APPLICATION OF ICT IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING, TEACHING AND EVALUATION IN UPPER SECONDARY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS: QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

The paper is based on the findings of an empirical research on the application of information and communications technology (ICT) in vocational schools in Zagreb and the Zagreb County (Croatia, EU). The authors analysed the interviews with vocational school teachers (N=29) and students (N=48) arranged in 6 focus groups. The analysis focussed on the objectives and manners in which the teachers and students usually use ICT, the perceived advantages and disadvantages of the use of ICT for educational purposes, and their suggestions for advancing the application of ICT in schools. The analysis also discussed whether the application of ICT benefited the constructivist teaching, as well as the potential obstacles and stimulating factors for implementing ICT in teaching. The findings indicate that even though the teachers use ICT almost on daily basis, the teaching process is still largely dominated by traditional teaching methods. According to the findings, lack of computer equipment in schools, inadequate teacher training, inadequate curricula for vocational education, and the inadequate study programmes where the teachers are educated for the application of ICT in the teaching process are considered as obstacles for implementing ICT in education. In addition, teachers emphasised the lack of time and low income which often leads to their lack of motivation for the use of ICT in education.