Synthesis of Research on the Challenges Associated with Integration of Technology in

Education

Name

Institution

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 Abstract
This paper presents a review on the challenges associated with the integration of technology in

education. Currently, technology is advancing so rapidly that every productive sector must

come up with effective mechanisms of incorporating it in their system. Consequently, the

society is swayed to a belief that students must develop the technological skills for them to be

competent in the society. This has purposeful forced teachers to incorporate the technological

techniques in the instructional process for the to meet the world’s changing paradigm. Under

this research, advancement of the integrated technology to education, significance of the

integrated technology to education and the challenges associated with integrated technology in

education is studied. From the research, it is found out that IT covers the whole instructional

and assessment processes in education. However, challenges such as computer illiteracy and

inadequate ICT gadgets slows the revolution process in some areas with late civilization.

KEY WORDS: Technology Integration, Educational Technology, Learning Technology,

Technology-enabled assessment, Instructional technology and Educational policy.

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 Table of Contents
Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... ii
Chapter One: Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1
Background Information ..................................................................................................................... 1
Research Question/Problem statement ............................................................................................. 2
Research Question/Problem description............................................................................................ 2
Importance of IT in education............................................................................................................. 3
Challenges associated with IT in education ........................................................................................ 6
Chapter Two: Literature Review ............................................................................................................. 9
Chapter Three: Conclusion and Recommendation ............................................................................... 10
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................. 10

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 Chapter One: Introduction
Background Information
Technology in the current world has taken over manpower resource as most of the

activities are nowadays computerised. Some of the researches have shown that there are certain

countries that are looking into using robots to performs some of the duties that are still lying in

the hands of man. However, most of the office duties such as filing, computation and analysis

have been completely taken over by the computers. This has in turn reduced manpower

utilization rendering most people jobless. In a counter attack to this, it is believed by majority

of the members of the society that without technological skills, one cannot effectively compete

in the world market.

This has consequently made most of the youths and some adults to seek for the skills

and knowledge as one survival security tool in the society. Since most of the duties in the

society have been influenced with the advancement in technology. Communication is one big

aspect of living that has been engulfed with the technological integration. Communications

through mobile phones is another aspect where advancement in technology has taken control

over and it is upon an individual to conforms to the dynamics of technology. Almost everyone

across the globe today communicates using the mobile phones, watch news through the

televisions and listen to radios among other Information and communication technology

gadgets i(Ryan and Bagley, 2015). People have to lean to operates these ICT gadgets

conditionally without any form of hesitation. However, without basing only on the mobile

phones and the televisions, banking is another sector where everyone witnesses the importance

of technological advancement in the world. In the today’s society, one has not to travel all the

way to a banking facility in order to deposit or withdraw some cash. All these facilities have

been embedded in our mobile phones and can be perform while sitting at home. Therefore, this

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paper takes look into the penetration of this integrated technology in the education sectors. This

is achieved through broadening the research by finding out the advancement of the research

into the education sector, the significance of the use of integrated technology in the sector and

the challenges associated with the IT in education.

Research Question/Problem statement

The question/problem to be solved by this research is the challenges associated with

the use of integrated technology in education.

Research Question/Problem description

Integration of technology basically refers to the use of the Information and

Communication technology equipment in the education sector. These Information and

Communication technology equipment includes the use of computers, internet, mobile phones,

CCTV Cameras, Televisions, radios and iPad among other gadgets in facilitating the

instructional processes ii(Rom and Jain, 2016). Through incorporation of the equipment, we

arrive at educational technology, which is the use of the ICT materials in education activities.

Most of the educational process have been technologically integrated, for example, use of ICT

in the instructional process through instructional technology and use of the technology-enabled

assessments. There are several ways that technology has been integrated in the education,

however, the question of whether everybody is effectively and efficiently conversant with the

programs must be asked. These ICT gadgets needs to be operated properly to perform the

various tasks they are earnt for, but that cannot happen when one is illiterate on its operations.

This thereby shortlist us with one challenge facing the integration of technology in education.

