The Impact of ICT on History Learners' Academic Performance in Schools

The focus of this study was to explore the impact of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) on History learners¿ academic performance in schools. A Pretest-Posttest Experimental Research Design was used for this study. The study was guided by four research questions and two null hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance. The sample for the study was made up of two intact classes made up of 68 Form 4 History students from two private schools in the Hhohho region of Swaziland, which was divided into control and experimental groups. Data was collected using two 9 Item Essay Type Tests, captioned, ¿Test on Impact of ICT on History Students (TIOIHS 1and 2).¿ The tests were validated by three experts from the University of Swaziland and a high school History teacher. The tests have a test¿retest reliability value of 0.84. The two groups were pre tested to ascertain level of performance before treatment. The experimental group was taught using slides and used iPad tablets loaded with e-books combined with the Internet while the control group was taught conventionally to investigate the effects of the treatment on the experimental group. The two groups were then post-tested.