The purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding to why
South African educators embrace or resist Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) in teaching and learning by exploring the complex interplay
between teachers’ pedagogical beliefs, their efficacy beliefs, their context beliefs and
their use of computers in the classroom. The study hypothesises that teachers’
behavioural intention, whether and how to use ICTs in the classroom, is determined
by a set of teacher-related variables, which include, their pedagogical beliefs, selfefficacy
beliefs and context beliefs. The specific teacher-related variables that are of
significance for this study include: teachers’ pedagogical beliefs, self-efficacy
beliefs, computer self-efficacy beliefs and computer anxiety. A correlational analysis
was performed to determine the complex relationships amongst these thinking
processes and their effect on the utilisation of ICTs. In addition, teachers’ perception
of their principals’ technology leadership was investigated. Four interrelated
dimensions were investigated, that is: (a) vision, planning and management; (b)
staff development and training; (c) technology and infrastructure support; and (d)
interpersonal and communication skills.
A mixed method of quantitative and qualitative research was employed to
collect data at a secondary and primary ex-model C school in the Southern Suburbs
of Cape Town. Convenience sampling was applied in this study. A total of 23
teachers participated voluntarily in the research project. The results of the study
suggest that teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs, computer self-efficacy beliefs and
computer anxiety directly affect their computer use, while the principal’s technology
leadership only has an indirect effect on their computer use via the mediating
variables: self-efficacy beliefs and pedagogical beliefs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/13174 |
| Date | 01 October 2013 |
| Creators | Cloete, Zelna Janet |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf, application/pdf |
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