Availability of ICT Devices and Learner Participation in Bachelor of Education Programme by E-Learning at the University of Nairobi

Information communication technology (ICT) is unstoppable and is opening new pathways in the education sector. At the University of Nairobi, ODeL Campus is tasked to move some of the University programmes from purely traditional face to face teaching to digital platforms. For programmes to go online, there is mandatory infrastructure that must exist which include but not limited to internet connectivity, ICT devices and electricity. This study focused on the Bachelor of Education - Arts (B.Ed.) programme by e-learning at the University of Nairobi, with the objective of assessing the influence of ICT devices on learner participation in the programme. Since the introduction of LMS and particularly the Moodle LMS in the programme, there has been slow transition of B.Ed. students by distance learning to e-learning. To establish the cause of slow migration, data was collected on availability of ICT devices to the students from a random sample of 70 students out of 250 in their final year of study. The data was analysed and results showed that 66% of the respondents have ICT devices that are available for their use. There was also a moderate but significant correlation between availability of ICT user devices and learner participation in e-learning of p=0.00<0.05, suggesting that availability of ICT devices is an important factor in learner participation in the programme. Further examination by regression analysis showed that availability of ICT user devices account for 45.6% of the variance in learner participation on the e-learning platform. The coefficient of regression was also significant at p=0.000<0.05. It was concluded that ICT devices have a positive and significant influence on learner participation in e-learning. It was recommended that learners should be encouraged, assisted or required to have ICT devices to enhance participation. Secondly, the University should make it a requirement for students who wish to enrol in e-learning programme to have ICT devices. Further it was suggested that the university collaborate with industry payers to avail affordable devices to students that can be used for learning purposes.