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Technology Teachers' Perceptions of the Roles and Uses of ICT in Solomon Islands' Schools

Abstract
Although the impact of ICT in teaching and learning is increasing, whether it will deliver its potential depends to a large extent on how teachers access and use ICT within the teaching and learning process (Balanskat Blamire, 2007). Furthermore, teachers' understanding of how ICT contributes to teaching and learning can be invaluable to the decisions they make about the use of ICT tools to enhance or transform their teaching. Therefore, this study investigates the perceptions of technology teachers on the use of ICT tools in Solomon Islands schools. It also explores technology teachers' views about the level of ICT resources in the schools. The study used semi-structured interview; a qualitative method of data collection that involved eight technology teachers selected from four schools in Honiara. I choose to do qualitative research because it helped to explain technology teachers' perceptions and beliefs of the use of ICT tools in Solomon Islands schools. The flexibility within the research process allows for an in-dept look at the issues pertaining to the views of the participants. The study identifies a range of issues regarding teachers' perceptions and beliefs about the integration of ICT tools in the Solomon Islands schools. These included teachers' views on the issues of access and use of ICT tools in schools, teachers' beliefs about the benefits and roles of ICT tools, teachers' views on the infrastructures and resources in the schools, the need for ICT professional development (PD) for teachers and a national policy to guide and control the use of ICT tools in schools. The study also found that many teachers in the Solomon Islands also lack the basic knowledge and skills in using ICT tools. Based on these findings, this study offers the following recommendations that can be used to improve and support the integration of ICT tools in the Solomon Islands schools. These included supporting teachers in developing their knowledge and skills in using ICT tools, providing a continuous professional development for teachers in ICT, the need to create a policy in education to guide the use of ICT tools in education and supporting schools to build their ICT resources and infrastructure. These will help teachers to effectively integrate ICT tools into teaching and learning.
Type
Thesis
Type of thesis
Series
Citation
Pita, S. V. (2010). Technology Teachers’ Perceptions of the Roles and Uses of ICT in Solomon Islands’ Schools (Thesis, Master of Education (MEd)). The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/4381
Date
2010
Publisher
The University of Waikato
Rights
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