assess on the impact of science and technology in secondary school, case study Ndomoni secondary in Nachingwea

 

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

This chapter present the background information of the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study and definition of key terms.

1.1  Background of the study

Using technology in the learning teaching process has become inevitable for improving efficiency of education in parallel to the developments experienced in information, communication and technology segments in the 21st century in Europe. Integrating technology into educational activities has never been this important and classrooms offer teaching and learning options to teachers and students through quick access to technologies and teaching materials. Teaching processes applied in classrooms has started to be technology-supported when technology infiltrated into education environments. Technologically enriched education includes interesting, interactive technological practices assuring student participation that might have positive effect on students’ attitude towards the course (Johnson,2007).

According to Saettler (1990) the use of media for instructional purposes is generally traced back to the first decade of the 20th century in Europe with the introduction of educational films (1900s) and Sidney Pressey’s mechanical teaching machines (1920s) .The first all multiple choice, large scale assessment was the Army Alpha, used to assess the intelligence and, more specifically, the aptitudes of World War I military recruits. Further large-scale use of technologies was employed in training soldiers during and after WWII using films and other mediated materials, such as overhead projectors. The concept of hypertext is traced to the description of memex by Vannevar Bush in 1945.Slide projectors were widely used during the 1950s in educational institutional settings. Cuisenaire rods were devised in the 1920s and saw widespread use from the late 1950s.

In the mid-1960s, Stanford University psychology professors, Patrick Suppes and Richard C. Atkinson, experimented with using computers to teach arithmetic and spelling via Teletypes to elementary school students in the Palo Alto Unified School District in California (Suppes, P et al, 1966).

Stanford’s Education Program for Gifted Youth is descended from those early experiments. Online education originated from the University of Illinois in 1960. Although the internet would not be created for another nine years, students were able to access class information with linked computer terminals. The first online course was offered in 1986 by the Electronic University Network for DOS and Commodore 64 computers (Suppes, P et al, 1966).

Computer Assisted Learning eventually offered the first online courses with real interaction. In 2002, MIT began providing online classes free of charge. As of 2009, approximately 5.5 million students were taking at least one class online. Currently, one out of three college students takes at least one online course while in college. At DeVry University, out of all students that are earning a bachelor's degree, 80% earn two-thirds of their requirements online. Also, in 2014, 2.85 million students out of 5.8 million students that took courses online, took all of their courses online. From this information, it can be concluded that the number of students taking classes online is on the steady increase.

According to Hiltz, S. (1990) in 1971, Ivan Illich published a hugely influential book, Deschooling Society, in which he envisioned “learning webs” as a model for people to network the learning they needed. The 1970s and 1980s saw notable contributions in computer-based learning by Murray Turoff and Starr Roxanne Hiltz at the New Jersey Institute of Technology as well as developments at the University of Guelph in Canada.

Mason. R. and Kaye, A. (1989) in the UK, the Council for Educational Technology supported the use of educational technology, in particular administering the government’s National Development Programme in Computer Aided Learning (1973–77) and the Microelectronics Education Programme (1980–86).

Mason. R. and Kaye, A. (1989) by the mid-1980s, accessing course content became possible at many college libraries. In computer-based training (CBT) or computer-based learning (CBL), the learning interaction was between the student and computer drills or micro-world simulations.

Digitized communication and networking in education started in the mid-1980s in Europe. Educational institutions began to take advantage of the new medium by offering distance learning courses using computer networking for information. Early learning systems, based on computer based learning/training often replicated autocratic teaching styles whereby the role of the e-learning system was assumed to be for transferring knowledge, as opposed to systems developed later based on computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL), which encouraged the shared development of knowledge.

Videoconferencing was an important forerunner to the educational technologies known today. This work was especially popular with museum education. Even in recent years, videoconferencing has risen in popularity to reach over 20,000 students across the United States and Canada in 2008–2009. Disadvantages of this form of educational technology are readily apparent: image and sound quality is often grainy or pixelated; videoconferencing requires setting up a type of mini-television studio within the museum for broadcast, space becomes an issue, and specialised equipment is required for both the provider and the participant (Crow, W. B. & Din, H.2009).

Mason. R. and Kaye, A. (1989) the Open University in Britain and the University of British Columbia (where Web CT, now incorporated into Blackboard Inc., was first developed) began a revolution of using the Internet to deliver learning, Bates, A. (2005) making heavy use of web-based training, online distance learning and online discussion between students.

