Use Of Information And Communication Technologies Research Articles

Utilisation of ICT in the management of land administration information in Tanzania

The study investigates the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in managing land administration information in Tanzania. The study specifically established the status of available ICT facilities and assessed the extent of their application in managing land administration information. The research involved a cross-sectional survey and interview with 422 stakeholders, revealing the presence of ICT facilities in land administration authorities and individuals. The result revealed the presence of ICT facilities in land administration authorities and among individuals. These technologies are used for planning, designing, surveying, and processing land documents. However, a lack of knowledge about certain ICT services hinders the government’s efforts to enhance land services. Online services in land administration, such as search, building permits, and land application, can reduce bureaucracy and increase revenue. The potential of ICTs is significant, prompting land authorities to develop strategies and invest in their efficient use. The study recommends investing in modern ICT infrastructure in land offices to modernise land services, increase client satisfaction, and achieve the land sector’s goals. Furthermore, it suggests providing online land-related services and integrating them with online payment systems to increase revenue and reduce travel time. The study also recommends improving government online platforms for land information communication, enhancing stakeholder self-service, and introducing SMS, mobile applications, and AI for land administration information services. Lastly, the study recommends reviewing the MLHHSD ICT Policy and providing training to adapt to technology trends.

The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies on the Competitiveness of Smes in Morocco: An Approach Based on the Technology Acceptance Model

This article examines the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on economic competitiveness in Morocco, with a focus on ICT adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Through an analysis based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study identifies key challenges faced by companies in integrating ICT and highlights opportunities presented by government initiatives such as the "Digital Morocco Plan 2020." The findings indicate that the acceptance and increased use of ICT are essential for fostering innovation and enhancing the performance of Moroccan businesses, thereby contributing to sustainable economic growth.

Perceptions and challenges of technological use in teaching among late-career teachers: a case study in Cambodia

The COVID-19 pandemic created a huge demand in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning. Teachers are believed to be a main influencer in a student’s learning, so it is important to have a deep insight of teachers’ perceptions of ICT integration in teaching and the problems they have been facing in ICT integration. However, little has been known about these aspects, especially regarding late-career teachers in Cambodia. This study investigated late-career teachers' perceptions and barriers to incorporating technology into teaching practices at an urban high school to shed light on possible solutions and appropriate methods to encourage the use of ICT in teaching. Six late-career teachers teaching various subjects at a public high school located in the capital city of Cambodia served as the interview sample. The outcome indicates that the general view and sentiment of late-career teachers toward the use of ICT were positive. Late-career teachers’ use of ICT in teaching were found to be hindered by first-order, second-order, and third-order barriers. Recognizing the limited sample, suggestions to encourage ICT use are offered.

The Use of Information and Communication Technologies Among Generation X in Serbia: A Comparison Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of this paper is to examine the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) among Generation X in the years before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic brought significant changes in digital technology usage and accelerated shifts in work, communication, and societal functioning. Generation X, comprising individuals born between the 1960s and 1980s, grew up during a time when digital technologies and the internet were not as prevalent. Given that they now live and work in a digital era, it is crucial to understand how they adapt to the rapid changes driven by digitalization. For this research, microdata from the study "The Usage of Information and Communication Technology by Individuals/Households in the Republic of Serbia" was analyzed for the years 2019 and 2023. Results show a slight increase in internet and computer use, particularly among younger members of Generation X. Additionally, 2023 saw a noticeable rise in online shopping and the use of communication services that gained popularity during the lockdown. Regarding public administration services, respondents in 2023 primarily accessed services related to the pandemic, such as vaccine information and green certificates. However, a significant number of respondents, 49%, did not use public services in either 2019 or 2023, suggesting potential issues with trust or perceived complexity. The main contribution of this paper is a detailed analysis of this group's behavior before and after the pandemic, focusing on ICT use and responses to changes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

An inverted U-shaped relationship between work-family conflict and job burnout among village clinic doctors: the moderating effect of information and communication technology use

BackgroundVillage clinic doctors are an integral part of the rural healthcare workforce. With the advancement of science and technology and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the prevalence of remote work and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) have increased significantly. However, these developments have also had an impact on the work family balance and mental well-being of village clinic doctors. The study aimed to explore how work-family conflict affected job burnout and what the role of ICT use was in this relationship.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected collected through an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey conducted in December 2021 in Shandong Province, China. A total of 1,093 village clinic doctors participated in the survey. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and the PROCESS macro in SPSS.ResultsThe results showed that an inverted U-shaped relationship between work-family conflict and job burnout among village clinic doctors. Specifically, the squared term of work-family conflict had a negative coefficient (-0.324). The slope was positive (SL=2.291) at the low end of the X-range and negative (SH=-0.379) at the high end. The turning point occurred at X = 1.227(-2.309 ≤ X ≤ 1.812). Additionally, ICT use positively moderated between work-family conflict and job burnout (β1β4-β2β3 = 0.217, β4 > 0).ConclusionsThe work-family conflict has an inverted U-shaped effect on job burnout, while the use of ICT positively moderates this relationship between work-family conflict and job burnout. Policymakers should pay attention to the effects of ICT use and work-family conflict on job burnout among village clinic doctors.

