Feasibility of ICT use in teaching physics at the senior high schools in Ghana (Published)
The study employed a descriptive research design to explore the feasibility of information and communication technology (ICT) use in the teaching of physics in Ghanaian high school classrooms. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 70 practicing physics teachers from 23 Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Ghana. The study showed that the practicing physics teachers were not using ICT in their current teaching practices owing to barriers such as lack of ICT resource and lack of knowledge and skill that are ICT-oriented. However, the practicing teacher of the study showed positive attitudes and beliefs toward the use of ICT for physics instruction and expressed their willingness to participate in training programmes to foster their teaching practices with ICT. The study therefore advocates that the use of ICT as an instructional tool for physics teaching in Ghanaian high school is feasible but requires that substantive assistance be given to teachers in order to equip them with ICT-related pedagogical knowledge and skills to facilitate their teaching practices.
Keywords: Information and Communication Technology, barriers of ICT use, high school physics, opportunities of ICT use.
Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Adult Education for Promoting Right Democratic Values in Nigeria (Published)
Democracy as a system of government that recognizes the power of the people to rule is practiced in Nigeria by adults that are constitutionally defined as those who are 18 years of age and above. This paper observes that the people who should be in control of power have not recognized themselves as true power-holders who should be actively involved in democratic processes but are rather used by perceived “power-holders” in distorting democratic processes which bestowed power on them. This is attributed to lack of knowledge of the power bestowed on them by democracy to elect and remove any official who fails to protect their interests, welfare and aspirations. The paper establishes that this lack of knowledge stems from lack of quality information on democracy and its nexus and hence the bedrock of the prevailing democratic situations in Nigeria characterised by various negative democratic manoeuverings (such as electoral malpractices, denial of right to choose leaders or representatives, lack of freedom of speech, etc) leading to inability to deliver dividends of good governance to the people. This according to the paper leads to social ills and problems such as crimes, poverty, unemployment, etc. The paper proffers solution to this problem by proposing ways through which information and communication technology (ICT) could be used as a vehicle through which a large proportion of adults could be conscientized on the strength and power bestowed on them through democratic processes. The paper concludes that when people (adults) exercise their democratic powers and strength, dividends of good governance would be delivered while social vices and problems would be averted.
Keywords: Adult Education, Democracy, Democratic Values, Information and Communication Technology
AWARENESS OF VIRTUAL LEARNING AMONG STUDENTS OF TWO NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES: CURRICULUM IMPLICATIONS (Published)
This study investigated the extent of awareness of virtual learning among students in two public universities in Anambra State. Guided by two research questions, a sample of 640 year three students was used. The survey research design was used. A researcher-developed questionnaire titled “Virtual Learning Awareness Questionnaire” (VLAQ) was used to collect data. The findings indicated that a greater percentage of the students were unaware of what constitutes virtual learning and its’ benefits. There were also differences between male and female students’ awareness of what constitutes virtual learning and its benefits. The findings imply that the students lacked much knowledge of what virtual learning entails and the benefits to their curriculum offerings. Consequently, they are not likely to highly engage in virtual learning to enrich their course curriculum. This could limit their global participation and make them lag behind other students in the international arena. Besides, the extent of awareness was higher for female than male students. There is the implication that this trend would result in gender gap in virtual learning against male students in the future. It was recommended that efforts should be made to improve virtual learning of students and such efforts would need to be targeted at reducing any gender gap and integrating virtual activities in curriculum delivery
Keywords: Benefits, Information and Communication Technology, awareness, curriculum content, global participation, virtual learning