A Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Integration of ICTs in Teaching and Learning in Primary Schools in Kenya

This research project presents a research study on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) integration in primary school education as it sought to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the integration of ICTs in Teaching and Learning in Primary School education in Kenya. This was achieved through determining various facets of ICTs use in primary schools, establishing the role of school management in ICTs integration in primary schools, determining how ICTs can best be used in the teaching methodology in primary schools and finally determining fundamental ICT skills required by a teacher for ICT integration in teaching in primary schools. Quantitative methods were used where descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied for research with questionnaires being used as the main tool for data collection. Through the data analysis and key findings the researcher came up with recommendations which were used to develop the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. The study revealed that 75.7 percent of the teachers who participated in the study were trained in ICT while 18.9 percent did not have any training in ICT. At the same time, only 32.4 percent of the head teachers were established to be trained in ICT while a larger percent, 64.7 were not trained in ICT. This implied that most of the head teachers do not have sufficient knowledge to manage the processes of ICTs integration in teaching and learning. Furthermore, the mean for integration of ICTs in the primary school curriculum was established to be 2.43 which asserted that the level of integration is quite low in terms of availability of computers for use by teachers and pupils. Moreover, it was also determined that the Government do not provide enough support to teachers in the integration of ICTs in teaching and learning which in turn makes the integration process difficult. The paper concluded by providing recommendations which emphasized on the need of teachers to be trained in basic and advanced ICT skills in order to technologically empower them in integrating ICTs, the need for strong infrastructural foundations in order to facilitate the ICTs integration process, and the need to have enough support from the Government and other stakeholders to ensure continuity in the ICT integration process. Most of all the research recommended the need to have a solid Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to support the integration of ICTs in the teaching and learning process in primary schools in Kenya. Keywords: ICTs Integration in Education, Monitoring, Evaluation, Indicators, Monitoring and Evaluation Framewor

Revisitant les facteurs affectant l’utilisation des Tics sur l’information relative aux intrants agricoles par les paysans dans les pays en voie de développement d’Afrique et Asie

Malgré une exposition des paysans aux Tics sur l’information de production agricole, la contribution de ceux-ci dans ce domaine n’est encore satisfaisante. Par conséquent, une étude a été menée pour informer notre audience sur les facteurs affectant l’utilisation de ces Tics par une révision des Tics et les articles publiés sur ces Tics en utilisant la Théorie Ancrée. Les facteurs avantage relatif, compatibilité, simplicité, l’influence sociale, observabilité, alphabétisation, savoir-faire Tics et qualité de l’information affectent positivement l’utilisation de ces Tics tandis que et le cout excessif des Tics affectent négativement leurs utilisations.Despite farmers’ exposition to ICTs on agricultural input information, their contribution to the access and use of agricultural input information is far from expectation. This study therefore, reviewed these ICTs in developing countries to extract the factors that affect ICTs’ adoption by small-scale famers using the Grounded Theory. The factors Relative Advantage, Compatibility, Simplicity, Social Influence, Observability, Literacy, ICTs’ Skills were identified as affecting positively ICTs’ use while the High Cost was identified as negatively affecting these ICTs

A model for predicting utilization of mHealth interventions in low-resource settings: case of maternal and newborn care in Kenya

