Browsing by Author "Wilfred, Josephine"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Delivering and utilising library services during the pandemic disease outbreak: challenges and coping strategies
    (SAGE Publications, 2024-02-10) Wilfred, Josephine; Mwantimwa, Kelefa
    Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused severe shutdowns, quarantines, closures, cancellations, and other restrictive measures in different countries. Educational institutions such as universities, colleges, and schools were not immune to the devastating effects caused by the pandemic. Purpose The present study intended to explore challenges and coping strategies in maintaining access to and use of resources and services in academic libraries during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research design To gain familiarity and acquire new insight into how Tanzania academic libraries managed their services during the COVID-19 pandemic exploratory research design was employed. A qualitative approach was mainly used to explore library staff and users’ opinions and experiences on library service provision during the pandemic outbreak. Data collection methods and analysis Focus group discussions (FGDs) and face-to-face semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Data collected through FGD and semi-structured interviews were transcribed and subjected to qualitative data analysis. In particular, thematic analysis was employed in analysing data based on assigned themes. Results Generally, the study reveals multiple challenges in delivering library services and resources and their coping strategies. However, most of the coping strategies put forward mainly focused into preventing the pandemic, rather than enhancing access to and use of library services and resources among the users. Conclusion and recommendations The study exposes challenges that affected the delivery and use of library services during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their coping strategies were known. Proposal to digitize the library collections, invest in the application of digital library solutions and innovations, build capacity in digital competencies among the library staff and users, and increase access and use of open and freely available resources and services appear to be sustainable coping strategies when a pandemic occurs.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Delivering and utilising library services during the pandemic disease outbreak: challenges and coping strategies
    (SAGE Publications, 2024) Wilfred, Josephine; Mwantimwa, Kelefa
    Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused severe shutdowns, quarantines, closures, cancellations, and other restrictive measures in different countries. Educational institutions such as universities, colleges, and schools were not immune to the devastating effects caused by the pandemic. Purpose The present study intended to explore challenges and coping strategies in maintaining access to and use of resources and services in academic libraries during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research design To gain familiarity and acquire new insight into how Tanzania academic libraries managed their services during the COVID-19 pandemic exploratory research design was employed. A qualitative approach was mainly used to explore library staff and users’ opinions and experiences on library service provision during the pandemic outbreak. Data collection methods and analysis Focus group discussions (FGDs) and face-to-face semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Data collected through FGD and semi-structured interviews were transcribed and subjected to qualitative data analysis. In particular, thematic analysis was employed in analysing data based on assigned themes. Results Generally, the study reveals multiple challenges in delivering library services and resources and their coping strategies. However, most of the coping strategies put forward mainly focused into preventing the pandemic, rather than enhancing access to and use of library services and resources among the users. Conclusion and recommendations The study exposes challenges that affected the delivery and use of library services during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their coping strategies were known. Proposal to digitize the library collections, invest in the application of digital library solutions and innovations, build capacity in digital competencies among the library staff and users, and increase access and use of open and freely available resources and services appear to be sustainable coping strategies when a pandemic occurs.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Influence of assistive technology utilization on academic performance of pupils with disabilities In Tanzania’s primary school
    (The University of Dodoma, 2017) Wilfred, Josephine
    This study investigated the influence of Assistive Technology Utilization on academic performance of pupils with disabilities primary schools in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam. The specific objectives of this study were to investigate on the availability and use of Assistive Technology Devices, relationship between Assistive Technology availability and academic performance, factors affecting Assistive Technology utilization, and to evaluate the perspectives of pupils with disabilities and their instructors on how to improve the status of ATDs availability. The study was guided by a pragmatic philosophical instance. It utilised a cross-sectional survey design using a mixed research methods approach. It employed Rogers Diffusion of Innovation, Theory of Planned Behaviour, and Matching Person with Technology Theory. The study involved 454 respondents made up of 41 head teachers, 140 teachers, 259 pupils with disabilities, 8 district officers for special education, 4 officials from Tanzania Education Authority, and two officials from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, now with the added portfolio of science and technology. Open-ended field-interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and direct observations were employed to collect data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15 and Chi-square Test were used in data analysis. The results indicate a significant difference in academic performance between pupils from schools with high availability but low utilisation of ATDs [Ӽ 2 (1, n = 29) = 9.54; p=.002], on the one hand, and schools with high availability and high use of ATDs (r=15.8, n=143, p <.000), on the other. Key challenges observed included inadequacy of ATDs, skills, device trainings, specialised teachers, unstable curriculum and device use discomfort. The study recommends for the adequate distribution of relevant ATDs in schools and monitoring their use to improve the learning of PwDs, provision of adequate specialised trained teachers and involving them in ATDs decisions, as well as improving the school infrastructures.