Besides, there are certain schools that are still not able to afford some of these technological

gadgets thus making their use in such schools limited. Hence, there is need to define and solve

the challenges associated with the use of integrated technology in education. Thus, this research

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papers provides reviews on the underlying challenges associated with the use of the IT in

education and their possible solutions.

Advancement of education by the research

This research remains quite vital to the advancement of the field by researching on the

side-lines that some schools to completely embrace the technological growth. The research

provides us with the insights of the challenges facing the sector and preventing it towards fully

implementing IT in its process. Through the research, appropriate corrective measures can be

put in place to ensure full implementation of IT in the education sector. It is quite unfortunate

that up to today where it is perceived that technology is everywhere, some areas are still side-

lined. Majority in the society cannot accept that education sectors still experiences challenges

when regards to the integration of ICT despite of the sector comprising of the larger number

who are educated. Therefore, with such an assumption, the education sector would continue

staggering behind hence this research acts as a reminder to such cases that exist within our

society. Moreover, it also enlightens some people who might have not started using the ICT

tools in the instructional process that there are areas where the tools are used in different

departments for different purposes. This can in turn triggers an individual to borrow the same

idea and implement in his or her country. In addition, the research also identifies challenges

faced in the implementation process and their possible ways of solution. Therefore, this

research plays an important role towards the advancement of the education sectors.

Importance of IT in education
In the today world, the day-to-day activities require the input of technology to maximize

the output and minimize on the production. This theorem is the same in the field of education.

If in a situation where an individual is not tech savvy, the individual has higher likelihood of

struggling to ensure the success story of his or her pathiii (Tondeur, Van Braak, Ertmer and

Ottenbreit-Leftwich, 2017). Recently, technology has advanced greatly to higher levels and has

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taken any field, including classrooms for the purposes of education. This is the major reason

why most of the institutions should opt to incorporate Information Technology in the current

education set up, to ensure maximum utilization of the advantage of technology in the field of

education. Therefore, it is important to raise the question, “Why is technology important in the

field of education?”

To begin with, the use of technology in the classrooms necessitates both the students

and teachers to finding new pathways to the solution systems of the difficult existing questions

in their daily lives. This is because of new trends in education such as the ability to use Google

services in research works. In addition to that, technology is also important in the creation of

better and improved syllabus systems, materials of learning, evaluation materials and other

future related services and products in the field of education. It is therefore important enough

to integrate technology in the field of education.

To add on that, education also necessitates the innovation of new practical aspects of

syllabus such in the field of chemical sciences and modern Physics, which purely uses the

concept of technology to impart knowledge to students. Moreover, technology also increases

safety in data storage systems in schools and overall guarantee of the safety of students. Data

management of students and the ability to analyse the students’ performance and make

necessary reports and recommendations about students is an input of technology. In addition,

the training programs of teachers apply the knowledge of technology in order to offer quality

services to students in the end.

In many countries, most curriculums used the Competency based systems, where

innovative skills and creativity are highly upraised. The input of technology is an inspiration

to students to become more innovative and creative, thereby making the students to become

successful in their professional and career walk. In the processes of giving and receiving

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systematic education in the classroom, technology plays a vital role to ensure that this happens.

Moreover, the integration of technology enables learners and their tutors to connect globally

with internet services.

Integration of technology into education has helped improve the accuracy level in the

education system. For instance, programs in computer languages such as Java help to provide

accurate mathematical solutions accurately, with ease and shortest amount of time possible.

This saves a lot of time in the education sector, allowing for the performance of other activities.

Through this, we say that the knowledge of computers through internet is providing veracity to

students.

Social media platforms such as twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. are sites for social

interaction. Teachers and other educators use these technological platforms for teaching social

sciences and socialism. In Facebook, What Sapp etc. administrators such as teachers can form

groups in such media platforms and invite students to join. Such groups can therefore act as

sites for learning, where teachers can post a question easily for students to tackle, irrespective

of the geographical mobility between the two parties involved. However, many concerns must

be taken into account to ensure that there are no illicit activities that take place in such media-

otherwise the administrator can decide to allow only specific contents for discussions in the

group.

