Internal stakeholders’ perception towards embedding e-learning at a TVET college in Mpumalanga Province

Abstract

The world is experiencing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and everything in it is technological. The question that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges should be asking themselves is, “Is the TVET college ready to transition into the Fourth Industrial Revolution?” Most TVET colleges would respond positively because, to some extent, they are adapting to new technology for effective teaching and learning. This further raises another questions of how South African colleges' key functions, particularly those related to teaching and learning, should be transformed to better prepare the future workforce for the 4IR. The introduction and implementation of e-learning, on the other hand, have been fraught with difficulties. This study seeks to identify these challenges and gaps in the TVET college, as well as how these gaps can be minimised. To develop strategies for the proper implementation of e-learning in the TVET college, one must consider how to transition from face-to-face to online learning. The study will employ a research methodology to find a possible solution to the challenges of e-learning implementation. Interviews will be conducted with participants to learn how to integrate e-learning into teaching and learning. The study wanted to know if there were any issues with students and lecturers accessing available computers during online teaching and learning. The study also seeks to determine whether there are enough simulated classrooms for use by students and lecturers in college, as well as whether there are any issues with the use of data and internet connections for effective teaching and learning. The study revealed that the college's management had a significant role to play in eradicating or eliminating all these challenges and ensuring that infrastructure is in place for the proper implementation of e-learning and its use in the college. The study further revealed that the management of the selected college had a huge role to play in the eradication or doing away with all these challenges, to make sure that infrastructure is in place for the proper implementation and usage of e-learning in the college. The study also aimed to identify the factors that influence the integration of e-learning into TVET colleges such as internet connectivity in simulation classes, data distribution to students and lecturers, and effective online teaching and learning in the college. One of the recommendations was for the college to employ a programme manager who would oversee the programme’s day-to-day operations. All internal stakeholders in the TVET college viewed the implementation of e-learning in a positive light.