Smartphone Integration as an M-Learning Tool for Educators at Secondary Schools in Kwazulu-Natal Province

Abstract

Smartphones have become essential and integral part of our daily lives and have been recognised as the driving factor for teaching and learning in secondary schools because of the changes that technology has brought into educational sphere and life at large. The objective of this study is to access the promotion of smartphone use as m-learning tools and the effect of its usage in secondary schools at KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The research method employed to achieve the objectives was quantitative research method with the use of questionnaires to collect empirical data from 135 educators from selected secondary schools at King Cetshwayo District in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The educators were chosen because they are the key role players on technology use and acceptance in secondary schools for teaching and learning purposes. The result shows that educators believe that smartphone should be promoted in secondary schools because of its effective use in enhancing teaching and learning but requires development of school policy guiding the use in school’s context. The study recommends that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) should develop policies and strategies for school management teams (SMT) and educators that will promote the use of smartphones as m-learning tools in secondary schools.