Assessment of Availability and Utilization of E-learning Technologies in Business Education Program in Tertiary Institution
CHAPTER ONE
Objective OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the availability and utilization of e-learning technologies in relation to teaching and learning of business education programme of tertiary institutions in Delta State. Specifically, the study will:
- Determine the extent to which e-learning technologies are available for use in business education pogramme in tertiary institutions in Delta State.
- Determine the extent to which e-learning technologies are utilized in business education programme in tertiary institutions in Delta State.
- To identify the major problems and constraints against the use of e-learning technologies for pedagogical application in business education programme of tertiary institutions in Delta State.
- To determine strategies for improving the availability of e-learning technologies for teaching and learning of business education programme of tertiary institutions in Delta State.
- To determine strategies for improving the utilization of e-learning technologies in business education programme of tertiary institutions in Delta State.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Definition of Information Communication Technology
ICT stands for “Information and communication technology”. It refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunication. It is similar to Information Technology (IT) but focuses primarily on communication technologies. This includes the internet, wireless networks, cell phones and other communication mediums. It means we have more opportunities to use ICT in teacher training programmes now days and improve quality of teacher for teach effectively. According to UNESCO “ICT is a scientific, technological and engineering discipline and management technique used in handling information, its application and association with social, economic and
cultural matters”. Teacher is the main part of the educational field in our society. He more works for the improvement level of our society in the every field. Skilled teachers can make the creative students in form of the good social worker, politician, poet, philosopher etc. for the society. Teachers can play a friendly role with the learner. The rapid development in technology has made creatively changes in the way we live, as well as the demands of the society.
Recognizing the impact of new technologies on the workplace and everyday life, today’s teacher education institutions try to restructure their education programs and classroom facilities, in order to minimize the teaching and learning technology gap between today and the future.
ICTs are making dynamic changes in society. They are influencing all aspects of life. The influences are felt more and more at schools. Because ICTs provide both students and teachers with more opportunities in adapting learning and teaching to individual needs, society is, forcing schools aptly respond to this technical innovation.
Learning as Concept
E-learning can best be defined as the science of learning without using paper printed instructional material. E-learning is the use of telecommunication technology to deliver information for education and training. With the progress of information and communication technology development, E-learning is emerging as the paradigm of modern education. The great advantages of E-learning include liberating interactions between learners and instructors, from limitations of time and space through the asynchronous and synchronous learning network model (Pei-Chen Sun et al., 2008).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to evaluate the assessment of availability and utilization of e-learning technologies in business education program in tertiary institutions
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was on an assessment of availability and utilization of e-learning technologies in business education program in tertiary institutions.
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of e-learning technologies in tertiary institution.
Summary
It has been noted that e-learning is the application of internet to enhance learning. This study revealed that elearning infrastructures are not available in FUT., Minna. Therefore, ICT infrastructures should be provided to facilitate effective teaching and learning in order to brace up to present day educational challenges. Efforts should be made towards tackling other factors that are militating against the usage of e-learning infrastructures. It is safe to conclude here that unless these facts are seriously taken into consideration and acted upon, education in FUT., Minna will only retrogress in a progressive world.
Conclusion
The study revealed that e-learning facilities are fairly available in the teaching and learning of undergraduate business education. However, there are certain factors that are responsible for the poor/fair availability of e-learning facilities in the teaching and learning of undergraduate business education. This study examined the utilization of e-learning technologies in business education instructional delivery in Colleges of Education in Delta State, Nigeria. It revealed that e-learning technologies like e-lectures, e-examination, e-drill, e-books, e-library, among others, are available for use in instructional delivery, however, they are not extensively utilized in the colleges of education chosen for the study. The study also revealed that most of the e-learning technologies were utilized to a low extent with very few being moderately utilized, but yet utilized to a high extent or very high extent in business education instruction delivery because of constraints to effective utilization of the e-learning technologies by business education lecturers. Constraints identified in this study include shortage of qualified staff with capacity for e-learning application, inadequate incentives and motivation of staff as well as inadequate facilities, equipment and infrastructure for e-learning purposes.
Recommendations
The following recommendations were made based on the findings and conclusion of the study:
- The government of Nigeria should embark on a massive computer literacy training programme nation-wide particularly for teachers and learners at all levels. This should be accomplished through in-service training for teachers, workshops, seminar, and conferences.
- All classrooms and auditoria in higher education institutions in Nigeria should be connected to the internet in order to enhance web-based instruction. The government should do this by paying internet connection fees to internet service providers (ISP) to provide internet services to all institutions of learning.
- Videophone, teleconferencing and multimedia systems, for examples, multimedia computers and multimedia projectors should be provided in adequate number by the government of Nigeria for effective e-learning technology use at all levels of education.
- Teachers in Nigeria should be motivated and encouraged to develop and use multimedia courseware and software relevant to teaching and learning. The government should motivate teachers through provision of adequate funds for courseware development.
Reference
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