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Abstract
Gauteng Online Schools Systems (GOLSS) are integrated hardware, software, network and other Information Technology (IT) resources that were provided to Gauteng Basic Schools through Gauteng Online Schools Project (GOLSP) to be used by teachers and leaners in Gauteng Basic Schools. GOLSP ensures that all learners and teachers in the public schooling system in the Gauteng Province of South Africa have access to computers, email and the Internet. Teachers and learners are expected to use GOLSS, but there are factors that influence the use of the systems of the teachers and learners. The investigate factors that influence the usage of GOLSS by teachers in Basic Education. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used as a theoretical foundation to explore the influence of political, economic, cultural, technological factors and facilitating conditions on the usage of the Gauteng Online Schools Systems. A questionnaire was designed to collect data from 500 teachers in different primary and secondary schools in and around Soweto. The data collected was analysed using SPSS. The results of the study suggest that Facilitating Conditions, Political Factors, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, Technological Factors have the most important influence on the usage of GOLSS by teachers. Recommendations were made to improve the usage of GOLSS by teachers.
Keywords: Gauteng Online Schools Systems, Technology Acceptance Model, Political Factors, Economic Factors, Cultural Factors, Technological Factors, Facilitating Conditions
Introduction
Gauteng Online Schools Systems (GOLSS) is an integrated hardware, software, network and other Information Technology (IT) resources that were developed and implemented by Gauteng Online Schools' Project (GOLSP) to the Gauteng Basic Schools to be used by teachers and learners in Basic Education in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.
The provincial education department created 25-seat computer labs with Internet and e-mail capabilities at all public schools in the province. Furthermore, there are also additional nine mobile bus labs with satellite dish mounted on the roof and capable of providing Internet access. There are 19 computer workstations with an on-board generator and air conditioner that have been deployed. These mobile bus labs are operational, especially in the rural areas of the province, bringing much needed access to information and communication technology. This technology was introduced to be the base for the delivery of educational resources to support teaching...