Students’ intentions and attitudes towards using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the purpose of counselling.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) is becoming popular especially within a university campus setting not only as a learning tool but also for the purpose of communication. Internationally there is an acknowledgement of the popularity of ICT in delivering mental health services. This study is built on that premise which indicates that ICT could serve as a viable tool for counselling interventions within a university setting. However, limited research has been done in this area and conflicting results have been reported especially related to gender. This study therefore aimed at exploring the intentions and attitudes of male and female students towards using ICT for counselling at a South African university. A quantitative research approach was employed to collect and analyze data. Data was collected amongst students using self-administered questionnaires with a sample of 266 (N = 266) respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed. The main findings of the study indicate that students have an intention to seek psychological help through the use of ICT counselling, which consequently positively influenced attitudes towards the utilization of ICT counselling. Results further indicate that gender and age differences amongst university students is significantly related to the intention to use ICT counselling. The information generated from this study has contributed to the limited body of literature on ICT in counselling psychology, more specifically in a university setting in South Africa. Overall, it encourages critical reflection on modern psychological practice to meet student’s needs

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? An exploratory study into how a sample of lecturers develop digital literacies as part of their career development

The concept of digital and information communication technology (ICT) literacy is receiving renewed empirical attention. This focus is attributed to the changing nature of society and the move towards the ideals of the knowledge-based economy. Further, universities in South Africa and internationally are encouraging the fusion of technology in how students read and write. This research gives focus to the lecturer, particularly those lecturers who were once resistant to the use of technology as part of teaching instruction. The aim here was to track how these lecturers over a one-year period develop digital and ICT literacies to assist their career development. The study adopted an interpretivist philosophy, relying on the qualitative research approach and a series of three interviews over a year period with 20 lecturers at a selected South African university. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to generate three central themes. Firstly, the source of resistance in using technology as part of teaching and learning emanated from two main subthemes as perceptions: (1) technology viewed as a fad with little or no impact on actual learning and (2) challenges concerning institutional technology support as a limitation in integrating technology into teaching and learning. Secondly, the change of attitude (rather reluctantly) in using technology as part of teaching and learning was because of factors such as peers, the technology ‘tech-savvy’ student community and also a consideration for future career prospects as digital and ICT literacies are becoming a critical skills acumen for career progression. Finally, in developing digital and ICT literacies, the lecturers relied on: (1) participation in training programmes that encourage digital scholarship, (2) personal investment of time and effort to learn about how to develop digital and ICT literacies and lastly, (3) developing a career and identity management strategy that incorporates digital and ICT literacies. Implications for teaching and learning practice are made based on these findings. Further, the impact on individual career development (as far as lecturers are concerned) is also suggested

Social media within the context of Human Resource Management

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