ICT

Learning Management System Usage On Teaching and Learning in Akatsi College of Education (Published)

The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of Learning Management System (LMS) usage in education in public College of Education using Akatsi College of Education as a case study organization. However, the specific objectives to be included are to identify the Learning Management System (LMS currently in use to support teaching and learning at Akatsi College of Education, assess the extent of the adoption of Learning Management System (LMS by Akatsi College of Education in teaching and learning and ascertain challenges that the management of the College is encountering in the use of Learning Management System (LMS. The study used the descriptive survey method as the research design. The selected population for the study was the staff, management and students of College in Akatsi. A sample size of 120 was used. This was made up of 5 Heads of Department, and 15 tutors and 100 students. By this, the sampling method that was used in selecting the lecturers and staff is convenience sampling technique, while the simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the students. The main instrument that was used for the collection of data is the questionnaire and primary data and secondary data were used as sources of data. The findings of the study showed that some of the Learning Management System (LMS) devices used at the College include projectors, internet and telecommunication systems, audio and video visual communication systems, telephone, computers, fax machines and many others. These resources enable them to serve the university community better. Besides, the College has further employed an application called MOODLE that has all students and tutors enrolled on. This to them provides the platform for assessing the students and tutors. Recommendations were that it is important that LMS systems at College are made available to every member of the College whether student, tutors or a non-teaching staff. From the study, ICT systems have been very effective in ensuring the productivity of users including teachers and non-teachers. Significantly, not all the respondents admitted that they use Learning Management System (LMS) system of the university. However, if the College wants to achieve productivity across the College, then the need to ensure that every member of the university is made to use LMS in their functions.

Keywords: CIS, ICT, LAN, LMS, NOC, Policy Makers, moodle

Assessment of Information Communication Technology Proficiency of Secondary School Teachers in Edo State, Nigeria (Published)

This study attempts to assess of information communication technology proficiency of secondary school teachers in Edo State, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive survey method and questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The total population for the study is one hundred and twenty nine (129) secondary schools teachers in four selected secondary schools in Etsako west local government area of Edo state. The population of this study is not too large and as such the entire population was taken as representative sample using purposeful sampling technique. It was revealed from the study that ICT is not employed for teaching by majority of the teachers in the secondary schools studied, most teachers have negative attitude towards the use of ICT, a majority of the secondary school teachers studied have positive perception of  perceived ease of teaching and learning with ICT and Lack of ICT facilities in secondary schools, lack of commitment from government and school management, lack of motivation and training, lack of ICT policies in secondary schools, lack of technical support from government and private sector, lack of qualified teachers to teach ICT and Teachers’ anxiety over being replaced by technology are  the major factors militating against teachers readiness and effective use of ICT in secondary schools in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo state. The study recommends that Government should be committed to full implementation of ICT in secondary schools by way formulating policies and implementing the existing one if any with all sincerity.

Keywords: Assessment, Edo state, ICT, Proficiency, Secondary Schools, Teacher

Contribution of ICT to Poverty Reduction Among Women in Kilosa District (Published)

This study examines the contribution of information communication technology to poverty reduction among women.The study assessed availability and accessibility of ICT infrastructures, the role of ICTs in poverty reduction among womenand determine factors that hinder accessibility of ICT tools among women. The study was done in  kilosa Morogoro and involved a total of 50 respondent. The study used survey research methodology to collect data. Three instruments were applied to facilitate data collection,that is structured questionnaire for interview, observation and documentation (secondary data) collected from household as a base of data collection as well as ICT telecentre and other sources of data. The data was collected and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist. Findings show that male respondents were 38% while females were 62%. Of the sample population who use ICT 60% were females while 38% were males. This study provided a first look on the role of ICTs to poverty reduction among women by identifying the benefits  of ICT which are: job creation,  banking services, improvement agriculture by ensuring availability of market, prevent middlemen exploitation,expanding and strengthening social networks and ensure accessibility and ownership of assets. The conclusion of the study calls for increasing investment in education, creating awareness among women regarding the range of services provided, improvement of ICT infrastructure, reduces cost in ICTs services provision, public and private investment is a vital tool therefore maximization of employment opportunity, including physical infrastructure, and entrepreneurial skills. The study suggests one area for further research: one is the extent to which ICTs infrastructures helps women in poverty reduction compared to those who do not use by specifying indicators of development brought by ICT tools.

Keywords: Contribution, ICT, Poverty Reduction, Women

Impact Of Information And Communication Technologies (ICT), On Student’s Academic Performance in Post-Secondary Schools; Case Study Of Federal College Of Agriculture Ishiagu, Ivo Lga, Ebonyi State-Nigeria (Published)

Information and communication Technology (ICT) have found application in virtually all spheres of human Endeavour, particularly education and training.  However, it is not precisely evident if the use of ICT enhances student’s academic performance, or not. This paper investigates the level of availability and access students have to ICT facilities on campuses, as well as the technical know-how they possess, with regards to the use of ICT facilities. The Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu is used as case study. Chi square was used to test postulated hypothesis. The study determined whether the use of ICT impacts positively on the academic performance of students of the Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu Ebonyi State-Nigeria. The paper made recommendations which aim at encouraging effective use of ICT to boost student’s academic performance in Post-Secondary Schools.