Johnson, H (2007), Practitioners such as Harasim (1995) put heavy emphasis on the use of learning networks. With the advent of World Wide Web in the 1990s, teachers embarked on the method using emerging technologies to employ multi-object oriented sites, which are text based online virtual reality systems, to create course websites along with simple sets of instructions for its students.

By 1994, the first online high school had been founded. In 1997, Graziadei described criteria for evaluating products and developing technology-based courses that include being portable, replicable, scalable, affordable, and having a high probability of long-term cost effectiveness. Improved Internet functionality enabled new schemes of communication with multimedia or webcams. The National Centre for Education Statistics estimate the number of K-12 students enrolled in online distance learning programs increased by 65 percent from 2002 to 2005, with greater flexibility, ease of communication between teacher and student, and quick lecture and assignment feedback (Johnson, 2007).

In Tanzania the use of science and technology in education dated back to the 20th but the great change occur in 21st. century. The Pillay’s program is working to change the situation by bringing technology into schools, the Tanzania 21st Century Basic Education Program gives schools and teachers the tools to function more efficiently, better engage communities in supporting students and reading initiatives and track data on student performance through a newly established information management system that could inform national efforts to boost the country’s unimpressive literacy scores. It is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (Menda, A. 2008.)

In Tanzania the learning to teach with technology working across 900 primary schools in the Mtwara region and Zanzibar, the Tanzania 21st Century Basic Education Program has encountered some inevitable challenges while incorporating information and communication technology into classrooms for the first time, but it has also generated some creative innovations to boost student achievement.

The program began in 2011 as a technology programaimed specifically at bringing these teachers and students into the 21st century. It was later retrofitted to focus on early grade science, math and reading, and the technology piece has stayed. After all, it was already proving to be an invaluable tool for improving literacy (Senzige, J. and K. Sarukesi, 2003).

For some, the link between computers in the classroom and early grade reading is not obvious. But Dr. Edward Kavishe, the director of Kicheko Ltd, an information and communications technology company. Kicheko partnered with the program to install and troubleshoot the program’s technology components in all 900 primary schools in Mtwara and Zanzibar. The two regions faced different challenges. In Zanzibar, the larger problem was overcrowded classrooms: according to Kavishe, the average class has 70 students, and it’s typical to find rooms with 100, even 120 pupils. In Mtwara, underdevelopment and poor infrastructure meant electricity was an issue (Senzige, J. and K. Sarukesi, 2003).

1.2  Statement of the Problem

Tanzania is one among of country which doing best on the use of technology and science on education, Science and technological knowledge is a necessary component in the education of student towards the future of the third millennium. Science and technology are connected to each other and are mutually inspiring. Studying based on technological activities creates a rich learning environment by focusing on the design process (Roth, 2001). During the last 20 years, science and technology used in education has been implemented across the world. There were some study done on the case of science and technology but not yet not done on the on the impact of science and technology in secondary school in the chosen research area like  as VaronDoppelt (2003) investigate on impact of science-technology learning environment characteristics on learning outcomes, Jennifer L. Harris (2016) assess on one to one technology and its effect on student academic achievement and motivation, Linda Toms Barker (2002) Assessing the Impact of Technology in Teaching and Learning,Although many researchers such as the above mentioned did their study focused on science and technology education but they not yet discuss more on the existing topic. Therefore the present study is going to assess on the impact of science and technology in secondary school, case study Ndomoni secondary Nachingwea

1.3  Objective of the study

1.3.1        General objective

The general objective of this study is to assess on the impact of science and technology in secondary school, case study Ndomoni secondary in Nachingwea

 

 

1.3.2        Specific objective

i) To identify the type of science and technological devices applied in Nachingwea

ii) To examine challenges facing the use of science and technology in secondary schools.

iii) To suggest the possible ways to overcome challenges facing the use of science and technology in secondary schools.

1.4  Research Question

i) What are the type of science and technological devices applied in Nachingwea?

ii) What are the challenges facing the use of science and technology in secondary schools?

iii) What are the possible ways to overcome challenges facing the use of science and technology in secondary schools?

1.5  Significance of study

The findings of this study will help the educational stakeholders about the significance of science and technology in upholding the academic performance among secondary schools students, also the study will help the researcher to attain degree of bachelor, Finally, the study will work as one of important documents and reference containing useful information on impact of science and technology on education. Thus, the study will be useful as a source of literature for other studies related to the impact of science and technology on secondary school.

