Student experiences of technology integration in an accounting course

Abstract

Technology, when used appropriately, can assist with high-quality learning and teaching. However, using technology in the context of a developing country like South Africa often remains unexploited owing to lack of access, lack of bandwidth and its prohibitive cost to students. As one of the largest open distance learning (ODL) institutions in the world, facilitators at the University of South Africa (Unisa) are constantly being challenged to lessen the negative impact of the distance between students and the providing institution. However, it is often argued that decisions about the use of various technologies are driven without considering students’ perceptions and/or preferences on the use of these technologies. This paper investigates students’ views and experiences on the integration of social network sites (SNS), mobile messaging applications (MMA) and podcasts into their second-year Accounting course at Unisa between 2007 and 2010. The results reveal students’ enthusiasm for some technologies and limited interest in others. On the basis of the evidence provided, it is clear that the use of technologies in South Africa is unique when compared to developed countries. This needs to be considered by facilitators if the potential benefits of technologies in South Africa are to be used effectively.