Factors for Information Seeking and Sharing During Accomplishig Collaborative Activities in Vocational Schools

Purpose: The study investigated factors fostering collaborative information-seeking behaviour of students in the completion of group tasks: a case of Tanzanian Vocational Training Institutions (TVET). Design/Methodology/Approach: This study employed a purely qualitative research design, where the naturalistic observation and face-to-face interviews were treated as prominent tools for data collection without manipulating work environments. Eight (8) TVETs institutions in five (5) regions from Zanzibar and the mainland were included in the study. Therefore, thematic analysis was used to analyse collected data, in which ‘’patterns across data sets’’ describe all phenomena associated with specific themes and questions. Findings: Factors fostering CISB were; lack of awareness; the need to save time; the lack of experience; lack of skills or domain expertise and the need to minimise costs. Research Limitation/Implications: The study involved student groups however, during the process of data collection, it was easy to find that all groups because a similar schedule assigned for completing their assignments, resulting in the researcher narrowing to scope to only 8 groups conveniently available. Practical Implication: The study recommends the following; the need for librarians to create an environment for collaborative information seeking and sharing; the need for TVET management to improve information infrastructures; the need for teachers to allocate adequate time enabled students seeking and sharing information; the need for the Government ensuring all TVET centres establishes libraries as well as having qualified librarians. Originality/Value: This is an inclusive study assessing the collaborative information-seeking behaviour of student groups in task completion, this study also has wider implications for TVEs management in the provision of better collaborative learning environments.