Smart teaching versus hard teaching: Insights from instructors from old and new classrooms in Ghana

Abstract

Smart learning environment (SLE) modules are rapidly expanding with the advancement of technology. However, the concept is still new to many educational institutions in developing countries, with scant studies conducted using the African context. To avoid being left behind in the steps towards modernization, the qualitative study proposes the need to migrate from a traditional learning environment (TLE) to a SLE. Thirty-eight (38) teachers in Ghana who transitioned from TLE to a SLE were recruited to explore their pedagogical experiences in instructing in TLE (old classrooms) and SLE (new classrooms). Generally, teachers favoured SLE compared to TLE. Teachers were motivated to instruct in smart schools because of the affordances of smart technologies. They considered the ambience created in SLE as conducive to promoting their psychological well-being, facilitating their professional development, fostering good assessment strategies, and building twenty-first-century skills in learners needed in the labour market. However, a majority of the teachers perceived self-regulation and social interactions to be more effective in TLE. The key challenges in the SLE included network lag, limited funds to purchase data bundles, malfunction of learning management systems (LMS), and difficulty in designing a Smart App tailored to instructors’ and students’ interests. It is recommended that school administrators and policymakers continually revise SLE frameworks for a successful smart education. Future researchers can investigate how to promote personalized and adaptive learning in SLE and promising tools to assist instructors in technology-enhanced learning environments.