Unveiling the TPACK pathways: Technology integration and pedagogical evolution in rural South African schools

Abstract

The rural schooling environment in the Global South, such as South Africa, faces unique challenges due to low socio-economic status, lack of resources and poor funding. The frequent integration of technologies favoured by these rural teachers suggests, consciously or unconsciously, the development of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). However, the process of construction and development of this specialized knowledge remains largely unknown. It is also unclear how TPACK evolves in teachers in rural schools in the Global South, particularly those who did not receive formal or informal technology instruction during their initial teacher training or through professional teacher development training. This study adopted Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory and Koehler and Mishra's TPACK framework and collected data through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and sharing circles. Findings revealed that while teachers show varying levels of TPACK, the context-specific, dynamic nature of TPACK was evident, as teachers often developed this knowledge incrementally and informally. The chapter indicates that despite the absence of structured training, teachers have begun to integrate technology into their pedagogy and content knowledge. However, their development of TPACK is uneven and emerging and often driven by personal initiative. The study concludes that for effective technology integration, teacher training programs should encompass TPACK's nuanced, contextual, and evolving aspects. Implications suggest that mentoring and continuous professional development are essential to enhance teachers’ technological integration skills, thereby improving teaching and learning in rural settings. Implications underscore the importance of continuous professional development and the establishment of supportive school cultures to nurture technology integration, thereby contributing to the pedagogical evolution in rural South African schools.