the respondents understood the basic functions of computer hardware. The study also revealed that respondents needed improvement in the use of ICT tools for learning their business subjects, and that the improvement of the use of ICT tools would enhance their understanding of the subject matter. Respondents cited poor internet connectivity and unreliable power supply, as well as slow internet connectivity, as some of the reasons for their poor ICT skills in teaching and learning ICTs.

Teacher Perceptions on Computer and Media Learning (ICT) in English Language Acquisition in Primary and Secondary Schools in Macedonia

The recent reform of education in the Republic of North Macedonia has brought innovation in the use of technology in the teaching process as well as in the use of computers as a tool, and also as a method and a way to learn. Also, projects and curricula for computer learning have been developed in both primary and secondary schools. In this context, this theoretically-empirical research combines the reality of the use of ICT tools in English language classes in elementary and secondary schools with segments defined in the English language curriculum. With the empirical, descriptive, and conclusive results gained in this research, where 108 English language teachers in the primary and secondary schools of Skopje, Gostivar, and Tetovo were surveyed, a statistical difference (sig = 0.028) was observed in teacher attitudes per city in terms of level and the impact of ICT tools on the productivity of students in English language classes as well as the statistical difference (sig = 0.043) in teachers' attitudes by their age. In the end, the hierarchy of ICT tools was determined according to their level of use and the hierarchy of skills developed by the use of ICT tools in English language classes in elementary and secondary schools.