Technology has transformed education to higher limits. There is improved speed and

accuracy with which students can now get access to the information they require. In connection

to this, it is sufficient to note that currently, universities provide online programs at the degree

level, masters, doctorate and PhD. Educators are currently in a position to teach as many

students as possible through platforms such as blogs and YouTube. In connection to that, there

are also the necessary educational tools available in the online platforms to enable education

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through the internet. Still with the application of internet services, students have the ability to

engage themselves in online debates, online classes, participating in many forums and

interview etc. Student today, through the use of technology to make and earn money online,

as passive sources of income while studying at the same time.

Visualized communication technology is very important and beneficial form of delivery

to the students. Information display to students through info graphics, smart arts, colour and
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slides enables students to learn actual data and information (Spector, 2015). In many

institutions today, there are many cases of corruption. Through the integration of technology,

it will be easy enough to reduce the level of corruption. In addition, the education stakeholders

(parents, teachers, government etc.) and students are able to monitor progress of students

through technology.

There is also the possibility of future robotic education. This can seek to handle the

problems of shortages of educators, because robots will be interacting with students as well as

teaching them. Precisely, it is worth noting that it is easy for individuals to succeed in their

education life because of the ease and flow of information through internet. This is because

students are in an easy position to Google assignments and print out presentable data. There is

also improvement in research work. Therefore, it is enough to say technology has brought about

many positive changes in the education and therefore need to be established filly.

Challenges associated with IT in education

As with the evolutionary changes in the education sector, there has been the

enhancement of technology in the sector. Technology came with both the negatives and the

positives. Among the negative impacts include less involvement in activities, technical

challenges, distraction from classroom among many others.

Saettler, (2018) argues that some of the challenges facing IT in education is bounded to

the administration and management of the institution. He adds that poor administration and
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management approaches cannot allow implementation of such programs as the funds

channelled to it are misused, misappropriated or misallocated. This thereby leaves the

institution with little money to channel towards the IT program but fails since the installation

cost is quite high. He says that under such leadership’s teachers are not freely allowed to

exchange ideas and works under frustrations. In this condition of work none would be willing

to go extra mile. Spector (2015) adds that availability of funds contributes a lot towards the

incorporation of the materials within the institution. This will determine the availability of

complimentary social amenities such as roads, network lines and power supply.

The introduction of technology in the classroom set up poses a major challenge to the

education of teens. Technology has the ability to disrupt teen students from their normal

classroom work and put more attention on the technology part, within the environs of learning.

Teens and many other students have the freedom and the opportunity to access social media

networking sites and access to free video games that tempt students to spend a lot of their time

in such. As such, students tend to stay away from their daily planned activities. These

distractions interfere with the overall concentration of students and thereby lowering the

performance of such students. Reduced academic performance hampers overall progress of

students and lowering their success potentials.

Another problem associated with technology in the classroom set up is the technicality

of the systems of technology. Normally, technology might at some time fail because of the

existence of some technical difficulties. Lack of knowledge to use computers may easily lead

to break down and thereby increasing costs. In relation to this, during the repair of such

equipment, students will experience delayed service delivery. From this aspect, we may

consider that technology can at some point never be time saving due to the pending

circumstances in hand v(Wiziack and dos Santos, 2016). Otherwise to avoid such time wastage,

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teachers must always be prepared with back up manuals during their lessons in order to be

reliable enough by the students.

Technology, for instance, in the field of mathematics reduces errors while improving

accuracy and time saving. However, using of computer knowledge and programs to tackle

mathematical and other subjects’ problems will deny the students the opportunity to develop

and apply basic skills in math, literary and communication. It is worth noting that all these

skills are vital day to day lives and extends to the career lives of individuals. Exclusivity in

using computer programs such as grammar check, plagiarism check and scientific calculators

enables faster completion of tasks and assignments without the manual knowledge of how to

handle such mathematical functions.

