The perceived usefulness of the Internet to high school learners in Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa

• Main Authors: Mpubane E. Matlala, Siyanda E. Kheswa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AOSIS 2019-12-01
• Series: South African Journal of Information Management
• Subjects: internet use; icts; high school learners; learning outcomes; makhuduthamaga local municipality.
• Online Access: https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/1098
• ISSN: 2078-1865; 1560-683X

Background: The growth in Internet use has dramatically altered the lives of millions of people around the globe, and it plays a fundamental role in meeting the information and communication needs of learners. The usage of the Internet is a crucial tool for educational progression. Learners use the Internet for various purposes such as social, entertainment and educational activities. Objectives: To investigate the perceived usefulness of the extent of Internet use by Grade 11 learners from selected high schools within Makhuduthamaga Municipality in Limpopo province. Method: A quantitative research method was used, with 264 learners participating in the study. Data were collected through questionnaire surveys. A total of 264 questionnaires were send to the participants and all of them were returned, yielding a 100% response rate, and the data were analysed descriptively. Results: The findings indicated that the Internet was used for various activities – 78.0% (205) using it for learning purposes, 46.5% for communicating with family and friends, 41.0% to update their knowledge, 18.0% for entertainment and 11.0% for news. The findings shed light on the most effective use of the Internet by high school learners, and this implies that schools and policy-makers need to formulate proper ways in which learners can utilise the Internet for their educational activities. Conclusion: The use of the Internet for teaching and learning purposes demonstrated that it has a strong impact on the quality and accessibility of education and academic performance. This study is significant for high schools and policy-makers in understanding the link between the use of the Internet and its usefulness in learners’ education, owing to the fundamental nature of the Internet in the educational environment.