Strategy of Teaching Computer Science in Secondary School in Delta State
CHAPTER I
Purpose of the Study
The major purpose of the study is to determine strategies for improving computer studies in secondary schools in Aniocha and Oshimili, Local Government Area of Delta State. The study specifically sought to determine:
- the funding strategies for improving the teaching of computer studies in secondary school in Aniocha and Oshimili, Local Government Area of Delta
- the strategies for improving the availability and quality of instructional facilities required for the teaching of computer studies in secondary school in Aniocha and Oshimili, Local Government Area of Delta
- the strategies for improving teaching methodology required for the teaching of computer studies in secondary school in Aniocha and Oshimili, Local Government Area of Delta
- the strategies for improving the availability and quality of human resources required for the teaching of computer studies in Aniocha and Oshimili, Local Government Area of Delta
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The review of literature of this study was organized under the following sub- headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- ICT as aids to Teaching and Learning
- ICT as a Tool for Educational Management
- ICT as an Instrument for Economic Development
- ICT as a Tool for Higher Technology Development
- Problems of Computer Studies in Secondary Schools
- Prospect of Computer Studies in Secondary Schools
- Theoretical Framework
- Constructivism Learning Theory
- Downes Siemens Connectivism Learning Theory
- Houses Path-Goal Theory
- Two Factor Theory
- Related Empirical Studies
- Summary of Literature
Conceptual Framework
Like every institution, secondary education is faced with the challenges of delivering educational services in the growing digital competitive world. We are in an era of globalization where the free flow of information is made possible through the use of the internet and satellite. It becomes imperative that a developing country like Nigeria should join the bandwagon of digitalization by improving Computer studies in secondary schools. To achieve this objective, the Federal Government decided to introduce Computer studies into the nation’s secondary school system by setting up a committee on Computer studies. According to Philip and Josiah (2003), the functions of the committee on Computer studies includes planning for a dynamic policy on Computer studies and literacy in Nigeria as well as devising clear strategies and terminologies to be used by the Federal and State Governments introducing Computer studies. The general objectives of the policy therefore include, bring about a computer literate society in Nigeria by the mid-1990s and enable present school children to appreciate and use the computer in various aspects of life and in future employment (Philip and Josiah, 2003).
According to Philip and Josiah, other objectives include ensuring that the general populace appreciates the impact of information and computer technology on today’s society, the importance of its effective use, and the technologies that process, manage, and communicate the information. Lastly is to ensure that the people of Nigeria know how to use and program computers, develop software packages, understand the structure and operation of computers and their history, and to appreciate the economic, social and psychological impact of the computer. According to them, the modalities and the strategies for achieving the stated objectives includes, training teachers and associated personnel, procurement of hardware facilities, curriculum development, software developments and evaluation as well as maintenance of hardware and peripherals (Philip and Josiah, 2003).
It is therefore necessary to note that creative and adaptable strategies are needed to upset the likely risk of not achieving these stated objectives. A strategy is therefore defined as a framework of decision which provides basis for more detail planning.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the procedure adopted for this study under the following sub-headings;
Design of the Study
This study adopted a survey research design. A survey research design according to Osuala (2001) centers on individual and their opinion, belief, motivation and behavior. The design was considered suitable since the study will solicit information from principals, vice principals and teachers in secondary schools in Oshimili and Aniocha Local Government Area in Delta State where computer studies is taught.
Area of the Study
The area of the study is Aniocha and Oshimili Local Government Areas of Delta State. This Local Government Areas is made up of four major Educational Zones which are Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North and Oshimilia South. The reason for these areas is based on the fact theses educational zones has introduced computer studies in the school curriculum as well as researcher’s familiarity of the location which will grant her the opportunity to supervise and monitor the whole exercise.
Population for the Study
The population for the study comprise of 282 respondents which includes 118 principals, 118 vice principals and 46 computer studies teachers from the one hundred and eighteen secondary schools in Aniocha and Oshimil Local Government Area of Delta State (See Appendix I).
CHAPTER IV
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
This chapter presents the result of the data analysis for the study. The presentations were organized according to the research questions and null hypotheses formulated to guide the study.
