Computers in promoting constructivist practices in the classroom : the perception of basic school teachers in Ghana

Abstract

Few research has been conducted on exploiting technology in order to make changes and improve upon the school system on teachers’ views resulting from the use of computer technology. In this regard, the government of Ghana introduced a program so that computer technology will be part of teaching and learning activities in the Ghanaian classroom. However, traditional method of teaching in Ghana dominates constructivist practices. Therefore, how the policy of integrating computer technology as part of teaching and learning to enhance constructivist practices in the learning environment was in doubt. It was against this background that the study examines the prospect of using computers to manage classroom when applying constructivist practices based on the perception of basic school teachers in Ghana. In an attempt to achieve this objective, survey instruments were administered on 125 basic school teachers from 20 basic schools to collect multivariate data of which 80% response rate was attained. The multivariate data collected was analysed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).

The result was that, using computer technology serves as an effective tool to manage classrooms that apply constructivist practices. The results from the data that applies to computer technology accounted for 46.2% of the variance in constructivism in the classroom. Two of the predictors were significant to constructivist classroom practices while one was not. Using computer technology in the classroom was however not entirely significant to constructivism in the classroom and that for every 1% increase in favour of using computer in the classroom in Ghana, application of constructivist practices in the classroom reduces by 28.3%. It was therefore recommended that, the creation of competence through training of teachers to give classroom instruction digitally must be provided to ensure smooth implementation of constructivism without challenges by Ghana Education Services(GES). Until this is done, handlers of the subjects should be conversant in using computer in the classroom because teachers applying computer technology in teaching and learning situations deteriorate when adopting in the classroom for constructivist practices.