Relationship Between Personal Characteristics and Adaptation to ICT in Learning in Selected Universities in Uganda.

Abstract

This research investigated the relationship between personal characteristics and adaptation to ICT in learning. The objectives of the study were to: find out if there was a relationship between students' social-economic characteristics and adaptation to ICT in learning; establish whether there was a relationship between students' level of class performance and adaptation to ICT in learning; and investigate whether there was a relationship between students' gender and age and adaptation to ICT in learning. The study used a cross sectional design. The stratified sampling method was employed were 584 students were sampled out of 1446 ICT students in four universities where two of which were government aided and two were private owned. The Chi Square Test of Independence and Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient were used to analyze data. Three hypotheses were tested about personal characteristics and how they determine adaptation to ICT. Findings revealed that; personal characteristics determine adaptation to ICT in learning. In particular, in hypothesis one the students' income background, marital status, geographic origin, employment status, and school background determine adaptation to ICT. It was only the level of qualification that was not significant and did not determine adaptation to ICT in learning. In the second hypothesis, it was revealed that students' levels of class performance/intelligence determine adaptation to ICT in learning. In the third hypothesis, it was confirmed that the students' gender and age greatly affect the level at which they embrace the ICT revolution in learning. It was therefore concluded that, there are many personal characteristics that determine adaptation to ICT in learning though some personal characteristics were not direct. That is; characteristics like the students' school background and origin were quite indirect but they are personal characteristics that highly determine the adaptation to ICT. Basing on the findings of the study it was recommended that improvement in the students' social economic characteristics be done in order for them to adapt ICT in learning. In addition, there is need for students to have improved levels of class performance in order for them to get easily adapted to ICT in learning. Lastly, there is need to encourage more girls and students in the low age bracket to adapt to ICT in learning.