The Interaction of Psychological Constructs with Information Technology-Enhanced Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Information Technology (IT) has developed into an effective teaching media available to educators. Research evidence clearly indicates that the effective use of IT-based tools by teachers leads to the enhancement of elementary and secondary school students’ learning achievement and all-round educational performance. However, effective utilization of IT-based tools by teachers for the benefitof their students is almost totally dependent on the existence ofrelevant constructs in teachers’ and students’ affective arsenals. Constructs that characterize teachers such as teacher change, teacher knowledge, and pedagogical beliefs as well as affective constructs that typify both teachers and students such as autonomy, creativity, flexibility, motivation, satisfaction, and self-efficacy (that includes technological self-confidence) are vital tools in the repertoire of teachers and students needed to maximize the positive effect ofIT-based tools in the classroom. Educational administrators need to formulate pre-service as well in-service teacher training programs that include the enhancement of those constructs needed to successfully mediate the efficient use of IT-based tools that will conceivably lead to the promotion of student achievement and all-round perfor- mance in the educational process.