CHALLENGES FACED BY ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN ACCESSING AND USING ICT MATERIALS: A CASE STUDY OF THE MIDLANDS REGIONAL CAMPUS
Dublin Core
Title
CHALLENGES FACED BY ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN ACCESSING AND USING ICT MATERIALS: A CASE STUDY OF THE MIDLANDS REGIONAL CAMPUS
Creator
SILVANOS CHIRUME
ROSEMARY NGARA
Description
In its 2017 Strategic Plan, Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) proposed that every Masters student should prepare and submit assignments online. Every student is also encouraged to access learning materials online and to use the MyVista platform.
It appeared that the authorities envisioned this idea without having adequate information on the sufficiency, accessibility, and ability to use the ICT materials
by the students. It also appeared that use of ICT materials by ZOU students was minimal. A study was then carried out to investigate the challenges faced by ZOU students of the Midlands Regional Campus in accessing and using ICT materials for learning, research and producing assignments. Using convenience sampling,
15students who visited the ICT laboratory during the first semester of 2017 were selected and interviewed. Data were analysed using her meneutical analysis techniques. Findings were that students had challenges in being involved in collaborative learning with other students and lecturers due to limited resources and skills in using ICT materials, getting positive influence from lecturers since
lecturers did not integrate ICT’s in tutorials and absence of ICT’s at students’ work places in the remote areas of the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. The study recommends that ZOU needs to put in place adequate ICT machines for the students, make them accessible at all times, and train all students and staff in the proper use of the facilities, inter alia. Further studies can also be carried out in other regional campuses of ZOU.
It appeared that the authorities envisioned this idea without having adequate information on the sufficiency, accessibility, and ability to use the ICT materials
by the students. It also appeared that use of ICT materials by ZOU students was minimal. A study was then carried out to investigate the challenges faced by ZOU students of the Midlands Regional Campus in accessing and using ICT materials for learning, research and producing assignments. Using convenience sampling,
15students who visited the ICT laboratory during the first semester of 2017 were selected and interviewed. Data were analysed using her meneutical analysis techniques. Findings were that students had challenges in being involved in collaborative learning with other students and lecturers due to limited resources and skills in using ICT materials, getting positive influence from lecturers since
lecturers did not integrate ICT’s in tutorials and absence of ICT’s at students’ work places in the remote areas of the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. The study recommends that ZOU needs to put in place adequate ICT machines for the students, make them accessible at all times, and train all students and staff in the proper use of the facilities, inter alia. Further studies can also be carried out in other regional campuses of ZOU.
Publisher
International Open and Distance Learning Journal Special Edition
Date
2017
Files
Collection
Citation
SILVANOS CHIRUME and ROSEMARY NGARA, “CHALLENGES FACED BY ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN ACCESSING AND USING ICT MATERIALS: A CASE STUDY OF THE MIDLANDS REGIONAL CAMPUS,” ZOU Institutional Repository, accessed July 6, 2025, https://ir.zou.ac.zw/items/show/120.
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