Use of information and communication technology in teaching primary school learners experiencing barriers to learning in Ekurhuleni North district

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the teaching and learning of learners experiencing barriers to learning in ordinary primary school classrooms in Ekurhuleni North district in Gauteng Province. The study sought to establish the role and use of ICT and how it enhances teaching and learning of learners experiencing barriers to learning. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and non-participant observation and this allowed the researcher to ask open-ended questions and also to observe participants using ICT. Six teachers from three primary schools in Ekurhuleni North district were used and purposive sampling was used to select these participants. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse data. The study revealed that ICT increases learners’ motivation and concentration span, helps learners to participate effectively, assists in the grasping of concepts and minimises barriers to learning. The study recommends that teachers should be trained on the use of ICT and it should also be incorporated as an important pedagogical method to facilitate teaching and learning of learners experiencing barriers to learning.

Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ukuphenya ukusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe bezolwazi kanye nezokuxhumana (ICT) ohlelweni lokufunda nokufundisa abafundi abahlangabezana nezihibhe zokufunda emagunjini okufundela sikoleni esejwayelekile sebanga eliphansi esifundeni sase-Ekurhuleni North district in Gauteng Province. Ucwaningo lufuna ukuthola indima kanye nokusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe be-ICT kanye nokuthi lokhu kuluqinisa kanjani uhlelo lokufunda nokufundisa kubafundi abahlangabezana nezihibhe zokufunda. Idatha yaqoqwa ngokusebenzisa izinhlolovo ezijulile kanye nokubukisisa izenzo zabadlalindima, okuyinto evumele umcwaningi ukuba abuze imibuzo evulekile futhi abukisise nendlela abadlalindima abasebenzisa ngayo ubuchwepheshe be-ICT. Uhlelo lwesampuli enenhloso (Purposive sampling) yasetshenziswa ukukhetha othisha ababengabadlalindima, abayisithupha abaphuma kwizikole ezintathu zamabanga aphansi esifundeni sase-Ekurhuleni North district. Uhlelo lokuhlaziya indikimba (Thematic content analysis) lwasetshenziswa ukuhlaziya idatha. Ucwaningo luye lwaveza ukuthi ubuchwepheshe be-ICT lwengeze ugqozi kanye nokugxila komqondo wabafundi esifundweni, ukubasiza ukuba bazibandakanye ngempumelelo, basize ekubambeni ngengqondo amagama futhi banciphise izihibhe zokufunda. Ucwaningo luncoma ukuthi othisha baqeqeshelwe amakhono okusebenzisa ubuchwepheshe be-ICT, okuyiyona ndlela engathathwa njengesemqoka ohlelweni lokufundisa nokufunda kwabafundi abahlangabezana nezihibhe zokufunda.

Tshipikwa tsha ngudo iyi ho vha u todisisa u shumiswa ha thekhinolodzhi ya mafhungo na vhudavhidzani (ICT) kha u funza na u gudisa vhagudiswa vhane vha tshenzhela zwithivheli zwa ngudo kha kilasirumu dzo doweleaho dza zwikolo zwa phuraimari ngei vhubvaduvha ha tshitiriki tsha Ekurhuleni Vunduni la Gauteng. Thodisiso yo toda u bveledza mishumo na u shumiswa ha ICT na uri zwo khwinisa hani u guda na u funzwa ha vhagudiswa vhane vha tshenzhela zwithivheli zwa u ngudo. Data yo kuvhanganyiwa nga kha inthaviwu dzo tandavhuwaho, saizwi zwi tshi tendela vhadzheneleli u tandavhudza phindulo dzavho na u sedza hu si na u dzhenelela, u tendela mutodisisi u vhudzisa mbudziso dzine wa ṋetshedza phindulo wo vhofholowa na u sedza vhadzheneleli hu tshi khou shumiswa ICT. Ho shumiswa tsumbonanguludzwa dzo sedzaho kha vhukoni u nanga vhadededzi vha rathi u bva kha zwikolo zwiraru zwa phuraimari Vhubvaduvha ha tshitiriki tsha Ekurhuleni sa vhadzheneleli. Ho shumiswa ngona ine ya fulufhelwa ya u saukanya data. Thodisiso yo wanulusa uri ICT i engedza thuthuwedzo ya vhagudiswa na u futelela, na u vha thusa u dzhenelela nga mafulufulu, u vha thusa kha u fara mitalukanyo na u fhungudza zwithivheli kha u guda. Ngudo yo themendela uri vhadededzi vha gudiswe u shumisa ICT, ine ya nga tanganyiswa sa ngona ya ndeme ya pfunzo u konisa u guda na u funzwa ha vhagudiswa vhane vha tshenzhela zwithivheli zwa u guda.

Umnqopho werhubhululweli kuphenya ukusetjenziswa kwethekinoloji yezelwazi kanye nezokuthintana ekufundiseni nekufundeni kwabafundi abahlangabezana neenqabo ekufundeni esikolweni nje esijayelekileko ngeenkumbeni zesikolo sebanga eliphasi endaweni ye-Ekurhuleni North district esifundeni se-Gauteng Province. Irhubhululo lifuna ukwazi indima ye-ICT kanye nokusetjenziswa kwe-ICT nangendlela ithekinoloji iqinisa ngayo ihlelo lokufunda nokufundisa abafundi abahlangabezana neenqabo zokufunda. Idatha ibuthelelwe ngokusebenzisa iinhlolombono ezidephileko kanye nokuqalisisa izenzo zabadlalindima, okuyinto evumele umrhubhululi ukobana abuze imibuzo evulekileko kanye nokuqalisisa abadlalindima abasebenzisa i-ICT. Ihlelo lesampula eneHloso (Purposive sampling) lisetjenzisiwe ukukhetha abotitjhere abasithandathu, bakhethwa eenkolweni ezintathu zamabanga aphasi esiphandeni se-Ekurhuleni North district njengabadlalindima. Ihlelo lokutsenga uMnyombo (Thematic content analysis) lisetjenzisiwe ukuhlathulula idatha. Irhubhululo liveze ukuthi i-ICT ingezelela ummoya wokukhuthazeka kanye nommoya wokuqalisisa ngokomkhumbulo, kubasiza ukobana badlale indima ngepumelelo, basize ekubambeni amagama begodu baphungule iinqabo zokufunda. Irhubhululo lincoma bona abotitjhere babandulwe ekusebenziseni i-ICT, okulihlelo begodu elifanele lithathwe njengendlela eqakathekileko lokufundisa ukusiza ukufundisa nokufunda kwabafundi abahlangabezana neenqabo zokufunda.