Student’s Perception on Culture-Oriented e-Learning System: An Empirical Study

Abstract

Electronic learning (e-learning) platform is fast growing in the Africa educational system and many students are busy enrolling and accepting it as a means for educational advancement and career achievement channel. An e-learning platform handles students across different cultural settings with various perceptions, learning needs and expectations. Nonetheless, incorporating cultural differences, expectations and perceptions as well as managing them, is challenging on the side of e-learning developers. The challenging aspect of the cultural management of e-learning can be attributed to the software crisis which has lasted for decades now with little or no solution to it. This study tries to understand and determine the perception of students on the development of a culture-oriented e-learning system that can allow them to be able to customise it to suit desired features in their home language at all times. The study also determines the factors and components that necessitate the implementation of the culture-oriented e-learning system. This study was carried out using quantitative research method among the students of NorthWest University, South Africa with a total number of 728 questionnaires collected and analysed. The perception of the involved students was mixed in the sense that some of them preferred to use English language as a medium of learning in e-learning while others would like the e-learning system platform to be designed and developed between their home language and English language. Again, their challenges range from lack of engagement to the inflexible e-learning system leading to the discovering of factors that facilitate culture-oriented e-learning system.

Cultural influence on the adoption of social media platforms by employees

“…It shows that culture plays a vital role in users' attitudes regarding SM. The findings are supported by Lekhanya (2013), Pineda (2014), and Chukwuere et al (2017), who believe that culture is one of the important contributing factors in technology adoption. Based on the findings, participants would prefer to maintain their cultural value, rather than using SM platforms.…”

“…Culture is an essential element when developing technological artefacts, because users want to know the contributing factors that affect their behaviour, thinking, and feeling when accepting these technologies (Pineda, 2014;Chukwuere et al, 2017;Joshua et al, 2015;Chukwuere, Mavetera, & Mnkandla, 2016). Lekhanya (2013) further adds that culture contributes to the establishment of technological advancements and innovative ideas.…”

“…Despite all the advantages associated with social media platforms, the most notable point remains that there are fears of adopting technology by the working class (employees), specifically the older generation. The adoption of technology is influenced by the users' culture (Malik, Nawaz, Shujahat, Kianto, Hussain, & Ali, 2019;Chukwuere, Mavetera, & Mnkandla, 2017;Joshua, Nehemiah, & Ernest, 2015;Lekhanya, 2013). Various elements contribute to senior citizens' acceptance of these technologies; amongst them are cultural factors such as being Africanised in beliefs and values, as well as having a different perspective about life and others.…”

Exploring Teachers' Perceptions of the Relevance of African Languages in the Digital Space

“…Ne mec ek (2010), noted that African languages are experiencing a decline in its use and status. This condition was highlighted by Buzasi (2012) and Chukwuere (2017), who argue that the key reason behind the declining use and status of Indigenous African languages can be greatly attributed to the lasting effects of colonisation. Many academics and linguists, however, argue that the decline in use and status of African languages cannot be blamed solely on colonisation, but that the inattention of Africans themselves has also played a role (Gudhlanga & Makaudze, 2012).…”

“…Oliver and Oliver (2017) argue that the success of colonization did not solely depend on the exploitation of physical resources, but also on the exploitation and eventual domination of the human spirit, which involved the domination of culture and language. Culture and language play significant roles in African society, with undeniable impacts on the economy and education, particularly the issues faced by African education (Chukwuere, 2017). It is widely believed that African languages lack the intellectual capacity to be used in technical and specialized fields of study, which is a result of the negative perception created by the process of colonization (Maseko et al, 2010).…”