CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In recent times, the world has witnessed a
rapid increase in technological innovations. This era ushered in the advent of
the electronic computer system among other modern technologies. At present the
computer technology has permeated nearly all aspects of human organizational
roles and education.
Computer encompasses almost all facets of
human endeavours. So much has been written on it and its relatedness to all
areas of human disciplines, which include computer/information technology,
engineering, agriculture etc. However, much work has not been done on computer
and its application and relevance to education. This work aims to fill this
gap, as it discusses it importance to the field of education Today, computer
technology in schools is one of the most far-reaching and fast growing
developments in education. Like maize in a plantation during a storm, countries
all over the world are bending towards the fad of computer education (Joseph,
1990; Madu, 1990; Macaulay, 1993).
Development in science and technology has
brought into lime light the indispensable roles of computer in the area of
information technology. It is a new instructional system. The incursion of the
electronic computer system into the educational parlance, according to Sherman
(2005) provides the wherewithal to solve teaching and learning problems even
more rapidly and accurately than hitherto conceived. This has eventually made
the computer system the doyen of humanity as it continues to exert greater
acceptance. Computer, according to Jayesimi (1985), has become the ‘nowology’
in our society and possibly futuristic years ahead.
In schools, computers are widely used; and
the need for computer technology and literacy in the educational system has
become more relevant. Computer has been found to be an effective device for
presenting an instructional programme. According to McCormick (1993), computers
can be used to diversify, develop and improve the pedagogical relation of
teaching and learning. Also, technological development can only be enhanced
through proper acquisition of scientific knowledge: which can only be realized
through relevant training in Science, Mathematics and Computer Education. It was in this light that the Federal
Government of Nigeria launched the National Policy on Computer Literacy at
primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education in 1987 with the following
general aims:
For the computer to transform the school
system, as there is increased merger between the computer technology and
communication; and To equip the individual or student with thorough
understanding of the concept of computer in order to fit in to the next
century.
The National programme on Computer Education
as put in place by the Federal Government of Nigeria was received with open
arms and regarded as a technological innovation in educational practice in
Nigeria institutions of learning. Computer Education was perceived as a new
instructional system that was designed to improve the quality of teaching and
learning and to aid technological and socio-economic development. This was
further corroborated by the then Federal Minister of Education, Professor
Jubril Aminu in his address to the Adhoc Committee on Computer Literacy in
Nigeria that the objectives of the nation’s Computer Education programme, among
other things, were as follows:
To bring about a computer literate society in
Nigeria within a short space of time.
To enable the present generation of school
children at all levels, appreciate the potentials of the computer; and To
enable them to be able to use the computer in various works of life and later
occupation.
With these laudable objectives, all state governments
throughout Nigeria follow the Federal Government policy to introduce Computer
Education and Literacy in secondary schools in 1997 with the following general
objectives:
To bring about a computer literacy in each
state in Nigeria.
To develop the use of computer as teaching
tool in all subject areas and to familiarize students with the use of computer
technology.
To enable the present generation of school
children at the secondary school level appreciate the potentials of the
computer and be able to utilize the computer in various aspects of life and
later occupation; and. To expose the teachers and the students to the latest
scientific knowledge and skills.
From the foregoing, based on the importance
of computer to learning, introducing it into the Nigerian educational system
can be said to be a step in the right direction.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
As excellent and important the computer, it
has not really gained its root in our Nigerian schools, let alone the entire
society. Its impact is not strongly felt by all, especially by our students.
This is because there are some challenges facing its implementations in our
society. Some of the challenges are listed below.
The challenges of computer education are both
educational and administrative. The prominent among the administrative problems
is cost. Over the years, the cost of computer has been on the high side. This
has been a deterrent to the adoption of computer for instructional purposes in
most Nigerian secondary schools. Coupled with this is the exorbitant price of
software; it follows the same pattern as that for the hardware. Where attempts
are made to purchase computers for instructional purposes, the costs of
installation, maintenance and replacement are unavoidable.
The depressed economic situation of Nigeria
has incapacitated the government to fund education effectively. The meager
funding of education in Nigeria coupled with low technological level has been
an impediment to the provision of instructional materials and use of computers
for instruction in Nigeria at all levels of education.
In addition, death of trained personnel
militates against the use of computer for instruction. Experts with the
technical know-how of computers are few except the computer dealers who are
profit conscious. Hence, there are no computer operators, keypunch operators,
analysts, computer scientists, computer engineers and technicians to operate
service and develop computer course ware for use on a large scale in education
(Salisbury, 1998).
Another impediment to use of computer in the
classroom could be attributed to the syndrome of resistance to change among the
Nigerian teachers. They view the use of computer for education as a means of
displacing them from their cherished job rather than an instructional material
to enrich teaching and learning.
Also, they regard the use of computer as an
increase in their tasks in the classroom without adequate compensation, hence
the prayer for premature death for computer education.
1.3
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research work is to evaluate
the use of computer in teaching and learning of basic technology at the
secondary school in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state. The
specific objective of this research work includes the following:
1. To
determine how teachers make use of computer in preparing lesson note.
2. To
determine how teachers use computer assisted instruction in teaching.
3. To
determine how students make use of computer to gather academic information.
4. To
determine the ways students make use of computer to relate to other students
and their teachers.
1.4
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is very essential to the extent
that it will help to identify most suggestion for improving the teaching and learning
of computer and integrated science in our secondary schools. The results of
this research will be of benefit to the following groups of people.
1. It
will help Anambra state Government and Orumba South Local Government Area in
particular to know the relevance and importance of the use of computer in
Teaching and Learning in secondary schools.
2. It
will enable the government to know the qualifications of teachers teaching
computer and in secondary schools.
3.
Parents will from the result of this study know the importance of
science laboratory in the academic life of their children.
4. The
result will also help the management and teacher of secondary schools to know
and understand that laboratory should be the bed rock of students that study
computer and therefore attaché importance in science laboratory.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION
The following research questions were
formulated in this research work:
1.
What are the way teachers use
computer in preparing lesson note?
2.
What are the teachers use computer assisted instructions in teaching?
3.
What are the ways students make use of computer to gather academic
information?
4.
What are the ways student use computer to relate to other students and their teachers?
1.6
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study will be restricted to the use of
computer in teaching and learning of basic technology at the secondary schools
in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state.