Investigating the possibilities and challenges on computer integrated teaching: rural Schools in Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Information Integration of computer technology into the teaching-learning process will support teachers to organize their teaching-learning process in order to enhance the teaching efficiently. But due to the poverty and transportation difficulties in rural area schools in Batticaloa district, teachers did not receive enough training on integrating computer technology into the teaching-learning process. Therefore, this paper investigates the possibilities and challenges faced by teachers in Batticaloa district to integrate computer technology in their teaching-learning process. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used in this study within a framework of a survey research design. The study was undertaken in the district of Batticaloa which is located in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. To encompass a diversified representation in the sample, schools which were seriously affected by the poverty and transportation difficulties were selected purposively. The questionnaire survey was distributed among the teachers who were physically present in the selected schools at the time of the site visit for data collection. Out of 200 teachers, 103 teachers returned their completed questionnaires. The data were collected using the questionnaire and closed-ended questions were analyzed by applying elementary quantitative techniques. Open-ended questions were analyzed qualitatively such as cording and categorizing. The study revealed that the majority of the teachers in Batticaloa district perceived that the integration of computer technologies will enhance the quality of their teaching. However, they faced many challenges in the implementation of computer integrated teaching. Therefore, this study suggests that relevant authorities should take responsibility to provide computer training and integrate computer-based teaching-learning activities into the school syllabus, and at the same time teachers in the Batticaloa district also need to realize the importance of the computer-integrated teaching to address the needs of the learners in the technology era.