 

 

 

1.6  Scope and delimitation of the study

This study will be confined in Nachingwea, the study will cover only one public secondary school called Ndomoni secondary school,the study will cover a small portion of public secondary school in Tanzania; hence these findings may not be used to make generalizations on the impact of science and technology on secondary school.

1.7  Definition of the key term

Science-is the systematic enterprise that builds and organize knowledge in the form of testable explanation.

Technology-Application of scientific knowledge for practical purpose, especially in industry.

Academic-Someone considered to be scholarly School

 

 


 

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

This chapter reviews literature on the impact of science and technology, this chapter dealt with literature review, theoretical, conceptual frameworks and research gap.

2.1 Theoretical Literature review

This study will guided by the functional theory developed by Emile Durkheim in 1915

Functionalist Theory

According to Bernad (2000), Functionalist theory as a perspective in sociology that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. The idea of functionalist developed by Emile Durkheim in 1915, he argued that: the organic unity of society, leads functionalist to speculate about needs which must be met for social system to exist, as well as the way in which social institutions satisfy those needs, such as every society will have a religion, because religious institution have certain functions which contribute to the survival of the social system as a whole. Social system work to maintain equilibrium and to return to it after external shocks disturb the balance among the social institution. Social equilibrium is achieved, most importantly through socialization of members of the society into the basic values and norms of that society.

According to Kaplan and Manners (1972), in connection of the study, therefore for in order to promote the well use of science and technology in secondary school which I turn lead to good performance here should have the things or parts works together including government needed to locate enough science and technological resources in schools as well as stakeholders should works together with them to support it done well in schools.

2.2 Literature review

There is a comprehensive amount of studies on the theme of technology-led educational development. These studies focus on the effect on both social and educational aspects of use of technology in school and at home.

Bulman and Fairlie (2016) address existing literature on technology and education in the paper Technology and Education: Computers, Software, and the Internet. In summary, investments in technology have ambiguous educational impact, and most often limited educational gains. Investments in technology in education are commonly divided into three categories; general investments in ICT in school, individual student laptops, and educational software, example learning.

2.2.1 Effect of General ICT in Education

A randomized controlled trial was executed in California where over thousand computers were distributed randomly for free to children attending 6th-10th grade to use at home (Fairlie and Kalil, 2016). They find that the children who are given computers are more likely to have a social networking site, but also spend more time interacting with friends in person. There are no causal effects found concerning educational outcomes and only a small positive benefit to children’s social development. Faber et al. (2015) study the effects of government upgrades in ICT, by increasing the internet connection speeds, on children’s school performance in England. They argue that the upgrades are randomly made across the country and that they can thus exploit exogenous variation to estimate the causal effect. They link the test scores of primary and secondary students to the availability of ICT at their home address and find that it has zero effect on students’ educational attainment or learning productivity.

2.2.1 Technology Effects on Education

The key job that innovation needs to play in education is proportional access to a portion of the core tools that can make an important effect in the lives of both instructors and students. Some important themes can be identified to create worldwide techniques to help advancements that match the particular needs of a developing society. Some of the significant topics is to guarantee that students have access to the correct learning material, particularly in their own dialects since it guarantees a better comprehension of subjects. An AI-based tutoring system, Education Dominance, was put into an entry-level IT school in Pensacola by the U.S. Navy.

This system relates to a human tutor in which the student's progress is monitored while providing individual assessments. According to the Navy, the students that worked with the digital tutoring system consistently performed better on the tests than did the students who did not use the digital tutor. The adaptive technology appears to affect students positively because it can assist individuals that have different learning skills than others and therefore better equipped to learn on their own. Technology programs that are already being used in education fields: Tablets, such as Google chrome book, where students can access a range of Google’s educational software. Dream Box,Zearn, and ST Math, are math softwareprograms that adapt to students as theylearn.

2.3 Research gaps

According to www.linkedin.com (2019), Research gap as problem which has not been answered appropriately or at all in a given field study. From the reviewed literatures, studies and theoretical literature, show that most of the studies conducted on science and technology but few talk on the impact of science and technology on secondary school, therefore the researcher have find this gap and is going to be filled.


 

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

This chapter comprises of various sections namely research approach, research design, Area of study, sampling procedure and sample size, data collection methods, data analysis methods and presentation.

3.1 Research approach

Research approach is plan and procedure that consist of the steps of broad assumptions to detailed method of data collection, analysis and interpretation (Kroll &Neri, 2009). Therefore this study will focus on Mixed Methods Approach where by both qualitative and quantitative methods were combined in a single study .The qualitative and quantitative principles and procedures in designing, data collection, data analysing, sampling techniques and data presentation techniques was integrate in this research respectively to the priority.

