Selected stakeholders’ views on the use of tablets for university learning: A South African case study

Abstract

The popularity of mobile technologies has greatly influenced people of all ages, especially adolescents. The purpose of this research was to determine the views of students, lecturers, and managers as selected stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of tablet computers in learning at a South African university. Using a mixed-methods approach, this case study focused on Extended Stream students who were enrolled in a degree program in Information and Communication Technology or Electrical Engineering. Survey participants consisted of 155 students and 25 lecturers, and interviews were conducted with 18 students, 5 lecturers, and 9 managers. Data collected from closed-ended questionnaires were entered manually into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 24) and then analyzed using descriptive and inferential analyses, using an independent samples t-test. Data collected from interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analyses to generate major themes and subthemes. Findings from the statistical analyses of quantitative data revealed that there was no significant difference between the views of students and lecturers on the effectiveness of the use of tablet computers for learning. The thematic analyses of qualitative data revealed that students, lecturers, and managers all concurred that tablets have a positive impact on student learning.