Use of Information and Communication Technologies as a Medium for Education in Albania

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have impacted education by introducing new methods of teaching and learning. However, while there are some studies that highlight the role and impact of ICT in the educational system, there is little research on the use of ICT for pedagogical purposes in Albania. To address this gap, this study elaborates on ICT use for pedagogical purposes specifically in secondary schools in Albania. It investigates the relationship between ICT inclusion in teaching and the degree to which these factors are reflected in the education system. To do so, the study combines qualitative data from curricular frameworks, school textbooks, and the National Education Strategy with quantitative data from surveys of first-year students of the Faculty of History and Philology, Tirana University. Hence, the research focuses on descriptive analyses of students’ opinions gathered through questionnaires and detailed analyses of the qualitative key documents: education strategies, curriculum framework and textbooks. The findings reveal that ICT use in the teaching and learning process (as a medium) is at a low level, while it is well established as an object of a course or as an aspect of a profession. Moreover, the results contribute to past research on the educational system and use of technologies in pedagogy by suggesting several barriers to effective ICT utilization for educational purposes. Such barriers include inadequate technological resources, limited availability of digital content in the native language, and restricted student internet access within school premises. Additional challenges are related to the overreliance on print textbooks, and the dominant role of teachers as the primary or sole source of knowledge and information. Finally, this study contributes to research on educational technology and pedagogy by emphasizing the urgent need for improvements in textbooks, comprehensive teacher training programs, and the adoption of contemporary pedagogical methodologies to foster critical thinking skills among the younger generation.