Local Language Numeracy Kindergarten Prototype Design to Support Home-based Learning During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic

Vusumuzi Maphosa; Bekithemba Dube

doi:10.30935/cedtech/10846

Vusumuzi Maphosa ¹ ^* , Bekithemba Dube ²

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CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 13, Issue 3, Article No: ep301

https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10846

Submitted: 09 May 2020, Published Online: 15 April 2021

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Abstract

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused unprecedented global socio-economic disruptions. One of the areas negatively impacted is the education system. The country’s over reliance on traditional face-to-face teaching has brought about serious challenges to policymakers who have to decide how learning would proceed in the absence of physical contact between the teacher and the learner. This has been exacerbated by the general lack of access to textbooks and other teaching and learning materials which makes it difficult for parents to assist with home schooling. The potential use of mobile apps to support and enhance early childhood learning has received little attention in developing countries such as Zimbabwe, yet its impact in supporting early childhood education would be enormous during and post the COVID-19 pandemic. The study seeks to develop a numeracy-based app prototype that uses a local language (IsiNdebele) in a classroom or home-based schooling in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or other natural disasters or man-made situations that may make face-to-face interaction impossible. The analysis showed that kindergarten teachers had positive opinion towards the app as they perceived the prototype to be useful, easy to use, simple and that learners would be eager to use it. The results of this study can inform policymakers and educators on optimising technology based early teaching and learning at school and home.

Keywords: COVID-19, kindergarten, mobile apps, home-based learning, technology acceptance model

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Citation

Maphosa, V., & Dube, B. (2021). Local Language Numeracy Kindergarten Prototype Design to Support Home-based Learning During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic. Contemporary Educational Technology, 13(3), ep301. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10846

Maphosa, V., and Dube, B. (2021). Local Language Numeracy Kindergarten Prototype Design to Support Home-based Learning During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic. Contemporary Educational Technology, 13(3), ep301. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10846

Maphosa V, Dube B. Local Language Numeracy Kindergarten Prototype Design to Support Home-based Learning During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic. CONT ED TECHNOLOGY. 2021;13(3), ep301. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10846

Maphosa, Vusumuzi, and Bekithemba Dube. "Local Language Numeracy Kindergarten Prototype Design to Support Home-based Learning During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic". Contemporary Educational Technology 2021 13 no. 3 (2021): ep301. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10846

Maphosa, Vusumuzi et al. "Local Language Numeracy Kindergarten Prototype Design to Support Home-based Learning During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic". Contemporary Educational Technology, vol. 13, no. 3, 2021, ep301. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10846

Maphosa V, Dube B. Local Language Numeracy Kindergarten Prototype Design to Support Home-based Learning During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic. CONT ED TECHNOLOGY. 2021;13(3):ep301. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10846