Ethical reasoning methods for ICT: What they are and when to use them

Information and communication technology (ICT) brings about numerous advantages across various domains of our lives. However, alongside these benefits, there is a growing awareness of its potential negative ethical, social, and environmental impacts. Consequently, stakeholders ranging from conceptual modellers to policy makers often find themselves grappling with ethical considerations stemming from ICT engineering and usage. This paper presents a review of 10 ethical reasoning methods suitable for the ICT domain. We have employed a method engineering technique to author metamodels for the methods, which were subsequently subjected to validation by experts proficient in the respective methods. Following a situational method engineering approach, we have also characterised each ethical reasoning method and validated the characterisation with the experts. This has allowed us to develop a tool that helps select the method that is most suitable for a given ethical reasoning situation. Furthermore, we deliberate on the practical application of ethical reasoning methods within conceptual modelling contexts. We are confident that we have laid the groundwork for further research into ethical reasoning of ICT, with a specific emphasis on its role during conceptual modelling.

Influential academic factors in the integration of ICT in higher education after the COVID-19 pandemic

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the need to move educational processes to virtual environments and increase the use of digital tools for different teaching uses. This led to a change in the habits of using information and communication technologies (ICT), especially in higher education. This work analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency of use of different ICT tools in a sample of 950 Latin American university professors while focusing on the area of knowledge of the participating professors. To this end, a validated questionnaire has been used, the responses of which have been statistically analyzed. As a result, it has been proven that participants give high ratings to ICT but show insufficient digital competences for its use. The use of ICT tools has increased in all areas after the pandemic but in a diverse way. Differences have been identified in the areas of knowledge regarding the use of ICT for different uses before the pandemic. In this sense, the results suggest that Humanities professors are the ones who least use ICT for didactic purposes. On the other hand, after the pandemic, the use of ICT for communication purposes has been homogenized among the different knowledge areas.

The Influence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Supporting Front Office Operational Activities at SSU, Bali

This study aims to determine the influence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in supporting front office operational activities at Six Senses Uluwatu, Bali. This study uses quantitative and qualitative descriptive methods. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 24 front office employees with 22 statement indicators based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) concept. The results showed that the majority of respondents strongly agreed with the ease of use of ICT (perceive ease of use), then the majority of employees strongly agreed with the usefulness of ICT (perceive of usefulness), and strongly agreed with the acceptance of technology (acceptance of IT) with the highest average value of 4.29. However, there are several obstacles faced in the use of software and hardware; such as frequent system errors, limited tools and devices that make it uncomfortable. This study concludes that the existence of ICT has a very important influence in supporting front office operational activities because it affects the quality of service provided to guests. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out maintenance and renewal of ICT devices periodically to overcome the obstacles that arise.

Optimizing Tourism Development in Haryana: A Comprehensive Analysis of Connectivity, Promotion, Cost dynamics and ICT Utilization in the Context of Total Tourist Products

Optimizing Tourism Development in Haryana: A Comprehensive Analysis of Connectivity, Promotion, Cost dynamics and ICT Utilization in the Context of Total Tourist Products

Challenges to the Digital Inclusion of Women in a Vulnerable Area in ColombiaDesafios da inclusão digital das mulheres em uma área vulnerável na Colômbia

To identify women's technological capabilities and describe their appropriation and use of technology in a community in a vulnerable area of Colombia. Observational cross-sectional study conducted in the subregion of Urabá, Colombia. A survey was conducted in primary health care centers, in which 1478 women between 18 and 49 years of age responded to questions about their technological capabilities, their experience with the use of web-based information, and their appropriation of technology. Access to and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) varied according to age, educational level, and socioeconomic stratum, with observed differences in preferences and critical consumption of information. The women in this study faced multiple access barriers to appropriate use of ICTs for health promotion. The appropriation of these tools in Colombia, specifically in the Urabá subregion, is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive and multidimensional approach.

