Information communication technology usage patterns in second cycle schools, a study of selected senior high schools in Western North Region of Ghana

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are valuable tools that can help people gain access to higher-quality education. ICT resources have been used to develop teaching and learning pedagogical techniques where teachers can use ICT for online interactive learning. Teachers' attitudes toward ICT and their perceptions of ICT viability play a significant role in ICT use in their teaching and learning activities. Empirically, several studies have been done on ICT usage in schools in different countries but very limited in Ghanaian context. Thus, the study sought to find out the usage pattern of Information Communication Technology at senior high schools in Western North Region of Ghana. Descriptive research design with quantitative approach was used in this study. The population of the study comprise of all teaching and non-teaching staff of public senior high schools in Western North Region of Ghana. The sample size for the study was three hundred and ten (310) staff of public senior high schools in Western North Region of Ghana. Stratified sampling was used for selecting the sample size from the population. The study used questionnaire in gathering the data for studying the issue under investigation. Analysis of the data was done through the use of the SPSS. The study shows that the effects of ICT usage in teaching and learning explain almost all of the factors that explain students’ academic work. The study concluded that there is a statistically significant effect of ICT usage in teaching and learning in students’ academic work. It is recommended that stakeholders should supply teaching and non-teaching staff of public senior high schools in Western North Region of Ghana with a rack, laptop computers, tablets, projectors, routers, internet servers, printer, uninterrupted power supply, power invertor, desktop computers, and solar panels.