Students have different rates of understanding. This applies to the understanding of

knowledge in the computers through the inputs of technology. There are a lot of students who

have poor knowledge of technology while other students are quick enough to grasping such

technological knowledge. In view of this, some of the students are normally left behind during

class presentations and thereby not doing well in their academic performance. This will always

have an average downfall performance in any institution

Lately cyber bullying has been on the increase at an alarming rate. This is because of

the awareness that students have achieved. Through learning of IT and programming, students

have developed the trend of hacking into other people’s account to access information of varied

nature. This has also led to a lot of scamming messages that intensifies the security status of

many individuals. To add on this, technology-based system of education also offers a wide

range of insecurity in the assessment of students. Moreover, with relation to this, there are

many instances where the exams databases are hacked creating a possible leakage in exams

thereby lowering the qualities of assessment offered to students in a particular country.

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 Another burden of technology comes with its financial costs. Most of the institutions

are never well equipped with enough finance for purchasing technological equipment such as

computers and modern internet connections vi(Webster, 2018). It therefore deems necessary to

be careful and thoughtful while introducing technology in the education sector, or else the

future generation will remain with educators who view technological developments as nothing

else other than the overpriced education distraction tools but not as the important teaching and

learning materials. It is therefore very clear that technology have the positive side and the

negative sides of it. In view of the positives, care must be taken to ensure that there are minimal

negatives.

Chapter Two: Literature Review

Authors of other related articles have also argued on the importance and challenges

associated with the use of IT in education systems. Martínez, Rivera and Duță (2015) points

out that integration of technology in education has expanded the sector vii. As a result of the

advancement in technology, teaching and learning can occur from anywhere. Learning is no

longer primarily based on the written materials. Learning through the telecommunication

platforms also allows the tutor and the learner to interact more flexibly. In addition, learning

facilitated by the ICT tools is concrete, enjoyable and retainable than the oral learning. From

the same ICT tools, there are also videos that supplement the learning. Other researchers such

as Kruss, McGrath, Petersen and Gastrow (2015) have also postulated that learning facilitated

by the ICT tools is more student centred and self-directed that the other methods. viiiThe duos

also added that integrated instruction facilitates a creativity in learning as the learners are

allowed to critically think during the instructional process. This kind of learners are again

exposed to variety of online sources thus having higher learning opportunities from the free

online programs. However, another group of researchers comprising of Harper and Milman

(2016) shows that these students learning online are exposed to certain unhealthy websites and

9
get imposed to immorality at a tender age.ix Kelley and Knowles (2016) also added that lack of

capitals, inaccessibility and illiteracy are some of the hindering factors towards getting

involved in the ICT education.x

Chapter Three: Conclusion and Recommendation

Conclusion
Integration of ICT tools in education has expanded the sector besides making the sector

flexible for learning activities. The researches done recently have shown that majority of

learning institution have adopted the instructional technology and technology-based

assessments. The use of the instructional technology in teaching and learning makes the process

itself enjoyable besides availing numerous digital resources for the learners to choose from.

The learning becomes flexible as one can learn from wherever location he or she likes as the

physical instruction is minimised xi(Domingo and Garganté, 2016). The learning also is more

of learner centred as it is the learner that does a lot of the researches. Unfortunately, there are

some areas that still experiences a black out in terms of the technological advancement. These

kinds of institutions face challenges that arises from within themselves and from the

administration and management of those institutions.

Recommendation
In order to solve some of these challenges, the following recommendations are vital for the

institutions experiencing such problems.

i. The state should ensure an equivalent distribution of resources to all parts within its

jurisdiction to ensure that there is accessibility, capital and some complimentary

amenities such as electricity xii(Ciampa, 2017).

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ii. Technological education should be provided by the state to such areas and people be

encouraged to seek for ICT literacyxiii (Bryan, Moore, Johnson and Roehrig, 2015).

iii. Provisions of several workshops aiming at training teachers on the operation of some

common and most vital ICT gadgets like computers xiv(Anglin, 1995).

iv. Supporting the education curriculum with the ICT related information so that teachers

be proficient with the skills and knowledge of the gadgets.

v. Sensitization on the importance of ICT integration in education processes xv(Alexander

and Vladislav, 2015).

vi. Proper channelling of funds meant for the institution’s technological advancement by

the administration and management xvi(Akçayır and Akçayır, 2017).

