FACULTY PERCEPTION AND SUPPORT TOWARDS USE OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES ON QUALITY OF DISTANCE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN KENYAN UNIVERSITIES
Abstract
Background: Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have transformed the way people live, work, do business and access education. With advent of ICTs, distance learning has become an alternative and supplement for face-to-face learning. This study investigated the influence of faculty perception and support towards use of ICTs on quality of Distance teaching and learning.
Methodology: The study was guided by mixed methods research approach. Specifically, convergent parallel design which is a mixed methods approach was used. The target population was universities that offer programmes through open, distance and e-learning (ODeL) targeting ODeL directors, lecturers who taught ODeL students and ICT technical staff from the selected universities that offer programmes through this mode. A sample size comprised of (4) ODeL directors, (78) lecturers, (4) ICT technical staff. Stratified, systematic and purposive sampling were used to sample the respondents. Among all the universities that offer ODeL programmes, four universities were purposively sampled for the study. Data was collected by use of document analysis guide, questionnaires and interview guide. Cronbach alpha correlation method was used to compute reliability co-efficient which was 0.8095 which was above 0.7 as expected in social sciences. To ensure reliability in qualitative data, interview guide with highly structured questions, with the same format and sequence of words was used for each participant. Descriptive statistics involving mainly frequencies, percentages and means were used to analyze the data. Logistics Regression, specifically Wald Test, was used to test the null hypotheses. Omnibus test of model coefficients and Hosmer and Lemeshow Tests were used to test the fitness of the models. Data was presented in graphs and tables. Analysis of quantitative data was done using Predictive Analytical Software (PAS) version 20.0. Qualitative data was coded and analyzed in themes emerging from the narratives.
Results: The study revealed that faculty perception and support on use of ICTs was significant factor that influences quality of distance teaching and learning in selected Kenyan universities.
Recommendations: The study recommended that to enhance quality in ODeL, faculty perception and support on use of ICTs in distance teaching and learning was very critical.
Keywords: Perception, Distance Teaching; Distance Learning; ICTs; Quality
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