IMPLEMENTATION OF ONLINE EDUCATION IN TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL COLLEGES IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA.

Abstract

Education and its role in the development of individuals and society is one of the key factors to the economic prosperity of any nation. Education is primarily delivered using the traditional approach such as face to face learning, however, learning is increasingly being delivered via use of technology devices for instance online learning or blended learning. Therefore, this study focused on the factors affecting implementation of online teaching and learning in enhancing education in the Technical and vocational colleges in Kakamega County, Kenya. Four research questions were used to guide the study. They include: What is the attitude of the trainers towards online teaching and learning? What is the attitude of the trainees towards online teaching and learning? How adequate are the online teaching and learning resources to support quality teaching and learning in technical and vocational institutions in Kakamega County? What is the level of effectiveness of online teaching and learning in enhancing education in the technical and vocational institutions in Kakamega County? This study adopted the theory of diffusion of innovations. The study employed a mixed method research approach whereby the study targeted 4 Principals, 1 County Director of Education, 230 Trainers and 6610 Trainees from the technical and vocational institutions in Kakamega County. Purposive sampling was used to select the 4 Principals of Technical and Vocational Colleges and 1 County Director of Education while simple random sampling was employed to select 373 respondents (Trainers and trainees) in the 4 Technical and Vocational Colleges. Quantitative data were obtained through the use of questionnaires, while qualitative data were gathered using interview guides and document analysis guides. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics where descriptive statistics included frequencies and percentages while inferential statistics involved Pearson correlation analysis. On the hand, qualitative data was analyzed using a content analysis technique. The study concluded that attitude of the trainers and trainees had influence on the quality of online education. Also, the study concluded that adequacy of learning and teaching resources had influence on the quality of online education. Moreover, the level of effectiveness of online teaching and learning had effect on the quality of online education. The study recommends that there is need for the management of the TVC in Kakamega County to have a changed perception on the online education. This will assist in the adoption and implementation of online education in the various TVC in the county. The management of the TVC’s in Kakamega County should ensure that the online teaching and learning materials such as tablets, desktop computer, copy scanners, overhead projectors and internet connections among others are available to enhance the online education. The management of the TVC’s in Kakamega County should ensure that the available resources are utilized correctly and this can assist in achieving its goal on the online education. This will also improve on the quality of online education in the TVC’s within the count