Opportunities and Challenges of Integrating ICT in the Teaching and Learning of Environmental Education in Primary Schools

Dr. Flora Mercury KiwondeThe Open University of Tanzania
flora.kiwonde@out.ac.tz, kiwondef@yahoo.com

Received January 29, 2020; Reviewed March 9, 2020; Accepted March 24, 2020

Abstract: Recent development in Information and Communication Technology (ICT)has brought remarkable changes in teaching-learning process. However, studies show that effective integration of ICT in teaching Environmental Education (EE) is still a challenge to teachers and learners,especially in developing countries like Tanzania. This paper investigated the available opportunities but also the challenges that prevent primary school teachers from integrating ICTs in teaching EE. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approaches that are in line with case study research design to acquire knowledge from participants through interviews, classroom observations and questionnaires. The participants of this study were 36 teachers and 240 learners from 12 selected primary schools in Musoma district. The findings revealed that there are limited opportunities to teachers that included availability of ICT facilities in few schools and availability of limited pre-service and in-service training programmes. The findings revealed a number of challenges such as inadequate ICT training programmes, insufficient ICT facilities in primary schools, scarcity of ICT support services to teachers in schools and limited allocated classroom schedule. The paper suggested that there is a need for well-planned ICT teachers’ pre-service and in-service training programmes to enhance teaching of EE. In addition,ICT facilities should be sufficient in schools as well as the improvement of ICT support services to teachers.