Keywords: (IT), Chi-Square, Hypotheses, Hypothesis, ICT

ICT Adoption Attitude of Lecturers (Published)

With ex post facto research method, this study investigated the attitude of lecturers towards the adoption of Information and Communication Technology, abbreviated as ICT, in teaching and research in federal and state-owned universities in Nigeria. Four research questions and null hypotheses were respectively, answered and tested. A stratified sample of 400 lecturers (251 males and 149 females) was randomly drawn from one federal university and one state university. A factor analyzed 55 items instrument with high construct validity and three-factor loadings was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument, using the Cronbach alpha method, showed reliability coefficients of 0.67, 0.62, and 0.51 for attitude, competence, and accessibility factor loadings, respectively. Data analysis was done with the use of independent samples t-test and One-way ANOVA for testing the hypotheses. Results revealed that gender and area of specialization have no significant difference in the attitude of lecturers’ towards ICT adoption in teaching and research. On years of experience, moderately and less experienced lecturers are more competent in the use of ICTs than their highly experienced counterparts. ICT facilities are significantly more accessible the Federal university (University of Port Harcourt) than the State university (Rivers State University of Science and Technology). University management should motivate and encourage lecturers to participate in ICT training programs, lecturers especially highly experienced should be well motivated to develop their ICT competence.

Keywords: Area of specialization, Federal Universities, Gender, ICT, ICT competence, Information and Communication Technology, Lecturers, State universities, Years of experience, and ICT access; Adoption of ICT, attitude

Preponderance of ICT in Fine Art (Visual Art) Teaching And Learning In Nigeria (Published)

Information and communication technology (ICT) is a force that has changed many aspects of human endeavours. The impact of ICT on various fields of human endeavour such as medicine, tourism, business, law, banking, engineering and architecture over two or three decades has been enormous. But when one looks at the field of education, there seems to have been an uncanny lack of influence of ICT and far less change than other fields have experienced. In other words, though ICT has begun to have presence in education, its impact has not been as extensive as in other fields (Collins, 2002). Education is a social oriented activity, and quality education has traditionally been associated with strong teachers having high degrees of personal contact with learners. Garrison and Anderson (2003) opine that the application of ICTs in the teaching-learning process can enhance the quality of education in several ways such as increasing learner motivation and engagement, facilitating the acquisition of basic skills, and enhancing teacher training. Since Fine Art is one of the major subjects being offered at all levels of education; that is the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, its relevance and sustenance in the 21st century requires the adequate application of ICTs like video tapes, television and multimedia computer software that combine text, sound and colorful moving images which can be used to provide challenging and authentic content that will not only engage the student in the learning process but as well make learning concrete.

Keywords: Fine (Visual) Art, ICT, Learning, Preponderance, Teaching

Speech User Interface For Low Literacy Users Of Ict Services (Published)

Speech user interface has the potentials to accommodate different users irrespective of the level of education. This type of user interface can provide interactions that meet the capabilities of low literacy users in underserved rural communities. One of the challenges facing the development of Information and Communication Technology in rural underserved communities is the inability of the users to interact and communicate with the services provided effectively. The task of designing user interfaces to accommodate low literacy users is still a big challenge. We conducted a study with the aim of designing a customized speech user interface to enable low literacy users in a rural community to interact and have access to a mobile commerce service. We applied different ethnographic research methods in the process of data collection, design and evaluation of the user interface. The user evaluation results show that the users were able to successfully interact with the application. The users feel that the speech user interface is easy to understand and use, and the interface meets their capabilities

Keywords: ICT, Low Literacy, Mobile Commerce, Mobile Phone, Voice Interaction

The Use and Management of ICT in Schools: Strategies for School Leaders (Published)

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become commonplace entities in all aspects of life. Across the past twenty years the use of ICT has fundamentally changed the practices and procedures of nearly all forms of endeavour within business and governance. Education is a very socially oriented activity and quality education has traditionally been associated with strong teachers having high degrees of personal contact with learners. Many important changes have occurred in the last few years in the education systems, which will require teachers and school leaders to upgrade and refine their technology skills. Some of these changes are due to changes in government policies related to the use of information communication and technology (ICT) in schools while others are due to developments in state of the art pedagogical practices .As technology flows faster into the schools, many school leaders are facing a range of difficult management issues. This article discusses the potential use of ICT in schools and also issues related to ICT integration. In managing the use of ICT in schools some strategies are suggested and discussed for the school leaders to adhere to.

Keywords: ICT, Leaders, School, Strategies.