3.2 Research design

Orodho, (2003) describes research design as the scheme, outline or plan that is used to generate answers to research problems. This study employed descriptive survey design. Borg and Gall (1989), explains that descriptive study determines and reports the way things are and commonly involves assessing attitude, opinions towards individuals, organizations and procedures. Descriptive survey design is relevant to this study because the study seek to collect data from respondents about their opinions on the impact of science and technology on secondary school.

 

3.3 Area of Study

Area of study also regional studies are interdisciplinary fields of research and scholarship pertaining to particular geographical national /federal, or cultural regions. There for the area of study for this research will be in Ndomoni secondary school which found in Nachingwea district. Nachingwea is a town in southern Tanzania it was the terminus of a railway built for the infamous and ill-fated Tanganyika groundnut scheme. It also the site of the tomb of tomb of Judy the dog the first dog to be given prisoner of war status and recipient of the dickinmedical. The memorial was put in place by her companion through the war frank Williams who lived in Nachingwea for some time.

3.4 Population of the study

According to Mugenda (2008), Population of the study is the entire group of individuals, objects, things or elements that share common characteristics and may or may not be found in the same geographical location. The populations of this study will be target on secondary school, teachers, headmasters, from Ndomoni secondary school in Nachingwea.

3.5 Sampling procedures and sample size

According to Mugenda (1999), defines is procedure for selecting sample members from the population, the main factors will be considered in determining the sample size which is the need to keep it manageable , on the populations the sample size  comprises of 100 respondent. The procedures employ to obtain simple size purposive and simple random sampling. Simple random will be used to obtain students and purposive sampling used to obtain teachers and headmaster.

 

3.6 Data collection method

Data collection methods as the process of gathering and measuring data, information or any variables of interest in a standardized and established manner that enables the collector to answer or test hypothesis and evaluate outcomes of the particular collection. Therefore this study will employ both the sources of data which includes the primary and secondary source where data collected direct from the area of study through questionnaires, interviews and observation will be regarding as the primary data/source and involve the use in various literatures such as previous research reports, books, magazines, newspapers, journals as secondary source.

3.6.1 Primary data

In this study the primary data will be those data collected through questionnaire and interview.

3.6.1.1Questionnaire

According to Gault (1907) defined, is the research instrument consisting of a series of questions for the purpose of gathering information from respondent. The study will employ questionnaire, the method used in collecting data from teachers and students, thus the list of written question will be given to teacher and then they required to fill them.

This method usedbecause the method is cheap, do not require as much effort from the verbal or telephone survey. Therefore the study will employ both open and closed ended questionnaires to collect the data in which the open ended means the respond need to fill his or her own words, and the closed ended questionnaire accompanied with list of all possible alternatives from which respondents required to select suitable answers.

 

3.6.1.2 Interview

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary (2016), defined interview is a conversation where questions are asked and answers are given.in common parlance, the world interview refers to one-on-one conversation between an interviewer and interviewee. Therefore the study will employed both structured interview which there are already prepared question and also in the small extent the study employ the unstructured interview to ask the current issue.

Therefore the interview will be used in collecting data from head of school, in such away the research ask question to head of school about the particular issue concern the topic studied.

The study use interview as a method of data collection because the technique is batter when collecting data from a single person, also in use of interview the additional supplementary information can also be obtained rather than other method.

3.6.2 Documentary Review

According to Balihar (2007), defines as the analysis of document that contains information about the phenomenon that one wish to study. This method involved the use of secondary data, which may either be published or unpublished data. In this study the documentary data will be acquired from the library, internet, official documents, including reports, related to the study itself.

The research use this method because the method is inexpensive in sense that the data is already collected and published and also the method is save time instead of going to do research.

3.7 Data Analysis

Data collected will be processed and analyse to facilitate answering the research questions. This will be done by using descriptive statistics. The Graphs, pie charts and tables employed to present the data. Data will be arranged through quantitative method involving coding andanalysing using charts, frequencies.

3.8 Ethical consideration

Permission for data collection will obtained first from the university, the research require to get the permission latter, then the university latter will be announced to the municipal director who involve in allowing the research to collect data in the research area, also total confidentiality were acquired to the respondent apart from that the process of provide information from respondents were voluntary therefore the respondent will be able to quit it.


 

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