Factors Affecting the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Usage in Teaching and Learning in Institutions of High Learning in Uganda. A case of Bukalasa Agricultural College(BAC)

Abstract

In decades, Researchers in educational technology have searched for factors to explain trainers' (Teachers and Lecturers) and trainees (students) acceptance and resistance to using Information and communication Technology (ICT) for Instruction that is Teaching and Learning. This study investigated the influence of cost of ICT training materials, Skills development in ICT and administrative support towards ICT usage in Teaching and Learning in Institutions of higher learning and in this case Bukalasa Agricultural College. A cross sectional survey design (quantitative and qualitative) was employed and inorder to emperically investigate the extent to which factors influence ICT usage in Teachimg and Learning, A self administered questionnaire was administered to a sample of 36 lecturers and 240 students. Interviewss were also carried out with 4 administrators from the Administration section. Of the respondents, 62% were male and 32% were female. Observation and documentary review guides were used to obtain information that could not be obtained by use of self administered questionnaire and the interview guide. Using Pearson Linear Co-relation Co-efficient, Results reveal that cost of ICT training materials negatively influenced ICT usage in teaching and learning where as skills development in ICT and administrative support positively influenced ICT usage in Teaching and Learning. This study suggests that ICT usage in teaching and learning institutions of higher learning using Bukalasa Agricultural College as the case study was minimal. Following the study findings, Recommendations were made to encourage stakeholders(administrators, lecturers and students) to explore the possibility of being trained on how to use computers in teaching and learning rather than operating computers. Further research is thus recommended on the replica of this study to be conducted in other institutions of higher learning in other parts of Uganda. Research could be conducted on other variables such as lecturers' perception, and individuals' characteristics, students' ICT skills, and attitude that may affect ICT usage in teaching and learning in institutionsof higher learning in Uganda.