Computing Science Studies

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Start date: 2020End date: 2024

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 17
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    Teachers' perceptions of public employees' performance management Information system effectiveness in government secondary schools in Mzumbe Ward, Tanzania
    (African Quarterly Social Science Review, 2024) Komba, Mercy M.
    The Public Employees' Performance Management Information System (PEPMIS) was the focus of this study, which evaluated its effectiveness in government secondary schools in Mzumbe Ward, Tanzania. The expectancy theory guided the study, which provided a framework for understanding employee motivation and behaviour. A qualitative case study design was used, involving qualitative interviews with 13 teachers purposively sampled from Mongola and Mzumbe Secondary Schools. Data saturation determined the sample size. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. The findings reveal that while PEPMIS enhances administrative efficiency and supports professional development, its effectiveness is hindered by challenges related to fairness, transparency, training, technical functionality, and network reliability, necessitating improvements for greater usability and satisfaction. Addressing these challenges through targeted interventions can enhance the system's effectiveness, user satisfaction, and overall impact on organizational performance. The study recommends training programs for teachers and school administrators, addressing technical infrastructure issues, and incorporating feedback mechanisms into PEPMIS to make it more responsive to teachers' needs and expectations. This paper contributes to the understanding of PEPMIS from teachers' perspectives. It highlights important insights for policymakers and educators in improving PEPMIS implementation and its impact on the country's education sector.
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    Usability and challenges of cloud storage: Perspectives of academic staff at Mzumbe University, Tanzania
    (East African Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 2024) Komba, Mercy Mlay; Komba, Gabriel Vitus
    This study aimed to explore the perspectives, preferences and challenges of Mzumbe University faculty regarding cloud storage adoption. Utilizing a case study design, the researchers conducted semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of 15 faculty members to capture diverse viewpoints. The study used the thematic analysis approach to analyse the data retrieved from interviews. Based on the findings, the study concluded that cloud storage systems have several advantages, such as easy accessibility features, robust security protocols, service compatibility and intuitive user interfaces. These benefits encourage academic personnel to collaborate and increase productivity. However, some challenges existed. These are related to internet access, cost, lack of formal training and security. The study recommends that enhancing the university internet infrastructure is critical to guaranteeing reliability and fast connectivity for effective utilization of cloud storage. The university may also think of offering financial assistance for supplementary storage requirements to academic staff.
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    The influence of ChatGPT on digital learning: Experience among university students
    (Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 2024) Komba, Mercy Mlay
    Purpose This study aims to investigate the influence of ChatGPT, an AI-based chatbot, on the digital learning experience of students at Mzumbe University. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative research design to gather in-depth insights from participants. Semi-structured interviews and an analysis of previous chat content were used as primary sources of data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data, allowing for the exploration of participants’ perspectives, experiences and opinions regarding the integration of ChatGPT into the learning process. Findings The results of the study demonstrated that ChatGPT is widely used in educational contexts and has a positive influence on students’ study habits, academic performance, and understanding of course material. Students appreciated the system’s simplicity, tailored instructions, and the promptness and accuracy of the responses. Despite the possibility of isolated mistakes. Research limitations/implications It is important to recognize the limitations of this study. First, the sample size was small, limiting the broad application of the results. Second, this study’s narrow emphasis on students at Mzumbe University limits its applicability in other situations. Furthermore, depending on self-reported experiences, biases, such as individual interpretation or recollection bias, can occur. Practical implications Educators can maximize ChatGPT in the classroom by using study insights. Its advantages, such as effectiveness and enhanced performance, highlight the possibility for student-centered learning. Practitioners are guided by their awareness of problems, such as probable errors. Constant updates guarantee ChatGPT’s applicability and provide educators with useful advice. Social implications Peer impact is highlighted in this study concerning social factors on the adoption of AI in education. Resolving issues preserves public confidence. Views influence public opinion and direct policymakers in discussions about safe AI use. It influences public attitudes while navigating the ethical integration of AI. Originality/value This study offers insightful information about the impact of ChatGPT on digital learning in Tanzania’s higher education. It makes innovative research contributions that enhance educational practices and emphasizes the advantages, difficulties and demands of responsible usage in the context of AI-based chatbots.
