An assessment of the effectiveness of electronic media into teaching and learning in secondary schools of Gokwe South District in Midlands Province.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of electronic media in teaching and learning. The study was carried out in Gokwe South District in Midlands Province. The population of this study consisted of two secondary schools in Gokwe South District. These two secondary school were chosen through purposive sampling technique. The sample comprises of 35 teachers from two schools. The researcher also uses purposive sampling to interview the school heads, school depute heads and the IT Administrators. The researcher uses qualitative research design which enables the researcher to use questionnaires, interviews and observation in gathering data. Qualitative research also enables the researcher to identify the relationship between electronic media and students’ performance. The study helps the researcher to explore the types of electronic media devices available in the schools as well as the usage rate of electronic media tools by the teachers. The study establishes that the level of electronic media usage in teaching and learning was still very low in many schools. The study also helps the researcher to identify the challenges faced by schools to employ electronic media technology at full capacity and the major challenges were power supply, shortage of electronic media devices, lack of funds to buy electronic media devices and lack of technical support. Other challenges found in this research were lack of time, poor infrastructure and lack of technical support. In light of this findings the researcher therefore recommend the use of electricity substitutes such as generators and solar power, in service training on how to use electronic media devices and to seek assistance from the government and nongovernmental organizations.