Internet Access Competence and the Use of the Internet for Teaching and Research Activities By University of Botswana Academic Staff

Abstract

The Internet is dramatically changing the world of research and teaching. However academics would have to learn new skills on Internet use to fully transform their research and teaching. The objective of the study therefore was to assess the impact of Internet competence on the use of the Internet for teaching and research activities among the academic staff of the University of Botswana. A total of 216 academic staff participated in the study. A specially designed questionnaire with open and close-ended questions was used as the main instrument for data collection. Data were analysed for frequency and percentage using the cross-tabs sub-program of the SPSS. The study showed that many of the respondents are skilled users of the Internet only as far as its application in research activities is concerned. This is essentially in the area of literature and supporting/baseline data searching. They seem not to be as skilled in the use of the Internet to enhance teaching activities, such as delivering additional lecture notes, and sending files to students. The study therefore recommends that for the University of Botswana to derive maximal benefit from its investment in personal computers and Internet access for its academic staff, it is imperative that training programmes be organised for the academic staff on Internet use for teaching and research. (African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science: 2003 13 (1):43-54)

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