Abstract Background In low-resource settings, there are numerous socioeconomic challenges such as poverty, inadequate facilities, shortage of skilled health workers, illiteracy and cultural barriers that contribute to high maternal and newborn deaths. To address these challenges, there are several mHealth projects particularly in Sub-Sahara Africa seeking to exploit opportunities provided by over 90% rate of mobile penetration. However, most of these interventions have failed to justify their value proposition to inspire utilization in low-resource settings. Methods This study proposes a theoretical model named Technology, Individual, Process-Fit (TIPFit) suitable for user-centred evaluation of intervention designs to predict utilization of mHealth products in low-resource settings. To investigate the predictive power of TIPFit model, we operationalized its latent constructs into variables used to predict utilization of an mHealth prototype called mamacare. The study employed single-group repeated measures quasi-experiment in which a random sample of 79 antenatal and postnatal patients were recruited from a rural hospital. During the study conducted between May and October 2014, the treatment involved sending and receiving SMS alerts on vital signs, appointments, safe delivery, danger signs, nutrition, preventive care and adherence to medication. Results Measurements taken during the study were cleaned and coded for analysis using statistical models like Partial Least Squares (PLS), Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (RM-ANOVA), and Bonferroni tests. After analyzing 73 pretest responses, the model predicted 80.2% fit, and 63.9% likelihood of utilization. However, results obtained from initial post-test taken after three months demonstrated 69.1% fit, and utilization of 50.5%. The variation between prediction and the actual outcome necessitated improvement of mamacare based on feedback obtained from users. Three months later, we conducted the second post-test that recorded further drop in fit from 69.1 to 60.3% but utilization marginally improved from 50.5 to 53.7%. Conclusions Despite variations between the pretest and post-test outcomes, the study demonstrates that predictive approach to user-centred design offers greater flexibility in aligning design attributes of an mHealth intervention to fulfill user needs and expectations. These findings provide a unique contribution for decision makers because it is possible to prioritize investments among competing digital health projects

Revisitant les facteurs affectant l’utilisation des Tics sur l’information relative aux intrants agricoles par les paysans dans les pays en voie de développement d’Afrique et Asie

Abstract Despite farmers’ exposition to ICTs on agricultural input information, their contribution to the access and use of agricultural input information is far from expectation. This study therefore, reviewed these ICTs in developing countries to extract the factors that affect ICTs’ adoption by small-scale famers using the Grounded Theory. The factors Relative Advantage, Compatibility, Simplicity, Social Influence, Observability, Literacy, ICTs’ Skills were identified as affecting positively ICTs’ use while the High Cost was identified as negatively affecting these ICTs.Résumé Malgré une exposition des paysans aux Tics sur l’information de production agricole, la contribution de ceux-ci dans ce domaine n’est encore satisfaisante. Par conséquent, une étude a été menée pour informer notre audience sur les facteurs affectant l’utilisation de ces Tics par une révision des Tics et les articles publiés sur ces Tics en utilisant la Théorie Ancrée. Les facteurs avantage relatif, compatibilité, simplicité, l’influence sociale, observabilité, alphabétisation, savoir-faire Tics et qualité de l’information affectent positivement l’utilisation de ces Tics tandis que et le cout excessif des Tics affectent négativement leurs utilisations

An ICT model for increased adoption of farm input information in developing countries: A case in Sikasso, Mali

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a key role in the dissemination of information on farm inputs for their increased adoption. Small-scale cereal farmers have been exposed to ICT-based farm input information in developing countries. However, an underuse of these ICTs services has led to an insignificant adoption of farm input information. That underuse was due to certain factors. The purpose of this study was to propose an ICT model for increased adoption of farm input information by establishing these factors and their relationships. A convenient sample of 300 small-scale cereal farmers was selected in Sikasso, Mali to gather data. The partial least squares structural equation modelling technique was used to assess the model that was being proposed. We used the technique to establish the measurement model validity and to assess the structural model (hypotheses). The result suggested that the model was highly predictive of the Use of ICT-based farm input information (80.7%). In addition, use of these ICT-based farm input information was also highly predictive (68.4%) of the Increased Adoption of farm input information by small-scale cereal farmers in developing countries. Keywords: Cereal farmers, Productivity, ICT-based farm input information, Developing countries, Mal

Status of e-learning Quality in Kenya: Case of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Postgraduate Students

There is a substantial increase in the use of learning management systems (LMSs) to support e-learning in higher education institutions, particularly in developing countries. This has been done with some measures of success and failure as well. There is evidence from literature that the provision of e-learning faces several quality issues relating to course design, content support, social support, administrative support, course  assessment, learner characteristics, instructor  characteristics, and institutional factors. It is clear that developing countries still remain behind in the great revolution of e-learning in Higher Education. Accordingly, further investigation into e-learning use in Kenya is required in order to fill in this gap of research, and extend the body of existing literature by highlighting major quality determinants in the application of e-learning for teaching and learning in developing countries. By using a case study of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the study establishes  the status of e-learning system quality in Kenya based on these determinants and then concludes with a discussion and recommendation of the constructs and indicators that are required to support qualify teaching and learning practice