Exploring The Perceptions and Use of Information and Communication Technology Tools Among High School Mathematics Teachers in The Northern Region of Ghana

This study explored the extent to which senior high school mathematics teachers in the Northern Region of Ghana use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in teaching and learning mathematics. A descriptive survey design was employed for the investigation. Using a stratified sampling technique, 20 public high schools in the northern region of Ghana were selected for the study. A simple random sampling was used to select 100 teachers (i.e., 50 teachers from urban and 50 teachers from rural schools) from the 20 schools for the study. Questionnaires were used to collect data for the study. The findings revealed that the mathematics teachers’ perceived knowledge of the benefits of ICT usage for instructional delivery, assessment, and professional learning networks in mathematics were low compared to their actual usage of the ICTs for the same purposes. The findings suggest that the participants utilize ICTs more for social networking than for instructional delivery, assessment, and professional development in mathematics. Further, the findings showed a positive relationship between the teachers’ perceived knowledge of the benefits of ICTs usage for instructional delivery and their actual use of ICTs for instructional delivery. Mathematics teachers from urban schools use ICTs for all instructional purposes more than their peers from rural schools. Implications for ICT policies, teacher training, and professional development are provided.

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL GAP: ANALYSING THE IMPACT OF ICT DIFFUSION ON INCOME INEQUALITY IN INDONESIA

The development of information and communication technology (ICT) has significantly transformed the socio-economic structure of society, particularly in terms of income distribution. This study aims to analyse the impact of ICT development on income inequality across 34 provinces in Indonesia from 2012 to 2020, employing econometric methods based on panel data through a fixed effects model. Empirical findings reveal that ICT readiness and ICT skills tend to exacerbate income inequality, while ICT use and its quadratic form contribute to reducing it. These results suggest that although ICT infrastructure and skills are crucial, their uneven distribution and utilisation can widen income disparities. Consequently, this study highlights the importance of ensuring equitable access to ICT across Indonesia to mitigate economic inequality. The study's recommendations stress the pivotal role of the government in expanding ICT infrastructure, fostering a research and innovation climate conducive to digital transformation, and formulating policies that enhance ICT skills nationwide. These measures would improve digital literacy, upgrade workforce capabilities, and promote inclusive digital economic growth. Ultimately, comprehensive and equitable ICT development can play a critical role in reducing income inequality across Indonesia.

ICT and academic achievement in secondary education: A hierarchical linear modelling

AbstractBackgroundThe unprecedented access to information in the 21st century entails a deep understanding of information and communication technology (ICT)‐related factors in education and their impacts on learning and teaching. The role of attitudes towards ICT is a proven factor in student achievement. However, there is no consensus about the direction of this impact.ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the relationship between student attitudes towards ICT including interest in ICT (INTICT), perceived ICT competence (COMPICT), perceived autonomy related to ICT use (AUTICT) and ICT in social interaction (SOIAICT), and their achievement scores for mathematics, reading, and science by analysing student‐, school‐, and country‐level factors hierarchically in the quartiles of performance.MethodsThe study group was determined as 300,279 15‐year‐old students from 21,903 schools in 53 countries. Descriptive and correlational analyses were carried out in addition to the hierarchical linear modelling (HLM) employed to reveal the relationship between attitudes towards ICT and academic achievement in mathematics, reading, and science through the investigation of student‐, school‐, and country‐level factors hierarchically in the quartiles of performance.Results and ConclusionsThe results detected moderate to weak relationships among the constructs of INTICT, COMPICT, AUTICT and SOIAICT. Based on the HLM findings, complex interactions between ICT attitudes and academic performance were identified with a tendency towards positive associations between specific attitude components and high achievement levels, particularly in mathematics and science. The research identified the significance of considering student‐, school‐, and country‐level factors for high, above‐average, below‐average, and low achievers to comprehensively understand the role of ICT attitudes in shaping educational outcomes.TakeawaysPolicymakers should design educational policies, subject‐specific strategies and ICT‐related interventions by considering the multifaceted factors influencing student performance across different subjects and achievement quartiles. Particularly at the school and country levels, contextual factors should be evaluated when designing interventions to support low achievers.

Unleashing the potential of eHealth in outpatient cancer care for patients undergoing immunotherapy-a quantitative study considering patients' needs and current healthcare challenges.

