HomeInternational Social Science Reviewvol. 13 no. 1 (2026)

Phenomenology of Senior Faculty in Universidad de Zamboanga with the Use of Technology in Education

Maria Leah Mae A. Macrohon

Discipline: Teacher Training

 

Abstract:

This phenomenological research centered around five (5) purposely sampled senior faculty of Universidad de Zamboanga and their experiences with new technologies in education. This study defined senior faculty as those who have been teaching for 20 years or more and focused on the transitional experiences they had with the gradual integration of technology in education and personal narratives with the abrupt shift to new technologies during the COVID19 pandemic. The objectives of the research were to narrate the first-person experience of UZ’s senior faculty with the use of new technologies in education, clarify how the senior faculty perceive the use of new technologies in education, identify the factors in technology use that pose as challenges to senior faculty, explain how the senior faculty handled these challenges with new technologies, and enlist the responses the university may consider with regards to their plight. This study was theoretically framed by Piaget’s Schema Theory, the cognitive and behavioral viewpoints (in Psychology), transfer of learning, and Davis’ Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Three (3) themes and their subthemes emerged from this study and were categorized as: the old ways of getting things done, the challenges of new technologies for education, and looking at the brighter side of things. Furthermore, this study revealed that despite the challenges senior faculty experienced with ICT in education and the distress caused by the Covid 19 pandemic, they still perceived new technologies in a positive light, as these encouraged them to be more adaptable to change. The senior faculty also believed that although UZ has helped them adapt to new technologies, it could still consider providing tailored training for them. This study concluded that no amount of technology can replace the invaluable contributions of UZ senior faculty, and their positive attitude towards these new technologies has enabled them to remain resilient. The proposed intervention design suggested by this research is a two-day seminar for senior faculty,following a survey on ICT use in Education conducted by the university’s Management Information Systems.



References:

