Investigating the Educational Technology Practices in Ethiopian high schools and developing a prototype Multimedia System

Abstract

This study aims to investigate educational technology usage with the emphasis of instructional television (Plasma TV) in high schools found in Ethiopian High Schools specifically in Jimma Zone. A descriptive and experimental research design, quantitative and qualitative research approach was followed to conduct the study. A descriptive and experimental research design was employed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Semi structured questionnaire and interview tools were used to gather information from educational experts, school directors, ICT professionals, teachers, and students from seven selected high schools in Jima zone from December 2021 to March 2022.Information regarding the available educational technology and ICT facility was collected from a total of 646 respondents. Responses from interview, questionnaire, and evaluation check list were systematically organized, tabulated, analyzed and presented in figures and tables using proportions and ratings. Predominant proportion (15.1%) of high schools were not provided with the facilities because of unavailability of electricity supply, hence plasma TV education was not implemented uniformly in all the high schools of the zone. Even those having the facility suffered from repeated power outage and no control and access to repeat the sessions because transmission was only from the center. However, 67.8% of Plasma TV and 69.9% of computers currently present in the studied high schools are working properly but sat idle. Students rated experiments in science laboratories, multimedia presentation in science laboratory, practice in the language laboratory, ability to use computers, application for installing complex scientific ideas and use of audio video inputs were low. Evaluators of the developed multimedia prototype rated the usability, function in learning and teaching, interface design and speed and ease of selecting subject specific lessons as excellent and very good. High demand for appropriate ICT infrastructure, maintenance and use of facilities already available at schools, additional training on ICT knowledge and skills, use of resources developed for plasma TV as support educational tool, motivating teachers to adopt new technologies and further research to develop, select, evaluate and implement alternative educational technology feasible to the local situation is recommended