Abstract
This study examined how university lecturers in pre-service secondary school teacher education programs in Zimbabwe conceptualize instructional technology (IT) integration. Twenty-one lecturers in the colleges of education at three universities participated. Interviews were used for collecting data, and analysis was done using Miles and Huberman’s (1994) interactive data analysis model. Findings show that the conceptualization of IT and its integration by the majority of the lecturers was largely hardware in nature, with focus put on viewing technological tools as audiovisual tools or aids. Lecturers with qualifications in IT viewed IT and its integration from what Schiffman (1995) calls a narrow systems view. Most of the lecturers used technological tools for illustrating key points in their lecture delivery, and lecturers who used computers used these for lecture preparation. This is a preliminary study to understand the basis on which the broader integration of technology may be explored in the Zimbabwean context.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Association of School Librarians. (1998). Information Literacy: A position paper on information problem solving. Retrieved October, 8, 2007, from: http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/positionstatements/informationliteracy.htm
Association of African Universities. (2000). Report on technical experts meeting on the use and application of information and communication technologies in higher education institutions in Africa. Dar es Salaam: University of Dar es Salaam.
Dick, W., Carey, L., & Carey, J. O. (2001). The systems design of instruction. New York: Longman.
Earle, R. S. (2002). The integration of instructional technology into public education: Promises and challenges. ET Magazine, 42(1), 5–13. Retrieved June 5, 2005, from http://bookstoread.com/etp/earle.pdf
Engler, D. (1972). Instructional technology and the curriculum. In F. J. Pula & R. J. Goff (Eds.), Technology in education: Challenge and change (pp. 23–42). OH: Charles A. Jones.
Ertmer, P. A. (1999). Addressing first-and second-order barriers to change: strategies for technology integration. Educational Technology Research and Development, 47(4), 47–61.
Garrison, D. R., & Akyol, Z. (2009). Role of instructional technology in the transformation of higher education. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 21(1), 19–30.
Gentry, C. G. (1995). Educational technology: A question of meaning. In G. J. Anglin (Ed.), Instructional technology: Past, present, and future (pp. 131–144). Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.
Grabe, M., & Grabe, C. (2004). Integrating technology for meaningful learning. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Harris, J. (2005). Our agenda for technology integration: It”s time to choose. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 5(2). Retrieved April 23, 2007, from http://www.citejournal.org/vol5/iss2/editorial/article1.ctm
Hew, K. F., & Brush, T. (2007). Integration technology into K-12 teaching and learning: Current knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research. Educational Technology Research and Development, 55(3), 223–252.
International Society for Technology in Education. (1998). National educational technology standards for students. Eugene.
Kopcha, T. J. (2008). A systems-based approach to technology integration using mentoring and communities of practice. . Educational Technology Research and Development. Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://www.springerlink.com/content/15q3523588741mw4/fulltext.pdf?page=1
Kozma, R. B. (2003). Technology and classroom practices: An international study. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 36(1), 1–13.
LeCompte, M. D. (2000). Analyzing qualitative data. Theory into Practice, 39(3), 146–155.
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Means, B., & Olson, K. (1997). Technology and education reform: Studies of education reform. Washington, DC: US. Government Printing Office.
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Thousand Oaks,CA: Sage.
Mills, S. C., & Tincher, R. C. (2003). Be the technology: A developmental model for evaluating technology integration. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 35(3), 382–401.
Morrison, G. R., & Lowther, D. L. (2002). Integrating computer technology into the classroom. Upper saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Muffoletto, R. (1994). Technology and restructuring education: constructing a context. Educational Technology, 34(2), 24–28.
Naidoo, V., & Schutte, C. (1999). Virtual institutions on the African continent. In G. M. Farrell (Ed.), The development of virtual education: a global perspective (pp. 89–124). Vancouver: The Commonwealth of Learning.
Panel on Educational Technology. (1997). Report to the President on the use of technology to strengthen K-12 education in the United States. Washington, DC: President”s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Plomp, T. & Voogt, J. (2009). Pedagogical practices and ICT use around the world: Findings from the IEA international comparative study SITES2006. Education and Information Technologies, retrieved June 13, 2009, from http://www.springerlink.com/content/771202n56548246v/fulltext.pdf
Roblyer, M. D., & Edwards, J. (2000). Integrating educational technology into teaching. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Saettler, P. (1990). The evolution of American educational technology. Englewood, CO: Libraries Limited.
Schiffman, S. S. (1995). Instructional systems design: Five views of the field. In G. J. Anglin (Ed.), Instructional technology: Past, present, and future (pp. 131–144).
Siemen, G. & Titterberger, P. (2009). Handbook of Emerging Technologies for Learning. University of Manitoba. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://www.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies/cetl/HETL.pdf. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited
Swan, K. (2000). Non-print media and technology literacy standards for assessing technology integration. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 23(1), 85–100.
Swan, K., Holmes, A., Vargas, J. D., Jennings, S., Meier, E., & Rubenfeld, L. (2002). Situated professional development and technology integration: The capital area technology and inquiry in education (CATIE) mentoring program. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 10(2), 169–190.
US Department of education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2000a). Teachers’ Tools for the 21st century: A Report on Teachers’ Use of Technology. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2000b). Internet access in US public schools and classrooms: 1994–1999. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
Uys, P. M., Nleya, P., & Molelu, G. B. (2004). Technological innovation and management strategies for higher education in Africa: Harmonizing reality and idealism. Education Media International, 41(1), 67–80.
Winner, L. (1980). Autonomous technology. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chitiyo, R. The conceptualization of instructional technology by teacher educators in Zimbabwe. Educ Inf Technol 15, 109–124 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-009-9099-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-009-9099-7