  1. Abu Qudais, M., Al-Adhaileh, M., & Al-Omari, A. (2010). Senior faculty members' attitudes in Jordanian universities towards using Information and Communication Technology. International Arab Journal of e-Technology, 1(4), 135-141.
  2. Atkinson, R., Atkinson, R., & Hilgard, E. (2004). Introduction to psychology (8th ed.). Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. Barriers to adopting technology. (2025, April 19). [File]. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/Barriers_to_Adopting_Technology.pdf  
  3. Behaviorism. (2025, April 19). Very Well Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/behavioralpsychology-4157183
  4. Blancia, M. M. (2019). The elderly educators in their quest for lifelong learning: Some stories to tell. Southeast Asian Journal of Educational Management, 1(1).
  5. Carson, R., Butcher, J., & Mineka, S. (2000). Abnormal psychology and modern life (11th ed.). Pearson Education Company.
  6. Challenges and opportunities in integrating technology in Philippine education: A teacher’s perspective. (2023, May 22). Press Reader: Panay News. https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/panaynews/20230522/281728388880528
  7. Chee, S. Y. (2023). Age-related digital disparities, functional limitations, and social isolation: Unraveling the grey digital divide between baby boomers and the silent generation in senior living facilities. Aging & Mental Health, 28(4), 621–632. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2023.2233454
  8. DepEd highlights Digital Rise Program as key player in addressing challenges in education quality. (2022, May 10). GOVPH. https://www.deped.gov.ph/2022/05/10/depedhighlights-digital-rise-program-as-key-player-in-addressing-challenges-ineducation-quality/
  9. Gamboa, D., & Estrella, E. (2022). Get ready to be techy: Struggles of senior citizen teachers in the utilization of technology in the classroom. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis, 05(08). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v5- i8-16
  10. Georgina, D., & Olson, M. (2007). Integration of technology in higher education: A review of faculty self-perceptions. Internet and Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2007.11.002
  11. Giannoni, D. L., & Tesone, D. V. (2003). What academic administrators should know to attract senior level faculty members to online learning environments. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 6(1), 16.
  12. Granić, A., & Marangunić, N. (2019). Technology acceptance model in educational context: A systematic literature review. British Journal of Educational Technology, 50(5), 2572-2593.
  13. Hagenson, L., & Castle, K. (2003). The integration of technology into teaching by University College of Education faculty. In C. Crawford et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of SITE 2003--Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 947-952). AACE. https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/18062/  
  14. Kaloyanova, N., & Ivanova, T. (2013). Elderly teachers and ICT –Opportunities for active aging in the profession. Ariadna; Cultura, Educación y Tecnología, 1(1), 25-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.6035/ariaDna.2013.1.5
  15. Keržič, D., Danko, M., Zorko, V., & Dečman, M. (2021). The effect of age on higher education teachers’ ICT use. Knowledge Management & E-Learning, 13(2), 182–193. https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel.2021.13.010
  16. Ladwingon, et al. (2023). Notes of digital refugees: Understanding the plight of senior faculty in online teaching. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(11), 419-435. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.11.22
  17. List of ICT tools in education examples for teaching. (2025, April 30). Techjockey. https://www.techjockey.com/blog/ict-tools-in-education
  18. Lozada, I. A., Almerez, Q. G., & Trinidad, A. E. (2025). Technostress among Boomer teachers in ICT integration. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 3(4), 104-113. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.053
  19. Mansbach, J., & Austin, A. E. (2018). Nuanced perspectives about online teaching: Mid-career and senior faculty voices reflecting on academic work in the digital age. Innovative Higher Education, 43, 257–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-018- 9424-4
  20. Marikyan, D., & Papagiannidis, S. (2024). Technology acceptance model: A review. In S. Papagiannidis (Ed.), TheoryHub Book. https://open.ncl.ac.uk
  21. Marzilli, C., Delello, J., Marmion, S., McWhorter, R., Roberts, P., & Marzilli, T. S. (2014). Faculty attitudes towards integrating technology and innovation. arXiv preprint arXiv:1404.4334.
  22. Masrom, M. (2007). Technology acceptance model and e-learning. Technology, 21(24), 81. McLeod, S. (2015). Stress management. Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org
  23. Monteiro, A., Mouraz, A., & Dotta, L. T. (2020). Veteran teachers and digital technologies: Myths, beliefs and professional development. Teachers and Teaching, 26(7-8), 577-587. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2021.1900809 Negative transfer in psychology: Definition, examples, and impact on learning. (2025, April 19). NeuroLaunch. https://neurolaunch.com/negative-transfer-psychologydefinition/
  24. Phenomenological research: A study of lived experiences. (2025, April 10). IJARIIE. https://ijariie.com/AdminUploadPdf/Phenomenological_Research__A_Study_of _Lived_Experiences_ijariie3960.pdf
  25. Phenomenology. (2025, March 16). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/phenomenology/
  26. Phenomenology in qualitative research. (2025, March 17). Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/phenomenology-in-qualitativeresearch.html
  27. Samifanni, F., & Gumanit, R. L. R. (2021). Survival with technology: Elderly teachers’ perspective towards emergency online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Studies in Learning and Teaching, 2(3), 98-114. https://doi.org/10.46627/silet.v2i3.87
  28. Schema theory in psychology. (2025, April 19). Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-a-schema.html Selye’s stress theory. (2025, May 1). Current Nursing. http://www.currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Selye's_stress_theory.html
  29. Soja, E., & Soja, P. (2015). Overcoming difficulties in ICT use by the elderly. Challenges and Development Trends of Modern Economy, Finance and Information Technology, 413-422.
  30. Tabata, L. N., & Johnsrud, L. K. (2008). The impact of faculty attitudes toward technology, distance education, and innovation. Research in Higher Education, 49, 625–646. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-008-9094-7
  31. TAM explained. (2025, April 19). Yeow Ong. https://yeow.ong/technology-acceptancemodel/ Technology acceptance model. (2025, March 16). ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/technology-acceptancemodel  
  32. Technology acceptance model. (2025, March 22). TheoryHub. https://open.ncl.ac.uk/theories/1/technology-acceptance-model/  
  33. Telco tells seniors: Don’t fear tech. (2024, January 28). Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/28/telco-tells-seniors-don-t-fear-tech
  34. The importance of MIS for businesses. (2025, March 16). Coursera. https://www.coursera.org/articles/management-information-system  
  35. The role of DepEd in helping older Filipino teachers become digital citizens in the modern education setting. (2024, February 16). DepEd Bataan. [PDF file].
  36. Vannatta, R. A., & Beyerbach, B. (2000). Facilitating a constructivist vision of technology integration among education faculty and preservice teachers. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 33(2), 132-148.
  37. What is cognitive psychology? (2025, April 19). Very Well Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/cognitive-psychology-4157181