The use of information communication technology (ICT) in teaching and learning: A case study of a public teachers\u27 college in Tanzania

Investment in ICT in education has been viewed by many countries as an effective way of delivering and widening educational services. In realizing the contribution and the potential of ICT in education, Tanzania developed policies support implementation of ICT in education in order to deliver a quality education service. In late 2005, the Tanzanian Government in collaboration with the Government of Sweden through its agency, Sida, initiated an ICT project in 32 public teachers\u27 colleges. The implementation of ICT in teachers\u27 colleges aims at contributing to improved quality of education through improving the methods of teaching and learning. The colleges are provided with computers, internet connectivity, training and technical support in using ICT in teaching and learning. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the use of ICT in teaching and learning in one of the public teachers\u27 colleges in Tanzania. The choice of the college was based on the fact that it is the leading college in the implementation of ICT in public teachers\u27 colleges and it hosts a project team that provides training and technical support to teachers\u27 colleges. The choice considered accessibility to the college in view of the limited time for conducting the study. Participants involved in the study were the vice principal, the ICT project technical advisor, tutors and students. The methods employed in data collection were classroom observation and interviews. Findings from the study are that, sampled tutors use computers and internet to access materials relevant to their subjects. prepare daily classroom exercises, monthly tests, and annual examinations, and for keeping students\u27 records and reports like continuous assessment and other personal uses. The use of ICT in teaching and learning is limited 1o the tutors who teach ICT subjects. Factors which contribute to this situation are policy on implementation of college curriculum, inadequate tutor training and ICT infrastructure. Students learn with ICT during ICT Lessons and individual studies. however they do not receive appropriate support on their subject specialties as ICT is not integrated in the curriculum. College leadership and 1C T project team are at the initial stage of training tutors to use ICT in teaching and learning. In order to realise the contribution and potential of ICT in teaching and learning in the teachers\u27 college, the following are the recommendations: integration of ICT in teacher education curriculum, continuous tutor training programmes on the use of ICT in teaching and learning, and improved and sustained ICT infrastructure in the teachers’ college