Evaluating the Effects of Online Learning Platforms on the Information Technology (IT) Curriculum Delivery at Botho University

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-705-7_14How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Online learning; IT curriculum delivery; digital pedagogy; practical skills acquisition; student engagement

Abstract

The integration of online learning platforms into higher education significantly reshaped the pedagogical landscape, particularly in Information Technology (IT) education. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Blackboard and Virtual Laboratory (V-Lab) in delivering the IT curriculum at Botho University (BU), focusing on pedagogical utility, practical skills acquisition, and student engagement. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data was used, combining faculty and student surveys, and curriculum content analysis. The population of the study included 55 students and 5 faculty members. Findings indicated that Blackboard supported content delivery and asynchronous learning effectively but offered limited interactivity for practical engagement. In contrast, the Virtual Laboratory enhanced hands-on technical competencies, especially in networking and system-based modules. However, both platforms were hindered by challenges such as inconsistent internet connectivity, limited real-time collaboration, and insufficient user training. Student engagement improved when online platforms incorporated collaborative tasks, timely feedback, and active instructor presence which aligns with Constructivist Learning Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. The study recommended ongoing digital literacy training for faculty and students, infrastructure improvements, and the integration of more interactive features such as real-time simulations and scalable infrastructure. Additionally, aligning platform capabilities with specific learning outcomes was advised to optimize delivery, particularly in practical modules. These strategies aim to strengthen the role of online platforms in delivering a comprehensive and skills-oriented IT curriculum in higher education.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Bonolo Samson-Zulu
AU  - Jane Iloanya
AU  - Ivy Rose Mathew
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/13
TI  - Evaluating the Effects of Online Learning Platforms on the Information Technology (IT) Curriculum Delivery at Botho University
BT  - Proceedings of the FIREtalk Conference - Research on FIRE! (research-on-fire 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 205
EP  - 215
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-705-7_14
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-705-7_14
ID  - Samson-Zulu2026
ER  -