An Assessment of Computer and ICT Skills at Botswana Open University: Implications of ICT in Business Subjects

Authors

  • Tommie Hamaluba Botswana Open University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v9i1.552

Keywords:

Information technology, business development, ICT skills, innovation, BOU

Abstract

This paper presents a study that focused on assessing computer and ICT skills of business subjects’ learners at Botswana Open University (BOU). The study explored the levels of computer skills; existence of ICT skills and perception of business subject learners on the adoption and use of ICT skills for teaching and learning. A sample size of 223 participants from BOU’s five regions was studied and data was collected quantitatively using survey questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The results showed that most of the respondents had average ability to navigate on the e-learning school platforms (E-library, portals, websites, etc.) and average awareness of the business learning software and applications; they were familiar with most MS package elements, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher. They were familiar with the use of emails, social sites and blogs as well as internet searching and browsing. Results also showed that the respondents understood the basic functions of computer hardware. The study also revealed that respondents needed improvement in the use of ICT tools for learning their business subjects, and that the improvement of the use of ICT tools would enhance their understanding of the subject matter. Respondents cited poor internet connectivity and unreliable power supply, as well as slow internet connectivity, as some of the reasons for their poor ICT skills in teaching and learning ICTs.

Author Biography

Tommie Hamaluba, Botswana Open University

Dr Tommie Hamaluba holds a PhD (Business Administration) and MBA (Business Administration) from NorthWest University in South Africa, BBA, and Dip. Education, from Nkrumah Teachers College, CDEP, PGCQAE from BOU and is a final-year student with NAMCOL towards a Post Graduate Diploma in Open School Operations and Management (PDOSOM). He joined Botswana Open University as Subject Specialist, Business: Open Schooling in September in 2013, after a successful teaching career since 1993. Tommie has been involved with the integration of ICTs into teaching and learning since 1999, serving as high school teacher in Botswana. He has been instrumental in developing business subjects in Botswana and recently launched a full-fledged Commonwealth of Learning sponsored Moodle portal for Junior Secondary School level of students taking business subjects and, on the same portal, is developing Accounting for Senior Secondary students in Botswana as OER. Any teacher interested teacher in subscribing students can contact Dr. Hamaluba at the following email address. Email: thamaluba@staff.bou.ac.bw

Published

2022-03-15

How to Cite

Hamaluba, T. (2022). An Assessment of Computer and ICT Skills at Botswana Open University: Implications of ICT in Business Subjects. Journal of Learning for Development, 9(1), 104–116. https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v9i1.552

Issue

Section

Case Studies
Received 2021-08-26
Accepted 2022-01-11
Published 2022-03-15