The data presented in Table 1 revealed that the mean responses of computer studies teachers and teachers of other subjects to all the 10 items to be greater than the cut-off point of 3.50. This indicated that majority of respondents used for this study agreed with these items as the strategies for improving the funding of computer Studies in Secondary Schools. The standard deviation of items 1-10 rayed from .99 – 1.08. This revealed that the respondents’ were close to one another in their opinion thus indicating that the respondents’ are not far from the mean.
CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter presented the conclusion, recommendations based on the findings of the study, implications of the findings and suggestions for further studies.
Summary of Procedures used for the Study
The study was a survey research design, questionnaire was the instrument used to collect data for identifying the strategies for enhancing the teaching and learning of computer studies in secondary schools in Aniocha and Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State. A set of 45 structured questionnaire items was used to gather information from 282 respondents made up of 118 principals, 118 vice principals and 46 computer teachers drawn from the study area. The questionnaire was validated by two experts in Department of Vocational Teacher Education (VTE), University of Nigeria Nsukka and one from the department of computer science Federal College of Education (Tech.) Asaba Delta State and its reliability was established using Cronbach Alpha formula for determining the internal consistency of the instrument. The reliability result of .72 was calculated for the instrument after its trial test on 30 respondents from Enugu State which is outside the study area.
The data collected with the assistance of three research assistants and analyzed using SPSS 14.0 version which facilitates calculation of mean, standard deviation and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The mean and standard deviation were used to answer the four research questions while ANOVA was used to test the four null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.
Summary of Findings
Based on the data collected and analyzed, the following major findings of the study on strategies for improving computer studies in secondary schools in Aniocha and Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State are:
- Ten strategies on the ways for improving the funding of computer studies were in strong agreement with the opinions of the respondents (principals, vice principal and teachers). This was with means ranging from 19 – 4.24.
- A total of 10 items were considered as what should be the strategies for improving the availability and quality of instructional facilities required for the teaching of computer studies in secondary schools in Aniocha and Oshimili Local Government Area of Delta State. They were in agreement with the opinions of the respondents with means ranging 89 – 4.14.
- All the 15 items on the strategies for improving the teaching methodologies required for the teaching of computer studies were agreed to as important by the respondents with means ranging from 98 – 4.28.
- All the eight items on improving the availability and quality of human resources required for the teaching of computer studies were agreed to by the respondents as important with means ranging from 15 – 4.25.
- There was no significant difference in the mean ratings of principals, vice- principals and teachers on the strategies for improving the funding strategies required for the teaching of computer
- There was no significant difference in the mean ratings of principals, vice- principals and teachers on the strategies for improving the availability and quality of instructional facilities required for the teaching of computer
- There was no significant difference in the mean ratings of principals, vice- principals and teachers on the strategies for improving the teaching methodologies required for the teaching of computer
- There is no significant difference in the mean response of principals, vice- principals and teachers on the strategies for improving the availability and quality of human resources required for the teaching of computer studies in secondary schools in Delta Stat
Conclusion
The study concludes that there are some basic strategies that could be adopted in order to improve the teaching of computer studies in secondary schools in Aniocha and Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State. The study is of the view that computer studies should provide sound basis for further training in computer science at the tertiary level of education thus should be relied upon to enable students acquire the basic skills and knowledge needed to either secure a job and earn a living or to pursue further studies in the area computer and information science.
Evidence from the study also revealed that funding strategies for computer studies could be used in improving the teaching of computer studies in secondary schools. It is also found that strategies for improving the availability and supply of instructional facilities as well as teaching methodologies strategies could be used to enhance the teaching of computer studies in secondary schools. It is evident in the study that when students are adequately trained under an improved learning environment where instructional facilities are provided and qualified teachers engaged for the services of teaching and learning applying by proper teaching techniques there is no doubt that the performance of students in computer studies will improve considerably, and as such they are bound to develop a remarkable interest in computer studies and develop the necessary skills required to secure and succeed in the workplace.
Recommendations
The following recommendations were made based on the findings of the study and the implications of the study:
- School administrators (Education Secretaries and Principals) should ensure that computer teachers are sponsored on retraining programmes at least twice a year through workshops, seminars and conferences to enable them learn the modern technological skills in their chosen field of endeavours.
- The school administrators should as a matter of urgency liaise with private sectors to provide computers and other instructional materials needed for teaching of computer
- Parents through the PTA and other major stakeholders of our education should assists our secondary schools by donating instructional facilities like laptops, desktop computers, multimedia, generating sets, internet etc to enable students practice and acquire the skills of computing
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