AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILGREN

Abstract

This study investigate the investigate the influence of information technology in primary schools; using Green springs School in Lagos State, Nigeria as a case study. Questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument, and descriptive statistical method was adopted for analysis. Responses from students and teachers reveal that application of information technology in schools will help to promote an efficient, effective and productive way of teaching. More so, information technology promotes better communication and helps teachers and students to share accountability for learning and achievements. The study shows that most students agreed that information technology help students to have access to unlimited source of information; reveals connection between subjects; promotes critical thinking; and encourages students’ way of learning.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Africa now has more children in primary school than ever before, more girls going to school and more women who are literate (Isaacs and Hollow, 2012). Information technology also known as e-learning is an extended form of classroom teaching where learning, either online or offline is facilitated by the use of computer, telecommunication devices, networks, and storage capacity. On top of its easy delivery of information and interactive nature, the main benefit behind using the information technology instead of the traditional way is that Learners develop communication as well as personal skills such as autonomy, analytical perception, abstraction and others (Dargham, Saeed and Mcheik, 2013). Over the years, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has grown to become an important driver of e-learning and digitalization. Aiyebelehin (2012) as cited by Makinde, Makinde and Shorunke (2013) studied the influence of teachers’ information needs on ICT use in schools in Oyo state, Nigeria and found that, computer, multimedia boards, projectors, telephones, internet, scanners, and photocopiers were used by teachers. Further from his findings the largest percentage of computer users (57.26%) reported to be monthly users, the largest percentage of multimedia users (52.56%) reported to be occasional users, and the largest percentage of projector users 125 (53.42%) reported to be occasional users. Earlier, Ajadi, Salawu and Adeoye (2008) observed that the most common type of e-learning adopted in Nigerian schools was in the form of lecture notes on CD-ROM which can be played whenever the learners desire.

The use of information and communication technology (ICT) is becoming an integral part of education in many parts of the globe (Sala, 2004; Kuntoro & Al-Hawamdeh, 2003; Leidner & Jarvenpaa, 1993). Nigeria is not left behind as ICT gradually finds its way into the educational systems (Ajayi, n.d.; Darkwa & Mazibuko, 2000; Brown, 2002; Darkwa & Eskow, 2000) despite chronic limitations brought about by economic disadvantages (Adesola, 1991). Fundamentally, education is a discipline like any other; it is a branch of human knowledge, which is basically concerned with getting the young in the society prepared when they come of age (Ezewu 1983, p. 31). According to Gbamanja, (1989, p. 131), education is a process, which seeks to change the behavior of a learner. Overall, behaviorist view education as the process of changing the behavioral patterns of people. Behavior in this sense refers to the way we change the learner, his or her thinking, his or her feelings and his or her overt actions (Hergenhahn & Olson, 1997). Thus, education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its cultural heritage through schools, colleges, universities and other institutions (Gbemanja, 1989). In order to achieve the above-mentioned purposes in education, information and communication technology (ICT) one could argue is an essential ingredient that could help bring these gains and benefits to the fore.

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The pattern of teaching and learning process today is expected to shift from the conventional method to a more dynamic and flexible one, which is learner-centred (Ezekoka and Okoli, 2012). This learner-centred approach makes students to influence the content, activities, materials and pace of learning, which places them in the centre of the learning process and enhances independent learning (Collins and O‟Brien, 2003). However, despite the glaring relevance of ICT in education, coupled with the huge capital investment of both Federal and State governments through ICT driven project known as “school net” Adomi, (2006) and Okebukola (2004) and donations from Non Governmental Organizations to primary schools in Nigeria, some teachers are still reluctant, ineffective and unproductive in using ICT facilities to improve students’‟ academic performance. It is on this note that the researcher intends to investigate the impact of information and communication technology on pupils’ academic performance. It is on this backdrop that the researcher intends to investigate the influence of information communication technology on the academic performance of primary school pupils’

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main objective of the study is to investigate the influence of ICT on primary school children. For the successful completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following sub objective

1. To ascertain the influence of information communication technology on primary school children.
2. To ascertain the relationship between the use of ICT and the conventional approach in teaching and learning in primary schools.

• To investigate the role of IT on pupil’s academic performance

1. To ascertain the effect of ICT on the learning culture of primary school children.
   • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study; the following research hypotheses are formulated;

H₀: information communication technology has no influence on primary school children

H₁: information communication technology has a significant influence on primary school children.

H₀²: there is no relationship between the use of IT and the use of the conventional approach in teaching and pupil’s academic performance

H₂: there is a significant relationship between the use of IT and the use of the conventional approach in teaching and pupil’s academic performance

1. 5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the will be of great importance to the ministry of education in formulating policies and ensuring that primary schools adopt and implement the use of information communication technology in public and private primary schools.

The study will also be of great importance to the management of public primary schools as the study will serve as a guide to the management to explore the benefit of ICT in teaching and learning in primary schools, the study will also be beneficial to researchers who intends to embark on study in similar topic as the study will serve as a guide to their study. Finally the study will be beneficial to academia’s students and the general public schools.

1. 6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers an investigation into the influence of information technology on primary school children. In the cause of the study, the researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

(a)Availability of research material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

(b)Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

(c)Finance: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

ICT

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is an extended term for information technology (IT) which stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual

Computers

A computer is a device that can be instructed to carry out an arbitrary set of arithmetic or logical operations automatically. The ability of computers to follow a sequence of operations, called a program, make computers very applicable to a wide range of tasks. Such computers are used as control systems for a very wide variety of industrial and consumer devices.

Students
A student or pupil is a learner or someone who attends an educational institution. In Britain those attending university are termed “students”. In the United States, and more recently also in Britain, the term “student” is applied to both categories. In its widest use, student is used for anyone who is learning, including mid-career adults who are taking vocational education or returning to university

1.8 Organization of the study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion and also recommendations made of the study.

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