Investigating the Status of Information and Communication Technology Integration in Records Management in Tertiary Institutions: The Case of Wa Technical University (Published)
This paper investigated the level of ICT integration in records management at Hilla Limann Technical University and the challenges confronting the records managers. The study used a survey design employing a questionnaire and interview to collect the data. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 40 respondents out of 50 records managers. The study found a high ICT integration with 87.5% of the respondents deploying ICT in processing, sending, storing, retrieving, receiving and recovering records. It was established that the institution does not have records management policy and records backup policy and therefore records mangers cannot dispose non-vital records. The study identified operational challenges such as virus infection; lack of dedicated backup storage facilities, poor and unreliable internet services, information loss, and lack of ICT equipment replacement policy. The study recommends that University Management should put in place records management policy, records backup policy and ICT equipment replacement policy. The records management policy should spell out a records retention period and disposal methods. There should be up-to-date antivirus applications on all computers and records managers should regularly update the antivirus installed on their machines. Finally, Management should provide reliable internet service to employees to facilitate their work.
Keywords: ICT integration, internet service, records backup, records management policy, records manager
Challenges and Potential of Integrating Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) In Teacher Education Programs in Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria (Published)
Information and Communications Technology or (ICT) encompasses telecommunications, computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information. While much of the rhetoric about (and rationale for) using ICTs in education has focused on the potential for changing the teaching-learning paradigm, in practice, ICTs are most often used in education to support existing teaching and learning practices with new (and, it should be noted, often quite expensive)tools. While impact on student achievement is still a matter of reasonable debate, a consensus seems to have formed that the introduction and use of ICTs in education can help promote and enable educational reform, and that ICT is a useful tool to both motivate learning and promote greater efficiencies in education systems and practices. The main purpose of this article is to enlighten the readers on the barriers to technology integration in the developing world using Delta State University in Nigeria as a case study. A survey was conducted through analysing related literature and questionnaires distribution to lecturers and students in the education department of the institution. From the findings, we concluded that the main barriers hindering the integration of ICTs include lack of access to technology, lack of teacher confidence and lack of skills. Some of the benefits that can be achieved from ICT integration include students and lecturers motivation, quality education, promoting learners autonomy and user confidence.
Keywords: ICT assess, ICT integration, ICT skills, Interactive learning environments, improving teaching