Students’ perceptions towards the uptake of educational technologies in Christian Religious Education

Abstract

The techniques and methods of teaching in Kenya have changed rapidly from traditional methods to contemporary, 21st century, technology-based approaches (Ashrafi et al., 2020). This development led to the introduction of several frameworks to support the application of numerous innovations in learning. However, the uptake of technology-supported teaching and learning, particularly in Christian Religious Education (CRE), remains low. Recent research indicates that the application and utilization of these technologies in CRE are minimal because of the perceptions of key stakeholders, including teachers, students, and school administrators. Educational technologies not only enhance the quality of learning but also contribute to deepening of religious knowledge and insights, fostering the development of moral values and beliefs. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between students’ perceptions and the uptake of educational technologies in CRE in Embu County, Kenya. This study sampled 300 students from 30 public secondary schools using a descriptive cross-sectional survey design and multistage random cluster sampling methods. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed a significant weak positive relationship between students’ perceptions and their uptake of educational technologies in CRE (r = 0.002, p = 0.01 and R2 = 0.032). The findings of this study imply that initiatives aimed at increasing the uptake of educational technology should be specific, lucid, and tailored to the perceptions, ideas, opinions, experiences, and diverse needs of students.