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    Trust framework on exploitation of humans as the weakest link in cybersecurity
    (NASK–Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 2023) Daudi, Morice
    The significance of cybersecurity is increasing in our daily digital lives. The reason for this rise is that human interactions take place in computer-mediated environments, or cyberspace, where physical cues from face-to-face interactions are either absent or very minimal. Computer users are becoming increasingly susceptible to cyberattacks as a result of human interactions in cyberspace. Understanding how cybercriminals exploit the human trust, the weakest link in cybersecurity is relevant because cybercriminals focus on attacking the human psychology of trust rather than technical-based controls. To this end, the present paper develops a trust framework on exploitation of humans as the weakest link in cybersecurity. The framework is established by linking the human psychology of trust and techniques used by cybercriminals in deceiving and manipulating users of computer systems. The framework is validated by demonstrating its application using a case study employing real data. Findings show that cybercriminals exploit human trust based on trust development processes and bases of trust, either creating (falsified) expectations or a relationship history to lure the victim in. Furthermore, it is revealed that technical-based controls cannot provide effective safeguards to prevent manipulation of the human psychology of trust.
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    A Decision supporting algorithm for improving sunflower production amidst changing weather in the singida region, Tanzania
    (East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation, 2024) Kisanjara, Simeo; Matimbwa, Hadija
    Recent drastic weather shifts driven by global warming have adversely affected African agriculture, culminating in low crop yields. The purpose of this study is to design decision support algorithms (DSA) that will aid sunflower farmers in the Singida Region in managing the risks associated with weather variations and consequently improve crop yields. A total of 80 respondents, including meteorologists, agricultural extension officers (AEOs), and farmers with feature and smart phones, contributed to the study's designedand empirical validation of the algorithm. The study designed and validated the DSA that assist sunflower growers in the Singida region in making informed decisions to improve productivity amidst adverse weather changes. As revealed, farmerswho use both smartphones and feature phones are extremely satisfied with the DSA functions. The decision support algorithm designedin this study integrates smart and feature phone elements that were overlooked in comparable, prior systems and algorithms.Farmers that grow other crops that behave similarly to sunflower in areas with characteristicscomparable to the Singida region will find the study's designedand validated algorithm helpful. In order to assist sunflower farmers in making decisions, theDSA interprets and processes data on a predetermined set of daily activities. In order to advance the use of ICT applications in farming activities, the study's findings took into consideration farmers who used feature phones with SMS-based notifications and those who used smartphones. The existing systems mostly concentrated on integrating web-based systems through mobile phones, which is dependent only on internet connectivity being available. Moreover, the use of web-based systems via mobile phones only results in restricted coverage and is out of reach for many farmers. Thus, the innovative element that emphasizes the study's contribution to the field in Tanzania's rural areas is the integration of feature and smart phone.IntroductionAgricultural production in Africa is significantly impacted by adverse weather shifts owing to variability (Stevanovi’c et al.,2016). The continent’svulnerability is attributable to severalchallenges, including extreme poverty, limitedemployment opportunities, and a lack of Keywords:ICTs; Decision Support Algorithm; Smart-feature phone; weather changes; Agriculture;Sunflower Productivity Cite as,Kisanjara and Matimbwa,(2024). A Decision supporting algorithm for improving sunflower production amidst changing weather in the singidaregion, Tanzania.East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation 5(2).Received: 02/01/24Accepted: 05/03/24Published: 28/03/24EISSN: 2707-0425
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    Internet of things and organizational performance in the Tanzanian banks
    (Emerald Publishing Limited, 2023) Kisanjara, Simeo
