Research proposal with guidelines

UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

Research Proposal

1. Title

The Impact of COVID-19 on online teaching in relation to the use of ICT according to primary school teachers’ perceptions in Sub-Saharan Africa

. Project Summary

This study aims at investigating various methods to reduce challenges faced by teachers in online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also aims at investigating how the use of ICT can be used in promoting equity in learning among primary school students irrespective of their background. The study will provide relevant and accurate insights to policymakers, institution administrators, and other key stakeholders on the viable solutions that need to be implemented to ensure that learning systems are feasible and equitable. The expected solutions will revolve around the need to embrace digital learning and the importance of cultivating an enabling environment that promotes primary school teachers to effectively embrace E-learning. It is expected that governments and other key stakeholders will draw lessons from the study when developing strategies to reintroduce and accommodate E-learning among primary school students.

2. Review of research literature

After the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, the education sector came to a standstill in many countries. Several studies have been done before highlighting the factors that led to the stalemate in learning as sowed in this review. Some studies informed important interventions to the problem. However, none of the studies reviewed focused on Sub-Saharan Africa as the target. Additionally, none of them analysed show teachers, especially those in primary schools viewed the issue. Most are country specific and the ones done by organizations such as United Nation Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organization focus on lower and middle income countries. The glaring difference brought out was that learning continued in developed countries through digital learning while Sub-Saharan countries found great difficulties introducing digital learning (Viner et al., 2020). Poor internet accessibility was highlighted as the major challenge in majority of the studies. It was said to be potentiated by: poor internet connectivity and the high cost of internet charges relative to the majority of the population. The other major challenge highlighted was lack of supporting infrastructure such as electricity by the World Economic Forum (2020). The other challenges outlined in the studies included: unaffordability of devices, language barriers, lack of skills, cultural barriers, and poor attitudes and perceptions regarding digital learning by Adotey (2020). However, learning was later introduced but very few research has been done to determine teachers’ perception to digital learning, suggestions on how to overcome this challenges. The main focus has been on obstacles which is not comprehensive.

3. Research study details:

Aims/Objectives of the Project

The study aims to investigate various methods to reduce challenges that teachers face in online teaching and how the use of ICT can support online teaching and promote equal opportunities to students during the pandemic COVID -19.that stakeholders could capitalize on to improve education delivery during and after the pandemic.

Research questions

1. What is the impact of COVID -19 on online teaching in relation to the use of ICT according to teachers` perceptions?

2. How can the use of ICT contribute to reducing the challenges that teachers face in online teaching?

3. From the your experience as a teacher, how effective is the online teaching by using ICT tools due to COVID -19?

Significance of the research study

This study is significant because very few comprehensive studies have been done on this topics. Most of the topics focus on the obstacles that potentiated a stalemate in learning with few researching on the challenges associated with e-learning after it introduction. The study seeks to examine the effectiveness of e-learning and its impact on students’ academic performance within Sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 period. The study will also outline several interventions that can be undertaken to overcome learning challenges and obstacles. This information was sourced from primary teachers. Analysing this feedback will also determine teachers’ perception towards digital learning and the major challenges they face when implementing this new learning model.

Methodology

The study will take the form of a survey. Data will be collected from industry experts and key stakeholders such as teachers, students, and parents. Expert opinions offered in various sources will also be analyzed. The method of data analysis to be employed is descriptive analysis.

Research Plan and Template

Activity	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9	Week 10
Draft Introduction	×
Devise introduction		×
Brainstorm about literature review			×
Draft Literature review				×
Devise Literature review					×	×
Draft of methodology							×
Devise methodology								×	×

Keywords.

COVID-19, primary school teachers, teaching methodss, digitization of learning, Sub-Saharan Africa, Governments, education system

Indicative References sources

Aborode, A., Anifowoshe, O., Ayodele, T. I., Iretiayo, A. R., & David, O. O. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on education in sub-Saharan Africa.

Adotey, S.K. (2020). What will higher education in Africa look like after COVID-19? Education Forum https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/higher-education-africa-covid19-coronavirusdigital-online/

Agenda. Accessed Online (18/04/2020), From:

Di Pietro, G., Biagi, F., Costa, P., Karpiński, Z., & Mazza, J. (2020). The likely impact of COVID-19 on education: Reflections based on the existing literature and recent international datasets (Vol. 30275). Publications Office of the European Union.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/infographic-covid19-coronavirus-impactglobaleducation-health-schools/.

Ogunode, N. J., Ndubuisi, A. G., & Terfa, A. C. (2021). Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Nigerian educational institutions. Electronic Research Journal of Engineering, Computer, and Applied Sciences, 3, 10-20.

United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2020). Covid-19 Education Disruption and Response. Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/covid-19/educationresponse Accessed on 10th June 2020.

Viner, R. M., Russell, S. J., Croker, H., Packer, J., Ward, J., Stansfield, C., & Booy, R. (2020). School closure and management practices during coronavirus outbreaks including COVID-19: a rapid systematic review. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(5), 397-404.

World Economic Forum (WEF). (2020). COVID-19's staggering impact on global education; Global

EDU731-1: Dissertation

Page 4