**6. Research on using Technology for Teaching and Learning**

During the year 2022, as the global lockdown lifted following the devastating effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in 2019 and 2021, students were allowed to physically attend classes in computer laboratories across various educational institutions. The learning institution consequently had to devise a new approach to teaching and learning students through blended learning, which combines in-person instruction with the use of technology. For teaching and learning, technologies such as the Learning Management System (LMS), Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Gmetrix, and Jasperactive software were employed. In this research, Doctor JS Dirane's students were exposed to the use of both face-to-face and use of technology teaching and learning, where three face-to-face practical's, one online theory and one online practical component were taught. Students were exposed to LMS, Microsoft Teams (MS Team), Gmetrix and Jasperactive technology software. Students were exposed to LMS, Microsoft Teams (MS Team), Gmetrix and Jasperactive technology software.

A learning management system is a digital learning environment that oversees every aspect of a business's or educational institution's varied training initiatives. Microsoft Teams is the best messaging app for workplaces, providing meetings, file and application sharing, real-time collaboration, and communication all in one location. Gmetrix is a certification preparation tool that is frequently used for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications. Its practice exams and exercises are intended to assist professionals and students in getting ready for certifications. Jasperactive is a state-of-the-art learning platform that is hosted on Microsoft Azure. It teaches students a variety of critical technology skills, including business accounting, internet and computer fundamentals, and Microsoft, which is delivered through the Microsoft Office suite of applications (**Figure 3**).

Students were registered on the Gmetrix and Jasperactive online programs for them to get unlimited access to Gmetrix and Jasperactive online software anytime and anywhere using their authentication. When students log in to the Gmetrix and Jasperactive online program they receive more than forty (40) different practical exercises from the basic phase to the intermediate phase and introduction to the advanced phase with guidance for each theory and application software like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. The students would have to work on those exercises for each software for four (4) weeks each and the system also allows the students to repeat or drill the exercises as much as they wish so that they can grasp different theories and practical concepts to the fullest. The fifth week was allocated for the online test(s) for each software and theory component which was offered through the use of the LMS platform and Microsoft Teams. Theories and practical concepts to the fullest. The fifth week was allocated for the online test(s) for each software and theory component which was offered through the use of the LMS platform and Microsoft Teams.

**Figure 3.** *Computer laboratory used by students to do all tasks.*

The research question was, does the use of technology transform education? The students were divided into different groups from A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H from January to December in the year 2022. The total number of participants for this study was five hundred and eighty-two (582) from January to December in the year 2022. The ICT in Education II subjects consisted of Test 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 assessments of which data analysis was processed continuously from the written one online theory test (Test 1) and three face-to-face practical tests (Test 2, 3, and 5) and one online practical test (Test 4) done by the students from January to December in 2022. Data analysis was processed through the use of tables and graphs. **Table 1** shows all the results of averages, standard deviation, mark type mark and full period marks of all the practical and theory tests written by the students from January to December 2022.

**Table 1** explicitly shows the different results of using face-to-face teaching and use of the technology in teaching and learning. Group A average for the online theory Test 1 was 73.00% and online practical test 4 was 86.64% compared with face-to-face tests 2, 3 and 5 which the percentage varies between 46.50 and 53.25%. Group B's average for the online theory Test 1 was 70.99% and online practical test 4 was 76.30% compared with face-to-face tests 2, 3 and 5 which the percentage varies between 40.93 and to 51.27%. Group C averages for the online theory Test 1 was 73.00% and online practical test 4 was 86.64% compared with face-to-face tests 2, 3 and 5 which the percentage varies between 46.50 and 53.25%. Group D averages for the online theory Test 1 was 72.25% and online practical test 4 was 79.95% compared with face-to-face tests 2, 3 and 5 which the percentage varies between 46.30 and 58.18%.

Group E averages for the online theory Test 1 was 73.74% and online practical test 4 was 88.51% compared with face-to-face tests 2, 3 and 5 which the percentage varies between 51.40 and 58.77%. Group F averages for the online theory Test 1 was 72.75% and online practical test 4 was 84.44% compared with face-to-face tests 2, 3 and 5 which the percentage varies between 39.93 and 57.07%. Group G averages for the online theory Test 1 was 72.23% and online practical test 4 was 80.93% compared
