Abstract

The study “Challenges of Technology as a Tool of Learning and Communication in the University of Buea” set out to investigate some of the challenges the University of Buea community faces when it comes to the use of technology as a tool in communication and leaning.

The research piece implemented the quantitative research design with the survey method. As such, questionnaires were printed out to get the views of students on the subject matter and concrete analyses were made accordingly. The study used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), introduced by Davis (1986) as the main theory guiding the research.

From the research, it was realized that inadequate connection is the main difficult students face when using technology in UB campus as indicated by 64% of respondents. As such, it is important for the university to put more efforts to improve on network connectivity that supports the growing population of the university.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Education is usually considered as the backbone of every community, reason why the government of every country usually invest most of her resources in promoting education. In some countries like Cameroon, some primary, secondary, and higher education have embraced the use of internet technology.

The introduction of computer as a subject in some schools, with others having computer labs goes a long way to explain the relevance of technology in education.

Cleaver, S. (2014) in his research titled “Technology in the Classroom: Helpful or Harmful?” acknowledged that many educational systems in the world today are showing support for increased levels of technology in higher learning by providing hardware such as tablets and computers, enhancing internet connectivity, and implementing programs designed to improve computer literacy for both teachers and students. Such is even the case in the University of Buea where the government made provision for laptops commonly referred to as PB in (2017) to some higher learning institution in the country.

Technology without the use of internet can be void since both complement each other reason why most countries around the world are investing in the provision of the internet. To Lange (2008), Cameroon gained access to the internet since 1997 and ever since then the country is resolutely committed to being part and parcel of the “information and communication society”.

Tamokwe, (2008) remarked that the Internet is used in almost all areas of life(Education, socialization, economy, politics, developmentetc) and has become part and parcel of today’s life in the world over. The role of technology in every sector, be it politics, education, social and economy cannot be undermined as the various technological device have the ability to stimulate economic growth and enhance student’s learning in the educational sector.

In Cameroon, although teachers generally appreciate the benefits of educational technologies, they often find smooth and effective integration of new educational technologies challenging. That is from acquisition of new technology equipment to adaptation of curricula and teaching techniques to incorporate new educational tools. Technology integrations still presents significant challenges to educators at each level of school systems and even the University of Buea students and teachers are not left out.

1.2 Statement of The Problem

Technology has become part and parcel of us. Gone are those days where the world was still in the dark ages where messages composed were sent to receivers through various means such as the use of birds, posts office and ‘town criers’. Today the world has witnessed a shift in paradigm and every sector seems to have been affected even in the world of education.

During the yester years, to resolve an issue during classroom lectures, students had to raise their hand, ask their question and wait for the teacher to respond. The response of the professor usually would be practically the only answer and even if there is any doubt there will be no way to resolve it.

But today while the lecturer is answering a question in class in course of teaching, should there be any doubt, a student may launched a question in a social network site such as Twitter or Facebook and receive help to resolve it with response from many people. Or more common, the question can be entered into a browser and different responses can be provided as answer for the question postulated.

Duta, (2012), even remarked that the emergence of technologies and especially the Internet, have not stopped generating opportunities, projects, platforms andinitiatives that have to do with learning and that many schools are gradually embracing the culture of using technology in learning.

It is on this note that Bach &Fores (2007), remarked that there is no university in the world that does not already have the digital platform or campus to develop part of their learning. This is greatly reflected also in the University of Buea, where the University Authorities have made available technological facilities such the creation of the IT center that is in charge of creating student’s account amongst many other data related information.

Equally the presence of the American corner in the university library where students can equally do their research goes a long way to highlight the relevance of the ICT not leaving out the Cameroon’s government initiative to give laptops to university students in the year 2017.

That notwithstanding there is often two side of the same coin because despite the presence of all these tech facilities on the university campus, it is no doubt that lecturers and students in the university of Buea still face a couple of challenges especially in classroom lecture when it comes to using these technologies, such as site distractions, lack of training facilities, poor network in the country amongst many others.

It is on this note that this research titled “Challenges of Technology as a tool of for learning and communication in the University of Buea” is out to investigate some of the challenges that both students and lecturers face in course of teaching and in the University of Buea as well as propose solutions to overcome all the challenges in order to make technology suitable for learning.

1.3 Research Questions

1. To what extent is technology an effective tool of communication and learning in the University of Buea?
2. To what extent does the use of technology pose a challenge to some student and lecturers of the University of Buea?
3. To what extend does students’ usage of technology during lectures improve on their learning?

1.4 Objectives of the study

1.4.1 General objectives

To investigate the extent to what technology is perceived as an effective tool in learning and communication in the University of Buea.

1.4.2 Specific objectives

1. To explore the different avenues where students of the University of Buea use technology as a tool in learning and communication be it for research purpose or for chatting with friends.
2. To explore the extent to which the advancement of technology has enhance communication and learning amongst students in the University of Buea.

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