Managing and evaluating ICTs in higher education: A reassurance measure for sustainable investment

Abstract

Evaluating and managing the deployment of ICTs in higher education is a serious issue institution administrators are concerned with because they want to see a meaningful return on their investment. However, one crucial fact that has to be emphasized is that return on investment over ICTs in education cannot be measured in monetary value but in the outcomes generated through teaching and learning with ICTs. As such, this chapter presents a model that provides a practical evaluation tool suitable for comprehensively assessing and managing the ICT deployment process. It provides evidence-based justifi cation to stakeholders such as policymakers, school administrators, educators, researchers, and evaluators on how higher institutions can assess the return ICTs generate in teaching and learning through measurable outcomes and how to manage the resources invested on and the need for continued investment. Hence, evaluating ICTs in education in this chapter will mean appraising the positive effects, assessing the incentives, measuring the level of integration, and examining the challenges associated with the ICTs provided for use in the learning environment.