Mediating Learner-Content Interaction Using
Emerging Technologies: A case of History
Education at Makerere University
By
William Musamba
&
M B Tamale
School of Distance and Life Long Learning,
College of Education and External Studies,
Makerere University.
June, 2015




Initial stages of ICT integration in Uganda’s
teaching-learning process (Ali, Haoulader
&Muhammad, 2013).
Lukewarm usage of ICT in Makerere university
;(Muyinda, 2009, Bakkabulindi, 2012)
Presence of continuous commitment to support
innovations in institutions of higher learning.
Potential of ICT
integration in education
changing worldview and lifestyle at the all
levels, a phenomenon called Technology
Mediated Learning (TML) (Feuerstein, 2006).
The problem of inert knowledge with its
characteristic of rote learning, are central
concerns in most of today’s researches, yet
none focuses on history education where
students basically cram notes to pass
exams
rather
than
understanding
(Lauwerier, T. and Akkari, A. 2015).
Aim
Empirically investigated ways through which
improvements can be made in History
Education using Emerging Technologies.





The theory of Online Learning (Anderson 2008) underpinned this study.
Six levels of interaction: Learner-content, Learner-learner, Learnerinstructor, Content-content, Instructor-content and Instructor-instructor.
Recent studies such as Tsang (2010), Zimmerman (2012), Shackelford (2012)
have concentrated on the general role of technology in enhancing online
learning, but remained silent on the role of Emerging Technologies in
mediating learner-content interaction in History Education.
Emerging technologies have potential enhance Learner-content interaction.
Informed by the theory of online learning, this study proposed that the use
of emerging technologies by history education students in Makerere
University could be related to the way learners manipulate these technologies
to maximize opportunities for learner-content interaction leading to
cognitive development.
Conceptual framework
Dependent
variables
Independent
variable
Emerging
Technologies
 Social networking
sites
 Blogging tools
 Wikis
 More
technologies
Extraneous
variables
Government policy
University Policy
NGOs
Religious institutions
Community
 Learner-content
Interaction
•Discussion
•Content exploration
•Content analysis
•Content interpretation
Objective
Explore the role of Emerging
Technologies
in
mediating
Learner-Content Interaction in
History Education so as to remain
relevant.




Thurmond (2003) defined interaction as the
learner’s engagement with the course content,
other learners, the instructor, and the technological
medium used in the course.
Anderson (2008) identified six forms of interaction
which include Teacher-Teacher, Learner-Teacher,
Learner-Learner,
Learner-Content,
ContentContent and Teacher-Content.
Kanuka
(2011)
defined
Learner-Content
interaction as an intellectual participation
between the learner and the subject matter.
No focus on emerging technologies and learnercontent interaction in history education.






Quantitative approach and correlational survey
design.
233 students.
A self-administered questionnaire with a section
on learner-content interaction (nine items: α =
0.92).
Morgan and Krejcie’s Sample Size Estimation
Table.
Five-point Likert for the minimum.
Pearson Correlation Moment Index goodness of
fit test, at the confidence level equals .05.





64% of students agreed that with emerging technologies, they were
able to discover more knowledge in history education than when
they simply listen to a lecture;
65% felt that emerging technologies have the potential to offer
them opportunities for interaction among themselves as students of
history education;
58% of the respondents agreed that
emerging technologies
enhances their intellectual transformation;
65% concurred with the measurement that emerging technologies
has the potential to keep history education students preparedness
and more involvement.
All other items scored “Agree”, implying that Emerging Technologies
enhances Learner-Content interaction.
Integration of Emerging Technologies like
blog pages, Google Docs, wikis, Skype, and
the rest have a positive relationship with
learner content interaction. The more these
emerging technologies are applied in the
teaching and learning process students get
more friendly to them, utilize them
constantly, share and discover more
knowledge, hence its relevancy to the
teaching and learning activity, basing on the
theory of Online Learning.


Enhance
uptake
of
learner-content
interactions among history education
students at School of Education in Makerere
University through use of Emerging
Technologies
Liaise
with
relevant
partners
(ICT
Directorate,
ODeL,
MUELE,
Library,
Directorate of Research etc. )
Questions & Comments are Welcome
Thank you.