Abstract:

Computers are widely used in education with a belief that they can improve learner performance and enhance the teaching experience.  Computers are used to develop and present neat and legible documents by teachers, learners, and the administration staff. This technology improves professional interaction between the administration staff, teachers, and learners in a school environment. A professional interaction in this context means using these technologies for communication, information sharing, and accessing of centralised information. Since the introduction of Outcomes Based Education in South Africa, the Department of Basic Education and business entities have consistently supplied computers to schools in an effort to improve the standard of education. In majority of schools, the computers are operated as standalone workstations and very few schools have networked computers.  However, there has been very little research that has compared the benefits of networked computers in some of these schools. This paper examines the role of networked computers in the enhancement of teaching and learning in schools. The study followed a quantitative approach and used a questionnaire as a data gathering instrument. The reason behind the study was to draw a line between the benefits of networked computers and standalone computers. The study was conducted in three schools in the Ditsobotla district in North West province, South Africa. The results found gave an impression that networked computers benefited users more than standalone computers.