    Purpose – The adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) as a new technology is gaining traction in many business organizations in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of IoT on the organizational performance of Tanzanian banks. Design/methodology/approach – For data collection, this study used a quantitative approach with a questionnaire. A total of 342 respondents were considered, with an 82.16% response rate. AMOS software was used to analyze data using structural equation modeling (SEM) as the primary technique. Findings – The results revealed that the majority of the hypotheses tested in this study have a significant effect on organizational performance, as indicated by their p-value of 0.05. However, there is no statistically significant effect of performance expectancy on organizational performance by lowering IoT operation costs. Furthermore, the availability of IoT has no discernible effect on organizational performance by improving service quality. Practical implications – The findings of this study inform policymakers to reformulate information and communication technologies policy to clearly spell out the adoption and implementation of the IoT as a new technological innovation for providing services not only in the banking sector but also in other service delivery organizations. In particular, the policy should have a clear vision of implementing an appealing, conducive and positive, meaningful service delivery environment, as well as achieving appropriate, successful, effective and sustainable organizational performance Originality/value – As a result, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the factors (including performance expectancy, effort expectancy and accessibility) of IoT on organizational performance by influencing operational costs, service delivery speed and service quality. These factors were not adequately addressed in previous related studies, and they have a significant influence on organizational performance levels in Tanzanian banks.
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    Adoption and use of Elearning in Tanzanian higher learning institutions: A structural equation model
    (International Journal of Education & Development using Information & Communication Technology, 2023) Kisanjara, Simeo
    Many higher learning Institutions (HLIs) in underdeveloped nations, especially in Tanzania, are not moving quickly enough to embrace eLearning. This study seeks to design a model for enhanced adoption and use of eLearning at Tanzanian higher learning Institutions. A quantitative cross-section survey design was used for data collection. Data were examined using SEM under AMOS software. The results showed that the level of eLearning adoption and use was significantly influenced by technological, user, pedagogical, social, and environmental factors. Based on this paper, policymakers and other stakeholders should embrace this model to give enough support for the adoption of eLearning and to enhance the performance in teaching and learning. To develop an appropriate, successful, effective, and long-lasting eLearning environment, decision makers can have a clear image of how to implement an appealing, conducive, and positive meaningful learning environment. As a result, the paper adds to the body of knowledge the factors (such as social, environmental, and human ones) that significantly affect the adoption of eLearning in Tanzania's HLIs. In addition, a model for the adoption and use of successful and improved eLearning in Tanzanian's HLIs and other countries with comparable features was developed and validated in the paper.
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    E-learning use and teaching and learning performance in Tanzanian universities
    (Sage Journals, 2024) Kisanjara, Simeo
    The use of E-learning as a new educational technology is currently a top priority in many universities in developing-countries. The main purpose of this research is to determine how e-learning affects the teaching and learning (T&L) performance in Tanzanian universities. Employing a questionnaire tool, a quantitative approach was used to collect the data. A total of 390 out of 400 respondents including lectures and students were taken into account, with a 97.5% response rate. Data in SPSS version 21 were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). According to the findings of this study, only one of the nine hypotheses tested have a non-significant effect on T&L performance, as indicated by p-values >0.01. Further, there is no statistically significant effect of perceived usefulness in using e-learning in T&L performance by lowering cost/expenses. Furthermore, other variables assessed including performance expectancy, ease of use, and perceived usefulness have significance effect on T&L performance by increased quality of instructional material delivery, convenience in teaching and learning facilities. The findings of this study inform policymakers on how to reformulate information and communication technology (ICT) policy to clearly spell out the adoption of e-learning for providing facilities in universities. The policy should, in particular, have a clear vision of implementing an appealing, conducive teaching and learning service delivery environment, as well as achieving appropriate and high T&L performance. By influencing the cost/expenses in T&L, quality of instructional material, and the convenience of T&L service delivery as the indicators of performance, this paper contributes to improve understanding of the factors of e-learning (including performance expectancy, perceived usefulness, and ease of use) on teaching and learning performance of the Tanzanian universities. These factors, which have a substantial influence on T&L performance in Tanzanian universities through affecting its indicators, were not thoroughly addressed in earlier relevant studies.
