AVAILABILITY AND USAGE OF COMPUTERS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NSIT ATAI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to examine the availability and usage of computers in public and
private secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government Area. Two research
questions were formulated to guide the study. The survey research design was
adopted for the study. A sample of 188 students was selected from 3 public and
3 private secondary schools in the study area using a simple random sampling
technique. A checklist was used as an instrument for data collection. The data
collected were subjected to statistical analysis using frequency counts and
simple percentage. The result of the analysis revealed that computers are
available in both public and private secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government
Area but they have not been effectively utilized for teaching and learning in
public secondary schools compared to private schools in the study area. It was
therefore recommended among others that computer science teachers should
constantly make use of computers in the teaching-learning process to facilitate
students’ understanding of the lesson.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
In
recent times, the world has witnessed a rapid increase in technological
advancement, and this is made possible by the introduction of the computer. The computer is an electronic device that is capable of accepting data (raw facts)
process the data, store and give out the result to the user (operator). It has
become one of the basic building blocks of modern society. At present, computer
technology has permeated all areas of human organization. So much has been
written on it and its relatedness to all areas of human disciplines which
include computer and information technology, engineering, agriculture among
others. It is an indispensable aspect of human concept which transformed one
from the manual way of life to a more sophisticated, advanced and science-oriented
knowledge applied in our daily undertaking for fast and effective learning.
However, the
availability and use of computer in schools today is very important and it is
fast growing development in education. Through advancement in computer
programming, a new dimension has been brought to play where electronic learning
resources such as mobile phone, digital photographs, maps, scanned historical
documents, animated video demonstration, electronic books among others are
applied to handle and manipulate all sorts of ideas and information in almost
all walks of life, ranging from business through various profession and
instructors to government.
Consequently, there is
no doubt that computer has become incorporated into our school system.
Computer, internet, telephone, projector, broadcasting technological tools like
television, radio among others are used not only as a means of helping schools
analyze data but also a pervasive tool for effective teaching and learning.
According to Kalu (2003), the availability and use of computer in secondary
schools can help to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The unique
role of computer in enhancing the quality education is unquestionable giving
the fact that it can motivate students to learn so they become independent and
responsible for their learning. In addition, many schools have incorporated
interactive computer-assisted instruction into their program to provide
students opportunities to master specific educational objective or standard.
Computer programs have been able to create a computer-assisted instruction
program to increase study learning by affecting cognitive processes and
increase motivation. It has become a tool to reshape knowledge delivery and
enhance both teachers and students’ activities in the classroom.
It has been found that
computer and other Information Communication and Technology (ICT) devices are
grossly inadequate in schools for effective application of ICT to the teaching
– learning process. There is no gainsaying the fact that if the available ones
are effectively utilized by both the learners and the teacher, it will not only
enhance individualized instruction but will go a long way in improving the
teaching and learning process. It is, therefore, hoped that the assessment of
the impact posed by availability and effective utilization of computer on
students’ academic performance will contribute significantly in this respect.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
For sometimes now the
teaching and learning of computer in schools have increasingly become more
challenging as a result of inadequate teaching-learning facilities. Many
educators and stakeholder in the education sector have viewed with serious
concern the performance of students in public and private secondary schools.
Many researchers and educationists attributed the trend to the non-challenge the attitude of students toward studies and the laissez-faire attitude of parents
towards the educational pursuit of their wards. Worried by this ugly
development, government, corporate bodies, and well-meaning individuals have made concerted efforts to
stimulate students’ interest in learning, improve the performance and to make
sure that the past glory of our educational system returns. These efforts have
been in the area of providing basic teaching and learning materials, school
infrastructural development, recruitment of qualified and competent teaches
among others. All these efforts notwithstanding, the output has remained
nothing to write home about.
Moreover, most
educators and researchers are of the opinion that with the introduction of
computer to the teaching-learning process in schools, its situation will be
overturned and the desired result would be achieved in view of the potential of
computers in ensuring individualized instruction while believing that the
incidence of students’ failure in the examination will be a thing of the past. It
is against this background that the researcher is motivated to conduct a study
on availability and uses of computers of students in public and private
secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the study was to examine the availability and usage of computers in public and
private secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government Area. Specifically, the study sought to:
i. Examine
if computers are available in public and private secondary schools in Nsit Atai
Local Government Area.
ii. Find
out if the available computers have been utilized for effective teaching and
learning in public and private secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government
Area.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This research work will
be of great value to the students, teachers and school administration,
government and researchers in the following ways:
i. The study will enable schools to make computers available as a teaching-learning
approach and familiarize the students
on how to use the device.
ii. It
will enable the students to appreciate the use of computer and other ICT
resources in learning and later in life.
iii. It
will be of immense value to would be teachers to have prior knowledge of
computer before using it.
iv. It
will also enable the parents to take their initiative in providing their wards
with computers in order to help them improve their academic performance.
v. To
educational administrators, planners and other educational bodies involved in
the training processes, the findings will help them to know the value of
computer and apply the same in the curriculum for effective teaching and learning
in school.
vi. Lastly
the study will serve as a source of referee materials for prospective a researcher who may wish to undertake a study in this regard.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research
questions were formulated to guide the study:
i. To
what extent are computers available in public and private secondary schools in
Nsit Atai Local Government Area?
ii. To
what extent are the available computers been utilized in public and private
secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government Area?
1.6 Limitations of the Study
Limitations are bound
to occur in a study of this magnitude. The major limitation encountered in the study was lack of funds to execute the work to a wider extent, insufficient
research materials for the review of related literature, timeframe for the
completion of the research work and the researcher’s academic workload.
1.7 Delimitation of the Study
The study was
restricted to availability and use of computers of students in public and
private secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
1.8 Definition of Terms
The following terms
used in the study were defined by the researcher as shown below:
Computer:
This is an electronic device that is capable of accepting data, processing
data, store and give out the results or output according to the order and
command of the users or operator.
Availability:
This is the extent to which computers are present in schools for use.
Usage:
This is the way in which computers are used in schools for a particular
purpose.
Public
School: This is
the type of school owned, controlled, financed and managed by the government.
Private
school: This is the type of school-owned, financed, and managed
by private individuals and cooperate bodies.
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