The integration of Information and Communications Technology in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector in the Western Cape

Abstract

Abstract: The ubiquity of ICT, as well as its use and application across all industries, has forced TVET colleges to integrate it into the teaching and learning process to ensure that students are well trained for the world of work, which is dominated by technology. However, the use of ICT for teaching and learning does not happen without any challenges as some lecturers in TVET colleges find it difficult to integrate ICT in the teaching and learning process. Thus, an investigation into ICT integration in TVET colleges is crucial in order to gain insight into how lecturers in TVET colleges experience ICT integration and to identify factors that influence their ICT integration in the teaching and learning process. This research was aimed at exploring ICT integration in order to identify the factors that promote or hinder ICT integration, as well as the extent of ICT integration in the teaching and learning process, through an analysis of personal experiences of lecturers at a TVET college in the Western Cape, South Africa. A qualitative research design was used for this study. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The researcher collected and analysed documents from the participants and the TVET college to determine the extent to which lecturers integrate ICT into the teaching and learning process as well as to identify the most preferred technological tools used by TVET lecturers. The documents review was used to corroborate the findings from the interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select the TVET College as well as the participants for the study. The findings indicated that effective ICT integration will take place if there are sufficient ICT resources available, technological pedagogical knowledge, ICT policy on ICT integration, as well as a positive attitude towards the use of ICT for teaching and learning. All the lecturers that participated in this study identified several benefits and motivating factors for using ICT for teaching and learning.M.Ed. (Information and Communications Technology