11
i
Ryan, t., & Bagley, g. (2015). Nurturing the integration of technology in education. Journal of Theory

& Practice in Education (JTPE), 11(1).

ii
Rom, M., & Jain, J. (2016). The importance of Information and Communication Technology in English

learning: indigenous students' perspectives. Malaysian Journal of Distance Education, 18(1), 87-101.

iii
Tondeur Responding to challenges in teacher professional development for ICT integration in

education. Educational Technology and Society, 19(3), 110-120., J., Forkosh-Baruch, A., Prestridge, S.,

Albion, P., & Edirisinghe, S. (2016).

iv
Spector, J. M. (2015). Foundations of educational technology: Integrative approaches and
interdisciplinary perspectives. Routledge
v
Wiziack, J. C., & dos Santos, V. D. (2016, June). Incorporating technology into education processes:

Proposal for an extension of the “Technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge” framework by

applying integrated cognitive competencies. In 2016 11th Iberian Conference on Information Systems

and Technologies (CISTI) (pp. 1-8). IEEE.

vi
Webster, T. E. (2018). On Being Earnest: The Importance of Engaging With Technology in

Education. International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Teaching

(IJCALLT), 8(4), 1-12.

vii
Martínez Rivera, Ó., & Duță, N. (2015). Between theory and practice: the importance of ICT in Higher

Education as a tool for collaborative learning. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2015, Núm 180.

viii
Kruss, G., McGrath, S., Petersen, I. H., & Gastrow, M. (2015). Higher education and economic

development: The importance of building technological capabilities. International Journal of

Educational Development, 43, 22-31.

ix
Harper, B., & Milman, N. B. (2016). One-to-one technology in K–12 classrooms: A review of the

literature from 2004 through 2014. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 48(2), 129-142.

12
x
Kelley, T. R., & Knowles, J. G. (2016). A conceptual framework for integrated STEM

education. International Journal of STEM Education, 3(1), 11.

xi
Domingo, M. G., & Garganté, A. B. (2016). Exploring the use of educational technology in primary

education: Teachers' perception of mobile technology learning impacts and applications' use in the

classroom. Computers in Human Behavior, 56, 21-28.

xii
Ciampa, K. (2017). Building bridges between technology and content literacy in special education:

Lessons learned from special educators’ use of integrated technology and perceived benefits for

students. Literacy Research and Instruction, 56(2), 85-113.

xiii
Bryan, L. A., Moore, T. J., Johnson, C. C., & Roehrig, G. H. (2015). Integrated STEM education. In STEM

road map (pp. 23-37). Routledge.

xiv
Anglin, G. J. (1995). Instructional technology: Past, present, and future. Libraries Unlimited, Inc., PO

Box 6633, Englewood, CO, 80155-6633.

xv
Alexander, B., & Vladislav, B. (2015). Structure and content of the educational technology of
managing students' healthy lifestyle. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 15(3), 362

xvi
Akçayır, M., & Akçayır, G. (2017). Advantages and challenges associated with augmented reality for

education: A systematic review of the literature. Educational Research Review, 20, 1-11.

13
 References
Akçayır, M., & Akçayır, G. (2017). Advantages and challenges associated with augmented

reality for education: A systematic review of the literature. Educational

Research Review, 20, 1-11.

Alexander, B., & Vladislav, B. (2015). Structure and content of the educational technology of

managing students' healthy lifestyle. Journal of Physical Education and

Sport, 15(3), 362.

Anglin, G. J. (1995). Instructional technology: Past, present, and future. Libraries Unlimited,

Inc., PO Box 6633, Englewood, CO, 80155-6633.

Bryan, L. A., Moore, T. J., Johnson, C. C., & Roehrig, G. H. (2015). Integrated STEM

education. In STEM road map (pp. 23-37). Routledge.

Ciampa, K. (2017). Building bridges between technology and content literacy in special

education: Lessons learned from special educators’ use of integrated technology

and perceived benefits for students. Literacy Research and Instruction, 56(2),

85-113.

