Annotated Bibliography Sample Entry

Hart, S., & Laher, S. (2015). Perceived usefulness and culture as predictors of teachers’ attitudes towards educational 2. technology in South Africa. South African Journal of Education, 35(4), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v35n4a1180

Keywords: Attitudes; computers; diffusion of innovations; education; educational technology

Type: Quantitative and exploratory

Research Questions or Hypotheses: The integration of educational technology in schools is greatly influenced by teachers’ attitudes towards the technology

Sample: 117 teachers

Summary of Content of Article: The research highlights motivations of students who participate in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and barriers to active engagement with the course content. Thirty-six students of various ages and educational background were interviewed for this research. The study measured attitudes of participants and found that while American students were more critical of the learning format, those from Africa and Asia were more open to the possibilities of the courses especially because of the convenience that they present. Barriers to more active engagement included lack of resources (money, infrastructure and internet access).

Contribution to Understanding of  Research Topic: The study adds another cultural piece to the understanding of the factors that hindered or facilitated remote/online learning in selected African countries during the lockdown.