Exploring students’ perception of the role of ICT in learning at a higher education institution

Abstract

Over the past decades, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems have advanced, and the global complexion of the Internet has transformed how students interact and perceive the efficiency of ICT in higher education. ICT has changed teaching and learning industry that emerged as a new pedagogical approach. It helped shape teaching and learning in terms of development and delivery services. ICT adoption has immense benefits, but with poor planning and training will hinder students' from fully adopting these systems into their daily lives. The aim of this study examines students' perception of the role of ICT in their learning at the North-West University Mahikeng campus. Research shows that there are fewer studies available on students' perception of ICT in their learning. By this cause, there are gaps created in the existing literature and motivated this study. A quantitative approach was used to determine the relationship between attitude towards use (U), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), external variables (EV), behavioural intention (BI) and actual system use. The aim of this study examined students' perception of the role of ICT in their learning using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The data revealed that there is a significant correlation between variables U, PEOU, PU and BI that positively influence students' perception towards the use of ICT in their learning. However, the results show that EV does not have any significant correlation between ICT actual system uses. The conclusion was made that even though most students have a positive perception of ICT in their learning, there are other students who do not share the same view towards ICT in their learning. Generally, students' perception of the role of ICT in their learning was positive. The study recommends that a mixed-method approach can be used to replicate this study across-universities.