Domingo, M. G., & Garganté, A. B. (2016). Exploring the use of educational technology in

primary education: Teachers' perception of mobile technology learning impacts

and applications' use in the classroom. Computers in Human Behavior, 56, 21-

28.

Harper, B., & Milman, N. B. (2016). One-to-one technology in K–12 classrooms: A review of

the literature from 2004 through 2014. Journal of Research on Technology in

Education, 48(2), 129-142.

14
Kelley, T. R., & Knowles, J. G. (2016). A conceptual framework for integrated STEM

education. International Journal of STEM Education, 3(1), 11.

Kruss, G., McGrath, S., Petersen, I. H., & Gastrow, M. (2015). Higher education and economic

development: The importance of building technological

capabilities. International Journal of Educational Development, 43, 22-31.

Martínez Rivera, Ó., & Duță, N. (2015). Between theory and practice: the importance of ICT

in Higher Education as a tool for collaborative learning. Procedia-Social and

Behavioral Sciences, 2015, Núm 180.

Rom, M., & Jain, J. (2016). The importance of Information and Communication Technology

in English learning: indigenous students' perspectives. Malaysian Journal of

Distance Education, 18(1), 87-101.

Ryan, t., & Bagley, g. (2015). Nurturing the integration of technology in education. Journal of

Theory & Practice in Education (JTPE), 11(1).

Saettler, P. (1968). A history of instructional technology.

Sandars, J., Patel, R. S., Goh, P. S., Kokatailo, P. K., & Lafferty, N. (2015). The importance of

educational theories for facilitating learning when using technology in medical

education. Medical teacher, 37(11), 1039-1042.

Scherer, R., Tondeur, J., Siddiq, F., & Baran, E. (2018). The importance of attitudes toward

technology for pre-service teachers' technological, pedagogical, and content

knowledge: Comparing structural equation modelling approaches. Computers

in Human Behavior, 80, 67-80.

Spector, J. M. (2015). Foundations of educational technology: Integrative approaches and

interdisciplinary perspectives. Routledge.

15
Tondeur, J., Forkosh-Baruch, A., Prestridge, S., Albion, P., & Edirisinghe, S. (2016).

Responding to challenges in teacher professional development for ICT

integration in education. Educational Technology and Society, 19(3), 110-120.

Tondeur, J., Van Braak, J., Ertmer, P. A., & Ottenbreit-Leftwich, A. (2017). Understanding the

relationship between teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and technology use in

education: a systematic review of qualitative evidence. Educational Technology

Research and Development, 65(3), 555-575.

Tondeur, J., van Braak, J., Siddiq, F., & Scherer, R. (2016). Time for a new approach to prepare

future teachers for educational technology use: Its meaning and

measurement. Computers & Education, 94, 134-150.

Webster, T. E. (2018). On Being Earnest: The Importance of Engaging With Technology in

Education. International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning

and Teaching (IJCALLT), 8(4), 1-12.

Wiziack, J. C., & dos Santos, V. D. (2016, June). Incorporating technology into education

processes: Proposal for an extension of the “Technology, pedagogy, and content

knowledge” framework by applying integrated cognitive competencies. In 2016

11th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI) (pp.

1-8). IEEE.

16
 Appendix 1: Acronym and definition of terms

ICT- Information and Communication Technology

IT- Integrated Technology

Education Technology- The use of the ICT gadgets in education

Instructional Technology- Using the ICT gadgets in the instruction process

Technology-enabled Assessment- Assessments facilitated by the technology

Appendix 2: The Research Outline

Title ……………………………………………………

Abstract ………………………………………………..

Table of contents ………………………………………

Introduction ………………………………………………

Background Information ………………………………………

Research Question …………………………………………………..

Description of the Research Question ……………………………..

Advancement in education by the research ………………………

Importance of IT in education ………………………………………

Challenges Associated with the IT in education ………………………………

Literature Review ……………………………………………………

Conclusion ………………………………………………………

17
Recommendation ……………………………………………………………………………

References

………………………………………………………………………………………….

Appendix 1 …………………………………………………………………………………

Appendix 2 ……………………………………………………………………………………

18