Introduction and Literature review (1000 words)

UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Research Topic

The impact of covid-19 on online teaching in relation to the use of ICT according to primary teachers’ perceptions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mbuyu Ilunga Wa Mulobe Guy

Study 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.

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 shown 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 researches have been done to determine teachers’ perception to digital learning, suggestions on how to overcome these challenges. The main focus has been on obstacles which is not comprehensive.

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. 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 topic. 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

In this study, the researcher will use quantitative study approach. The target population includes 100 teachers, (50 male teachers and 50 female teachers) from four primary schools in Sub-Saharan Africa. Significantly, a researcher will consider ICT use by the teachers as criteria to qualify for questionnaire response by a respondent.

The researcher will contact the headteachers of the schools to provide the gatekeeper letter via email and upon the head teachers’ consent to conduct research to their schools, they will provide the researcher with a contact list including the teachers' details for sending them the informed consent form to their emails and send the questionnaires to the participants for completion. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, in case the delivery of the face-to-face questionnaires is not possible, the questionnaires will be sent to the participants' email for completion. The research tool is a questionnaire that will be divided into different sections; first section will collect demographic details of the participants, second section will examine the use of ICT contribute to reducing the challenges that teachers face in online teaching , using open and close-ended questions using Likert scale responses.

Data Analysis

The researcher will analyze data using SPSS for quantitative data analysis. The method will be appropriate because it accommodates a complete statistical package, accommodating point and click interface for timely and accurate data 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 methods, digitization of learning, Sub-Saharan Africa, online teaching, ICT, Governments, education system

References List

Aborode, A., Anifowoshe, O., Ayodele, T. I., Iretiayo, A. R., & David, O. O. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on education in sub-Saharan Africa. Preprints 2020, DOI: 10.20944/preprints202007.0027.v1

Adotey, S.K. (2020). What will higher education in Africa look like after COVID-19? Education Forum (Accessed June 25, 2021). Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/higher-education-africa-covid19-coronavirusdigital-online/

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.

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. (Accessed June 26, 2021). Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/news/covid-19-educational-disruption-and-response

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. (Accessed June 26, 2021). Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/infographic-covid19-coronavirus-impact-global-education-health-schools/

EDU731-1: Dissertation

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