The use of online information and communication is globally increasing in the healthcare sector. In addition to known benefits in other medical fields, possible specific potentials of eHealth lie in the monitoring of oncological patients undergoing outpatient therapy. Specifically, the treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) requires intensive monitoring due to various possible negative side effects. The present study explores cancer patients' perspectives on eHealth and demonstrates how eHealth applications, from the patients' point of view, can contribute to further improving outpatient immunotherapy. Our multicenter study was executed at the university hospitals in Bonn and Aachen. A structured questionnaire was distributed to patients receiving outpatient immunotherapy. Contents addressed were (1) the patients' attitude towards eHealth applications, (2) the use of modern information and communications technologies (ICT) in (2a) everyday life and (2b) health-related information search including eHealth literacy, (3) the use of internet-enabled devices as well as (4) socio-demographic data. 164 patients were included in the study, of whom 39.0% were female and 61.0% male and the average age was 62.8 years. Overall, there was a high distribution of internet-enabled devices for everyday use and a great interest in integrating eHealth applications into outpatient immunotherapy. The assessment of eHealth potentials significantly depended on age. The younger participants demonstrated a broader use of modern ICT and a higher affinity for its use in outpatient immunotherapy. In some aspects, level of education and gender were also relevant factors influencing the patients' view on eHealth. This study demonstrates the potential for further integration of eHealth applications into outpatient immunotherapy from the patients' perspective. It indicates a dependency on age and educational level for the further integration of eHealth into patient care in oncology. Due to particular patient needs regarding age, level of education, gender and other subgroups, specific education and training as well as target-group specific digital health interventions are necessary to fully utilize the potentials of eHealth for outpatient immunotherapy. Future studies are required to specifically address target-group specific usability of eHealth applications and eHealth literacy, as well as to address information security and data protection.

Role of Meaningful Social Participation and Technology Use in Mitigating Loneliness and Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults.

Community social participation aids dementia prevention and alleviates loneliness among older adults. Incorporating occupational therapy using information and communications technology (ICT) could potentially delay dementia onset and reduce loneliness. To quantify how meaningful social participation, participation frequency, ICT use, and expanded social networks influence cognitive function and loneliness among socially active older Japanese adults. Cross-sectional exploratory study using structural equation modeling. Meetings organized by older adults at seven community gathering places in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. One hundred thirteen healthy older adult cohort members. Cognitive function assessed via Mini-Cog; loneliness assessed via the condensed UCLA Loneliness Scale. The final model demonstrated excellent fit, χ2(23) = 28.291, p = .205 (root mean square error of approximation = .045, 90% confidence interval [.000, .094]; confirmatory factor index = .995; Tucker-Lewis Index = .993). ICT use directly affected social networks (β = 0.472), which directly influenced participation frequency (β = 0.324) and meaningful social participation (β = 0.381). The indirect effect of meaningful participation significantly improved cognitive function (β = 0.237). The only indirect effect of meaningful interpersonal participation was a reduction in loneliness (β = -0.235). ICT use contributes to the expansion of social networks among elderly people. Furthermore, the frequency of social participation and the meaningfulness of such participation are related to reduction in loneliness and maintenance of cognitive function. Although the frequency of social participation was not directly related to these outcomes, the results suggest that meaningful social participation may play an important role in reducing loneliness and maintaining cognitive function. Plain-Language Summary: The promotion of social participation among older people is a global phenomenon, driven by the recognition of its positive relationship with cognitive function and the alleviation of loneliness. Nevertheless, older people's social participation is constrained by a combination of physical and social factors. To address this issue, there has been a push to promote social participation based on information and communications technology (ICT). However, no specific study has been conducted on occupational therapists' perspective in capturing social participation and the use of ICT. The findings of this study show that using ICT has the potential to enhance opportunities for social interaction for older adults, thereby improving the quality and quantity of social participation. The quality of social participation was identified as the sole factor that had a positive impact on cognitive function and loneliness. This study suggests the need for occupational therapists to consider means of facilitating the use of ICTs among older adults as well as interventions that use occupational therapy theory to enhance the meaningfulness of existing social participation opportunities.

Gestion des relations familles immigrantes-écoles-communautés en temps de pandémie de COVID-19 : une analyse de documents

In the pre-pandemic period, school headmasters were responsible for ensuring the academic and social integration of immigrant students by promoting innovation, relations within the educational team and school-family-community relations (MELS, 2008 ; MÉES, 2019). However, the pandemic and the massive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has led to a deterioration in these relations, resulting in performance-related health problems and unforeseen changes (OECD, 2020). The initial question in this article is: how have school headmasters managed the school-family-community relations embedded in the activity of accompanying immigrant students fostered by the use of ICT in a context of unplanned change? A systematic literature review identified 43 empirical studies. Their grounded theory analyses led to the modelling of problems and their theorisation. This systematic review confirms the importance of school-family-community relations and their management for the academic and educational success of immigrant students during a pandemic. The underlying problems of relationship management include problems of educational quality; divergence of viewpoints in terms of performance; development of psychosocial risks at work linked to these divergences and to social inequalities (digital inequalities, gender inequalities in children's education within the family, housing inequality).

