CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
It
is a fact to state that, an effective human resources development is a function
of the application of methods of teaching, alternative channels of
communication, educational resources and expertise of utilizing these resources
by the instructors or the lecturer. It is on the above premise that this
project is situated. To generate a desirable change in the learner, good
teaching must take place and to bring about good teaching, teacher should be
able to convey their message in the simplest, most convincing and practical way
to the learner through the use of resources available to the education
industry. These resources are properly utilized, underutilized or over
utilized. These trends portend confusion for the educational system. If
actually the education industry is the pivot for achieving genuine national
development and the instrument par excellence for achieving same, then the
available educational resources should be properly utilized to bring about
better educational goals. This may point to the fact that resources in the
education industry are not properly used (Ebong 2006: Maduagwu 2004; and
Maduagwu and Nworgu, 2006).
Information and Communication Technology is the use of computers and
telecommunications to create manipulate and distribute enlightenment and
entertainment. Information and Communication Technology has penetrated to the
core of our professional lives.
The
term Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to technologies that
provide access to information through telecommunications. Although similar to
Information Technology but focuses primarily on communication Technologies
which includes internet, wireless mediums. For example people can communicate
in real time with others in different countries using technologies such as instant
messaging, voice over IP (VOIP), video-conferencing, social networking websites
like facebook allows users from all over the world remain in contact and
communicate on a regular basis.
Information
and Communication Technology according to Adegboye and Oludele (2009) was
defined as an umbrella term that includes at technologies usable for the
manipulation and communication of information. However, in the common usages it
is often assumed that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is synonymous
with Information Technology (IT).
According
to Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), information technology
is seen as the study, design, development, implementation, support or
management of computer –based information. Systems particularly software
application and computer hardware it
deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert,
store, protect, process, transmit and securely retrieve information it can also
be describes as a general term that describes any technology that helps to
producing manipulate, store, communicate, and disseminate information.
The
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and
the International Labour Organization (ILO) recommendations of 2002 on
technical and vocational education and training for twenty-first Century,
define the “technical and vocational education” as a comprehensive term
referring to those aspects of the educational process involving, in addition to
general education, the study of technologies and related sciences, and the
acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding and knowledge
relating to occupations in various sectors of economic and social life.
Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) is concerned with the preparation of
learners for employment, through the provision of knowledge, skills and
attitudes desirable in the world of work. Technical and vocational education is
further understood to be:
- an integral part of general education;
- a
means of preparing for occupational fields and for effective participation in
the world of work;
- an
aspect of lifelong learning and a preparation for responsible citizenship;
-
an instrument for promoting environmentally sound sustainable development;
- a
method of facilitating poverty alleviation (UNESCO and ILO, 2002).
Technical
and vocational education can be formal, informal, continuing or life-long
learning, in-service training with
various ranges of providers: public, semi-public and private institutions.
Technical and vocational education has an orientation towards the world of work
and the emphasis of the curriculum on the acquisition of employable skills. Its
delivery systems are therefore well placed to train the skilled and
entrepreneurial workforce that nation needs to create wealth and emerge out of
poverty. Due to the dynamic levels of its training delivery, it can respond to
the different training needs of learners from different socio-economic and
academic backgrounds, and prepare them for gainful employment and sustainable
livelihoods. The needs for Technical and vocational education around the world
are enormous because of the changes occurring in the world of work, which have
implications on the structure of appropriate courses in Technical and
vocational education. It is therefore essential for every government be it
local, state, or federal to be deeply aware of the importance of human
resources development (HRD) and makes great efforts to develop technical and
vocational education. For education to reap the full benefits of ICTs in
learning, and effectively accomplish the aforementioned goals of technical and
vocational education, nation’s educational system needs to develop strategies
and plans to enhance the teaching-learning process through the use of new tools
for learning.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
There
are a number of questions about the ICT acceptance and usage among teachers and
students from special education which emerge problem in special education
program and effect the enrollment of the students. The utilize of the ICT in
school will develop highly confident upon effort Special Education School to
society expectation in educating special students. Therefore, a study in
Technical and Vocational Special Education School should be conducted for the
purpose of surveying ICT and usage in the teaching and learning process among
teachers and students. The focus of the study is to identify the level of ICT
acceptance and usage in teaching process among the special education program
teachers and the level of ICT acceptance and usage in learning process among
the special education program students.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The
purpose of this study is to examine the use of information and communication
technology in teaching of vocational subjects in Bori Polytechnic. The
objectives of the study are as follows
(i) To
examine the impact of Information Communication Technology in teaching of
vocational subjects.
(ii) To examine how information communication equipment contributes to
the teaching of vocational subject.
(iii) To examine the challenges of using Information Communication
Technology in teaching of vocational subject.
1.4 Research Questions
The research questions of the study are:
(i) How does the impact Information Communication Technology enhances
of vocational subject?
(ii) How does Information Communication Technology equipments influence
teaching of vocational subjects?
(iii) What are the challenges of using Information Communication
Technology in teaching of vocational subjects?
1.5 Hypothesis
1. There is no significant difference between Information
Communication Technology and teaching of vocational subject.
2. There is no significant difference between the use of projector
and teaching of vocational subject
1.6 Significance of the Study
This
study will offer useful ideas to existing knowledge on the subject matters. It
would be of help to the students as well as Teachers in their daily pursuance
of the duties particularly those presenting seminar workshop and symposium
papers.
It
will reveal the influence it has in the developing of information and
communication technology centers the ways and how they are been managed. This
study will be useful to both private and public sectors on how to improve on
the information and communication technology in the day to day usage in the
enhancement of the teaching of Vocational Subjects in Bori Polytechnic.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The
researcher is expected to cover polytechnic in Rivers State and it metropolis
but for time and other factors into consideration. This study has been significantly limited in
scope to Bori Polytechnic.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
E-learning:
Is an educational resource that helps in effective teaching and learning
process created through combining e-digital content with local community and
tutor support along with global community engagement.
Communication:
This is the process of transmitting
information, ideas and attitudes from one person to another.
Information and
Communication Technology (ICT): It means a
general term that describes any technology that help produce, manipulate and
communicate information.
Email:
It means electronic mail, which is transmission of message between computers
via a network.
Internet:
It can be defined as interconnection of computer network that enabled the
computers and their program to communicate directly.
Computer:
Electronic device that work under the control of the stored program,
automatically accepting and processing data to produce information which is the
result of the processing.
Academic Achievement:
- Mode of achieving the best in academic environment.
Effects: - This is the impact
or result of one thing on the other