The role of technological leadership in integrating technology into teaching and learning at secondary schools in Kwazulu-Natal

Abstract

This qualitative study examined the role of technological leadership in integrating technology in secondary schools of KwaZulu-Natal. Global technological advancements had created pressure on schools to include technology in curriculum delivery. The findings of this study highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated the use of technology in schools. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, educational institutions around South Africa used technology to communicate and deliver learning content to learners. The current Generation, known as Generation Z, is regarded as digital natives who learn best when using technology. This study established that one of the major benefits of using technology in teaching and learning is the improvement of learner performance. The study noted that learners enjoyed learning when technology was involved. Furthermore, the study highlighted that technological leadership is pivotal to leading and managing effective technological change in schools. Principals and teachers are identified as technological leaders. Therefore, they play an important role as technological leaders because they support and promote technological change in schools.

Kulolu cwaningo, ngihlolisise indima yobuholi kwezobuchwepheshe ekuxhumaniseni ezobuchwepheshe ekufundeni nasekufundiseni ezikoleni zamabanga aphezulu, esifundazweni sakwaZulu- Natal. Ukuthuthuka kwezobuchwepheshe umhlaba wonke jikelele sekufakele izikole ingcindezi yokusebenzisa ezobuchwepheshe ekufundiseni. Okutholakele ocwaningweni lwami kukhombisa ukuthi ubhubhane lwokhuvethe (covid-19) kwandise ukusetshenziswa kwezobuchwepheshe ezikoleni. Ngesikhathi sokuvalwa kwezwe ngenxa yalolu khuvethe, izikhungo zokufunda eNingizimu Afrika zasebenzisa ezokuxhumana ukudlulisa izifundo kubafundi. Ngokocwaningo lwami, isizukulwane samanje esibizwa ngeGeneration Z, sigxile futhi sifunda kahle ngokusebenzisa ezobuchwepheshe. Ngiphinde ngathola ukuthi ukusetshenziswa kwezobuchwepheshe ekufundeni nasekufundiseni, kunomthelela omuhle ekuthuthukiseni izinga lokufunda kubafundi. Abafundi bayakuthokozela ukufunda uma kusetshenziswa ezobuchwepheshe, lokhu kungathuthukisa imiphumela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ucwaningo lwami luveze ukubaluleka kobuholi bezobuchwepheshe ekunikezeni umhlahlandlela nasekuqinsekiseni ushintsho oluyimpumelelo kwezobuchwepheshe ezikoleni. Othishanhloko kanye nothisha babonwa njengabaholi bezochwepheshe. Bangakwazi ukuqhakambisa ukuxhumanisa ezobuchwepheshe ekufundeni nasekufundiseni ngobuholi nosizo lwabo, okungaholela ekuzuzeni imiphumela encono yokufunda kwabafundi. Ucwaningo lwami lonkana luveza ubucayi bobuholi bezobuchwepheshe ekuqinsekiseni ukusetshenziswa kwezobuchwepheshe ekufundeni nasekufundiseni. Luphinde lwaveza nokuhle okungalethwa ezobuchwepheshe kwinqubomgomo yokufunda, ikakhulukazi esizukulwaneni samanje sezobuchwepheshe.

In hierdie kwalitatiewe studie het ek die rol van tegnologiese leierskap met die integrasie van tegnologie in onderrig en leer by sekondêre skole in KwaZulu-Natal ondersoek. Globale tegnologiese vooruitgang het druk op skole geplaas om tegnologie in kurrikulum-lewering in te sluit. Die bevindinge van my studie het aan die lig gebring dat die COVID-19-pandemie die gebruik van tegnologie in skole uitgelok het. Gedurende die COVID-19-inperkings het opvoedkundige instellings regoor Suid-Afrika tegnologie gebruik om te kommunikeer en leermateriaal aan leerders te lewer. Volgens my navorsing is die huidige generasie, soms bekend as Generasie Z, digitale inboorlinge wat die beste leer terwyl hulle tegnologie gebruik. Ek het ook ontdek dat die verbetering van leerderprestasie een van die sleutelvoordele is van die gebruik van tegnologie in onderrig en leer. Wanneer tegnologie gebruik word, geniet leerders gewoonlik die leerproses, wat prestasie-uitkomste kan verbeter. Verder het my navorsing die belangrikheid van tegnologiese leierskap beklemtoon om suksesvolle tegnologiese verandering in skole te lei en te bestuur. Skoolhoofde en onderwysers word as tegnologiese leiers geïdentifiseer. Hulle kan die integrasie van tegnologie in die onderrig- en leerproses bevorder deur hul leierskap en bystand, wat tot beter leeruitkomste vir leerders kan lei. Oor die algemeen het my navorsing getoon hoe noodsaaklik tegnologiese leierskap is om die effektiewe inkorporering van tegnologie in onderrig en leer te fasiliteer. Dit het ook die voordele wat tegnologie vir die opvoedkundige proses kan hê (uitgelig/beklemtoon), veral vir die huidige generasie van digitale inboorlinge.