The Extent of Availability and Uses of Computers in State and Private Secondary Schools
Chapter One
PURPOSES OF THE STUDY
This study is aimed at investigating the extent of availability and use of computer in state and private secondary schools in Enugu metropolis.
Consequently, in carrying out the study, the researchers intend to:
- Find out if the state government secondary schools and private secondary schools in Enugu metropolis have computers.
- Determine what the available computers are used for in these schools.
- Find out the kind of software package and applications programs learned in each of the school types.
- Find out the problems encountered by students in the study of computer as a school subject.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
Within a few short years, the Internet has reached many areas of activity, often acting as an agent of profound change. Much of the evolution of the internet has occurred in the university and research environments, but more recently, it has entered a larger public arena. It is now making major inroads into elementary and secondary school environments and creating a new model for classrooms across the globe. However, in Nigeria, the deployment of networking technology into the education environment has been limited to date. Yet, it is in this environment that perhaps the most striking developments can be undertaken and the essential basic groundwork laid for the longer-term productive integration of information technologies in, our society. Accordingly, there is much that must be done to ensure that the opportunities these technologies offer to the classroom and the children are optimized. The internet computer–based world wide information network have had enormous impact on information seekers, as it offers a wealth of opportunities to improve access to information resources in support of both “traditional” on – campus instruction and distance- independent learning, (Borgman, 2000). In the last few years, in the foreign scene, internet connectivity in schools has grown by leaps and bounds, but some schools are just starting from the scratch especially, here in Nigeria. Internet has become a useful tool for school assignments. Students and teachers trust and have confidence that internet is a good educational tool. Private school owners have high expectations in the use of internet by their children for school purposes. They see the need for parents to supervise the use of internet with their children. Students and teachers need more direction and training in the use of internet. Teachers need to incorporate the use of internet sites in classroom assignments. Since the bulk of the schools claimed to have computer systems, it is highly imperative that these systems are connected to the internet such that students and teachers can have access to it. With the government efforts at removing import duties from information communication technology (ICT), materials and ministry of education efforts plus the cyber cafes around the cosmopolis, students are expected to exploit this media for personal and educational purposes. This study aims to find out the availability and the use of computers and internet by secondary school students. Education is a fundamental human process; it is a matter of values and action. The cluster of technologies called the “Internet” has the ability to complement, reinforce, and to enhance the educational process (Simond, 2008). It will take the focus of education from the institution to the student. The internet has come to befriend, dwell with, and live beyond, both, the teacher and the student. African wisdom says, “It takes an entire village to raise a child”. There is emerging research on how the internet can be an important component of a programme that significantly increases student learning. This type of programme requires students and teachers to have appropriate access to the internet and instruction in its use. It also requires changes in curriculum content, instructional practices, and assessment to take advantage of the communication and information storage and retrieval strengths of the internet and to appropriately assess the types of learning these strengths engenders.
Importance of internet in the teaching learning process
The importance of ICT is quite evidence from the educational perspective. Though the chalkboard, textbooks, radio/television and film have been used for educational purpose over the years, none has quite impacted on the educational process like the computer (Aduwa-Ogiegbaen and Iyamu, 2005). Works by Shavinina (2001) states that the main purpose of ICT consists just in the development of human mental resources, which allow people to both successfully apply the existing knowledge and produce new knowledge. With the rapid growth of the internet, many educational institutions began to use internet as a new medium to assist the teaching, research and many activities. According to a survey conducted by market data retrieval in Shelton Conn; out of 2000 colleges, 72% offered online course in 1999 to 2000 as compared with 48% in 1998 to 1999 (Manir, 2007). Using the internet in teaching and research makes the communication between the students and the teacher more convenient and interesting. Especially, using web in teaching and research makes it available for the students who prefer or require learning outside the classroom to study at their convenient time and space. The web has already been one of the most popular media for the delivering of the course information. Furthermore, because of the attractive characteristics of the internet, some secondary school teachers are trying to use web to assist in interactive teaching, research and learning in recent years. The use of the internet for interactive teaching and learning is relatively recent. The first materials appeared in the early 1990’s. The impact, however, has been considerable, mainly because the technology has advantages over the previous generations of computers (Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., 2010).
Computer as an Aid to Students
Information and communication technology according to Oloruntegbe (2006) can be viewed from four perspectives: “an object” “an assisting tool”, “as a medium of teaching and learning” and “as a tool for organization and management”. As an object, what is learnt is dependent on the type of education and the level of learners. Objects include: computer and accessories, internet access, satellite, on –line self-learning packages etc. On the other hand, ICT can be regarded as a tool which can be need to support teaching in content and methodology as well as to conduct research, collect data and communicate. Teachers can use it to teach students through drills, simulations and educational networks while it can be useful in the management of the school particularly, keeping of school records like:
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine the extent of availability and uses of computers in state and private secondary schools. Enugu state forms the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the extent of availability and uses of computers in state and private secondary school. 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 the extent of availability and uses of computers in state and private secondary school.
Summary
This study was on availability and uses of computers in state and private secondary school. Three objectives were raised which included: . Find out if the state government secondary schools and private secondary schools in Enugu metropolis have computers, Determine what the available computers are used for in these schools, Find out the kind of software package and applications programs learned in each of the school types and Find out the problems encountered by students in the study of computer as a school subject. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected secondary schools in Enugu state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
The bulk of the secondary schools surveyed in this work have computers in their laboratories but only a few are connected to the internet. Also, students have the capacity to use the internet, and these internet skills are majorly learnt from friends against the teachers who only encourage them on its use through assignments and other school works that requires the use of internet. The level of internet access in schools is very poor. This is because the majority of the schools studied do not have access to the internet and while few who does, do not frequently allow students to have access to the technology. Students access the internet from their homes and cyber cafes since they are denied access in their respective schools. Notwithstanding, the major system used in this access is internet enabled mobile phones and laptops/personal computers.
Recommendation
Schools across the country irrespective of being public or private should acquire more computers with the latest specifications and multimedia kit should be installed so that the users can use Internet telephony, videoconferencing, chatting and other useful services of the Internet.
Curriculum developers and other policy makers should include Internet/information retrieval skills in the school syllabus/curriculum.
Capacity building (Internet skills acquisition) on the part of the teachers should be given adequate attention. More efficient technical staff should be appointed and they should always be present in the Internet section for expert advice.
While schools are teaching the students on how the Internet can improve them in all phases of life, they should be aware of the standards and ethics of using the Internet.
References
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