Classroom support for students’ digital literacy skills for learning in Tanzania’s public universities

ABSTRACT

This paper explores classroom support for students’ acquisition of digital literacy skills for learning at the University of Dar es Salaam and Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania. The paper contains qualitative data collected through questionnaires and informal discussions. The study found limited classroom support for students’ digital literacy skills for learning because instructors are not prepared for it. Teaching activities that instructors implement do not reflect the attributes of digital literacy skills students should possess. Therefore, the paper challenges universities to mainstream students’ digital literacy skills and train instructors to assume the skills support role.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital literacy skills
• ICT use for learning
• classroom support

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stephano Nalaila

Mr Stephano Nalaila is a doctoral student in Comparative and International Education at Kenyatta University–Kenya, and currently writing his thesis on ICT environment and students' Digital Literacy Skills in Universities. He also holds a Master of Education in Comparative and International Studies from Kenyatta University and a BA with Education from University of Dar es Salaam. Nalaila is an assistant lecturer in the Department of Languages and Communication Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences at Mzumbe University (The United Republic of Tanzania). He lectures in Study Skills, Comparative Education, and Communication Skills in Business and Management. Nalaila is a growing researcher and author of diverse journal papers and books.

Violet Wawire

Dr Violet Wawire holds a PhD from Kenyatta University and has over 18 years' experience of teaching Higher Education, Sociology of Education, and Health Education at the university. Dr Wawire is a social scientist with expertise in Gender and Social Inclusion supporting local and International NGOs in monitoring and evaluation work. She has also worked on a voluntary basis at Young Peace builders and Africa Center for Strategic Progress as a research and development specialist and research fellow and mentor respectively. She is an accomplished researcher and author of several journal papers and book chapters.

Peter Mugo Gathara

Dr Peter Mugo Gathara is a Senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations in Kenyatta University. His area of specialisation is in Comparative and International Education and he has published widely in refereed journals. Currently, he is the editor of Msingi Journal which is published biannually. His research interests are in the areas of teacher education, leadership, and peace education. He has supervised to completion theses and projects at masters and doctoral levels.