Influence of the 21st century technology in learner academic performance in King Cetshwayo district secondary schools
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Date
2021
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
In the 21st Century, technology has been known to play an important role in stimulating teaching and
learning. Conversely, technology is also seen as a tool which tends to distract learners and hamper their
academic performances. This study investigates strategies that can be adapted for the control of online
gadgets in order to enhance learners’ academic performance in the 21st Century. Quantitative methods
were adopted for the study. Rural and urban-based secondary schools were purposively selected, while
180 educators were randomly selected across the schools. The selected schools comprised of ten (10)
rural and ten(10) urban secondary schools in King Cetshwayo District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South
Africa. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires which were administered to the 180
randomly selected educators. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS. The findings of the study
showed, inter alia, that there is a need for the use of online technological gadgets in schools to be
legalized by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) under strict terms and conditions. Also, there is
need for parents according to DBE to keep the gadgets during school hours and return them after school
and week-ends. The study recommends that a strong alliance regarding the control of learners’ use of
online gadgets be formed amongst DBE, parents and educators.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education in the Department of Comparative and Science Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2021
Keywords
Adaptive strategies, Department of Basic Education(DBE), Online gadgets