Enhancing the principal's leadership role in the usage of information and communication technology at school

["Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--University of the Free State, 2015","School principals -- South Africa -- Free State --Motheo District","School management and organization -- South Africa -- Free State --Motheo District","Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Free State --Motheo District","Curriculum-based assessment -- South Africa -- Free State --Motheo District"]

Tshelane, Molaodi David ; ["Jita, L. C.","Mahlomaholo, M. G."]

University of the Free State

Others  :  http://scholar.ufs.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/11660/769/1/TshelaneMD.pdf

瑞士|英语

来源: University of Iowa

【 摘 要 】

English: The aim of this thesis was to design a framework to enhance the principal's leadership role in the use of information communication technology (ICT) at a school in the MotheoDistrict in the Free State. This thesis consists of five chapters, which are structured as follows: Chapter 1 explains the reasons why I decided to undertake this project. The chapter explains the problem statement, including the aim and objectives of the study andthe questions that the project sought to answer. Chapter 2 discusses the theoretical framework, laying the ground for the construction of the conceptual framework, which drove the search for answers to the research questions. Chapter 2 also searches for answers to the questions posed in the related literature, which provided a base for the methodology followed throughout the study. Chapter 3 explains this methodology and how the intervention process implemented in this study was generated from the methodology.Chapter 4 presents the empirical analysis and interpretation of the data, and discusses the findings derived from critical discourse analysis. The final chapter is a systematic summary of the findings and conclusions. The study makes recommendations for the way principals can adopt and embrace ICT with the aim of motivating teachers to integrate ICT in professional curriculum practice. Inthis way, teaching and learning can be improved, which, in turn, will enhance learner performance.In the first part of the study, the results of brief empirical reflections by means of participatory action research show that the inability to activate the principal's role of creating a suitable learning environment, is caused by inadequate technological pedagogical content knowledge, a failure to plan lessons, and an absence of assessment by means of ICT; these causes have a negative impact on the principal's leadership role, and lead, inevitably, to inadequate learner performance.The second part identifies the support that is required from the principal for professional staff development in ICT, human relations and ICT use in the school, participation in extracurricular and co-curricular activities for ICT integration, and technological developments in administration �?these functions are not supported by the principal's leadership role in the use of ICT. Numerous findings of this study with regard to the common challenges facing ICT integration are consistent with results of other researchstudies reported in the literature review.The fascinating and unique aspect of this research project has proven to be the infusion of humanitarian elements in the educational management and leadership field, which has a predominantly positivistic and commercial research flavour and which involves theexercise of leadership according to individualistic approaches. Another unique aspect is the voice of the learner, which has been neglected in other studies: the current study confirmed that the voice of the learner is in fact the curriculum. The study advocates forthe consideration of the learner's voice in educational reform and, thus, recommends that this voice, which has often been viewed as 'insignificant, is heard. In conclusion, the thesis argues that leadership does not reside in an individual, but in collective and collaborative relationships; anyone who is (will be) affected by any decision or action taken in an institution earns engagement and involvement. The thesis hopes tooffer the school in the Motheo District a framework for enhancing the principal's leadership role in the use of ICT. In this way, the study can contribute to school leadership literature in South Africa and offer useful tips for integrating ICT in the curriculum for teaching andlearning, with the ultimate aim of improving learner performance.