CAPACITAÇÃO DOCENTE PARA A INTEGRAÇÃO EFICAZ DAS TICS NO PROCESSO EDUCATIVO

New Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have triggered a series of profound transformations in contemporary society, affecting sociocultural, historical, economic and political spheres in unexpected and complex ways. In this context, this paper adopts a qualitative approach and carries out a literature review to explore the impacts of ICTs on education, particularly about pedagogy and teacher training. Thus, the main emphasis lies on unraveling the relevance of ICTs in teacher training, in addition to identifying the challenges that these professionals face when trying to integrate these technologies into their pedagogical practices. To this end, we seek to develop an in-depth introspection on the concrete difficulties that teachers encounter and the strategies to overcome them, seeking both to elucidate the obstacles and to propose ways to optimize the use of ICTs in the educational process. In this sense, it is pointed out that the intended results include a more solid understanding of the importance of ICTs in teacher training and a detailed perception of the barriers that limit their effective implementation. Therefore, the study aims to enrich the academic debate on the topic, offering effective understandings for researchers and educators interested in integrating ICTs more efficiently into their pedagogical practices.

Construction and Validation of a Survey on the Technological Difficulties in Italian Secondary Schools: The Mathematics Teacher Case

(1) Background: This study explores the technological difficulties of mathematics teachers in Italian secondary schools, focusing on the factors that influence their ability to integrate technology in teaching. (2) Methods: A questionnaire was developed and administered to a pilot group of 45 mathematics teachers from vocational secondary schools in Sicily and Veneto, followed by a larger survey with 557 mathematics teachers across Italy. The structural model was analysed using the maximum likelihood method via AMOS software (v.22 SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). (3) Results: The results highlight the importance of personal commitment in the school context and students’ problem-solving skills as key factors influencing the teachers’ technological challenges. The findings also indicate dissatisfaction with the school institution and families, as well as personal resistance to using information and communication technologies (ICT) in more advanced educational activities. (4) Conclusions: The study underscores the significant impact of these technological difficulties on teachers’ effectiveness in fostering students’ problem-solving abilities, calling attention to the need for better institutional support and strategies to reduce resistance to ICT use in education.

Teachers’ Utilization of Information and Communication Technology and Learners’ Academic Performance

Several novel concepts and understandings in education can result from researching how teachers use information and communication technology (ICT) and how that use affects students’ academic achievement. It is on this premise that this paper aimed to determine the extent of teachers’ ICT utilization and its relationship with learners’ academic in a public secondary school, in one of the districts of a large size schools division in Central Philippines, during the School Year 2023-2024. Data needed for this descriptive study was collected from 42 respondents using a self-made 30-item questionnaire that has passed the rigorous tests of validity and reliability. This study employed appropriate statistical methods based on the stated objectives namely, frequency and percentage count, Mean, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman Rho. Data showed a great extent of teachers’ ICT utilization when analyzed regarding instructional delivery and computer peripherals and equipment. Meanwhile, learners’ academic performance was found to be very satisfactory. The results state that the relationship between extent of teachers’ ICT utilization in teaching and learners’ academic performance is interpreted as not significant, the extent of teacher’s utilization of Information and Communication Technology does not affect the learners’ academic performance. The study results call for the teachers to encourage using technology in delivering the lesson, and the higher authority may support the school in providing the needs of the teachers and students and equip educators with tangible abilities to enhance technology integration in classrooms, fostering creativity, collaboration, and continuous refinement of teaching and learning approaches. Keywords: Information and communication technology, instructional delivery, computer peripherals and equipment, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

Teachers’ Utilization of Information and Communications Technology in Blended Learning Modality

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) claims that when teachers are trained in ICT and possess a strong digital literacy, they can help students develop higher-order thinking skills, offer unique and innovative ways for them to communicate what they know, and better equip them to deal with the constant changes in technology that occur in both the workplace and society at large. Given this background, this study investigated the extent of teachers’ utilization of information and communications technology in blended learning modality in one of the schools in a fifth-class municipality in Central Philippines during the School Year 2022-2023. The study used a descriptive research design and a self-made questionnaire to gather baseline data from 34 public secondary school teachers. The result of the study showed that the extent of teachers’ utilization of ICT in blended learning modality in software applications and online platforms was high. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the extent of teachers’ utilization of ICT in blended learning modality when respondents were grouped according to the variables above. Various recommendations were provided to address the lowest mean scores in both areas, like the BLOCKED TIME Program and the utilization of various online platforms like Group Chats and Google Meet, among others. Keywords: Information and communications technology, teachers’ utilization of ICT, blended learning modality