Students’ Perceptions of the Use of ICT in a Higher Education Teaching and Learning Context: The Case of a South African University

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to investigate students’ perceptions of ICT usage by staff and students at a South African University. A researcher crafted questionnaire-interview (Questaview) was anonymously administered to a randomly selected group of fifty students to enlist their views on the extent to which they and academic staff utilise ICT during learning and teaching. There were a total of 44 usable returns. Data were analysed thematically after interrogating the responses through coding. Results showed that students perceived ‘technology for learning’ to mean a computer. They were satisfied with its use and functionality since commencing their studies. Students also reported that most lecturers do not use ICT for teaching. Students perceived ICT particularly the computer, as impacting positively on their academic success, academic access and other curricular issues. We concluded that despite the challenges such as an underutilisation of other ICT’s by lecturers, the students perceived ICT in their learning as useful. Students’ perceptions in the use of ICT by themselves and their lecturers did not differ much. Moreover, they suggested ways in which lecturers could use more ICT for teaching and learning purposes. On this basis, the paper suggests that universities should sustain their ICT e-learning programmes and training by channelling financial support if student academic performance and quality are to be enhanced. The positive impact of such initiatives makes a strong case for massive investment in e-learning programmes especially among academic staff.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n11p43