The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of computer technology on teaching
Natural Science (NS) in grade 8 classes. Computer technology is the powerful and
influential tool in teaching and learning situation. When it is used appropriately it will
support the NS educators in their teaching of NS. Indeed computer technology could be
used to redress the inequalities of the past, especially in the teaching of Natural Science
as they offer the educators whether in rural or urban area a common base of knowledge
and experience.
The term computer technology is used interchangeable with the term Information and
Communication Technology. The term computer technology has the different meanings
from the different authors but in these meanings that they gave, there are similarities that
computer technology is a tool used for developing, implementing and evaluating the
teachings aids. There are different ideas about the impact of computer technology on
teaching NS because other authors in their studies state that it has a positive impact yet
others state the negative impact of computer technology. Those they state the positive
impact look at a dimension of the developing the teaching skills, creative thinking and
problem solving skills in education. The other authors state the negative impact of
computer technology look on the dimension that it is too early to conclude that computer
technology has a good impact because some of the educators in the teaching field are not
well trained to teach using computers. They also state that computer technology will have
negative impact on teaching because in the schools where these educators worked there is
no follow up after they attended the workshops to look that are they do what they are trained to do. The findings show that computer technology has a positive impact because 75%
educators have a full understanding of computer technology and they apply in their
teaching and learning of NS. This means that these results are supporting ideas of these
authors that they were stating that computer technology has positive impact. There were
few educators that they have no understanding of teaching using computers so they have
a negative attitude of computer uses in teaching. These educators are supporting the
views of the authors that in their studies they shown the negative side of computer
technology in teaching. This study concludes that the Dinaledi project and the department of education must
make it sure that they do the follow up that computers are used purposeful to schools that
they have them. The trainings workshops must be long so these educators will acquire
these teaching skills thoroughly. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Kwazulu-Natal, 2006.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/1374 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Matolo, P. K. |
| Contributors | Khoza, Simon Bhekumuzi. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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