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    Factors influencing e-learning implementation in Tanzanian Universities
    (The Online Journal of Distance Education and e-Learning, 2020) Kisanjara, Simeo
    Website design and optimization has become natural extension on learning in many universities nowadays as it moves learning materials to online in the name of e-learning. The said website design and optimization enhances the e-learning for the purpose of facilitating and providing flexibility in teaching and learning activities. However, the progress of e-learning implementation is yet to be adequate in many universities in developing countries including Tanzania. This study, investigated factors influencing e-learning implementation from broader dimensions. This study employed cross section survey design with quantitative approach using questionnaire for data collection. The study finding revealed that technological characteristics, user characteristics, pedagogical characteristics, social attributes and environmental characteristics significantly influence e-learning implementation level. Thus, this study contributes to the understanding of the new factors such as social, pedagogical and environmental which were inadequately addressed in the existing similar elearning implementation models. Further, both factors were collectively used to develop a model for improving implementation of e-learning in Tanzanian universities and other countries with similar characteristics.
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    Supporting micro-learning access through the Ujuzi Mobile App: a brokerage deployment model and pilot study for Tanzanian Higher Education Institutions
    (Ghent University, 2020) Ghasia, Mohamed A.
    It is evident that the high proliferation of mobiles technologies in resource-constrained areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa is improving the wellbeing of the communities. Hailed for its allegiance, affordances as well as ubiquitous nature, mobiles (smartphones, tablets etc) have assumed the empowering and liberating roles to the powerless and the underprivileged communities. In fact, mobiles are seamlessly connecting communities to the global public spaces on the Internet. Hence, the underprivileged, as well as remote communities through their mobiles are able to participate in public debates, traverse the Internet nodes to communicate and access public learning resources. The micro-learning approach represents the new development in education sectors. It is the learning approach that uses small learning units (chunks) also known as micro-learning units to deliver a learning experience to learners. Hailed for improving retention capacity, competition rate, flexibility, interactivity as well as cost-saving, micro-learning brings its own challenges related to access and deployment. Through the application of a combination of theoretical frames, namely the Design Science Research Approach, the Connectivism Learning Theory, and the Critical Theory of Technology (CTT), together with the educators, students, technologists and members of the management teams from UDOM, UDSM, OUT, and MU, it was possible not only to explore the situation of micro-learning access and deployability in the HEIs in Tanzania but also to devise solutions for the main challenge: it became evident that the introduction of brokerage services has the potential of improving the quality of micro-learning access. The Ujuzi (translated from Kiswahili language means skills, knowledge, and know-how, accessible at www.ujuzi.ac.tz ) app implementation case at MU proposed a way of improving micro-learning access. The case has highlighted that brokerage services shorten time needed to search for and leads to quality and skills-based micro learning content Also, in this dissertation, a micro-learning deployment model is proposed to guide future researchers as well as practitioners involved in the manifestation of micro learning services. Because micro-learning research is at the infancy stage, more research is needed to improve knowledge and practices. As the forecasts concerning mobiles suggest an exponential growth in the near future, we argue that it is high time for the educational stakeholders including the decision-makers to reconsider embracing integrating mobiles into education. If we are to rely on CTT then societies have to face the realities of usage and actually participate in shaping how technologies are used. Rather than banning mobiles in an educational environment, the effort should be directed towards empowering learners in the best practices. Also, we show that an enabling environment needs to be created to identify, recognize and integrate micro learning. Specifically, there is the need to create awareness, improve digital literacy, expand loans to students, and establish quality controls as well adopt an integrated policy approach so as to consolidate developments in all social sectors. Herein micro-credentials for skills based learning play a key role.