ABSTRACT
The application of information and
communications technology in Nigeria and in African countries generally is
increasing and dramatically growing. Over the past few years, ICT has turned
out to be a step by step more imperative to schools at all levels and to the
entire education system at large. There exist an extensive variety of
researches focused on the investigation of the utilization of ICT in the
process of training in Niger delta university. This study aimed to assess how
ICT is used in training in Niger delta university particularly office
information management (OIM) students. Built on the three central research
questions, the objective of this study is to assess the degree of usage of the
ICT facilities in training practices. In this study, a mixed-methods approach
for data gathering was applied by using questionnaires and interviews to
collect data from office information management students, instructors and
administrators in the studied states. The responses were then analyzed based on
the research questions outlined in chapter one. The result shows that the use
of ICT facilities are very low and this is attributed to the poor policy
implementation, lack of basic social amenities and insecurity.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
In every work place, there is every tendency
to experience difficulties in the course of performing one’s duties
particularly in the higher institution of learning. Going by these pressing
issues, there is a lot of problem faced by
office managers in work. They are expected to face some challenges and
some of these problems are inherent to today’s institution while some emanates
from academic environment, visitors and other staff of the institution.
According
to Njoku [2005] some of the problems inherent from today’s office managers may
be inadequate equipment or unfamiliarization with some modern office equipments
for production of satisfactory work.
Ifedili (1995)
noted that office managers are one of the most indispensable tools
needed in all spheres of human
Endeavour. He further added that government parastatals, ministries, companies
and private organization and institution need office managers for the smooth
operation and achievement of their set objectives.
Elendu (2000), described office managers as
the life –wire of organization. He further defined office managers as the pivot
on which the management of any
organization revolves. He describes the office managers as an assistant to the
executive, possessing mastery of office skills and the ability to assume
responsibilities without direct supervision, who display initiative, exercise
judgment and makes decision without the scope of her authority.
But research have shown that the office managers in Federal Polytechnic Nekede
and other institutions are found wanting in these attributes. The office managers are fresh graduate managers
who have little experience. They were trained with absolute equipment.
Okoye (1999), stated
that employers expects their office
manager to be able to operate electronic gadgets such as
word processors, computer, telex, fax machines, the switch board equipment and
other office equipments. It has been discovered tha the new graduate of office
manager cannot operate these machine (a part from computer) because they were not exposed to
these machines during their trainingThe use of computers in education have ended up as a
significant instrument and innovatively affected how we learn and see the world
in broad. Today, the place of ICTs in education cannot be quantified. Cutting
edge organizations are operating in online and real time modes using smart ICT
gadgets via the web. The marvel has brought forth the contemporary e-activities
such as trading, marketing, healthcare, education, banking and government. Bamidele
(2006) has described ICT advancement as something that revolutionarised the
world through the use of computers and internet and it touches every facet of
our lives.
Jimoh (2007) characterized ICT as the
taking care of, preparing and transformation of data such as text, pictures,
diagrams, and so on in to meaningful information using electronic specialized
gadgets, for example, PCs, satellites and internet. Similarly, Ofodu (2007)
likewise described ICT as computerized gadgets, helped by man and intelligent
materials that can be utilized for an extensive variety of educational
activities and for individual use. Going by the above delineations, it can be
concluded that ICT is the processing of data using all kinds of technologies
for the manipulation of information in every aspect of life.
Modern instructional techniques
required the use of ICT which provide a more simplified and reliable training
methodologies. From the office information management students` viewpoint the
integration of ICT education help in both cooperative and self-paced learning.
Office information management students can adjust their learning paces with
immediate feedback and selfassessment in an institution where the new
technologies are being used. Such office information management students extend
their learning capabilities beyond classrooms as they can communicate with
peers from everywhere around the globe. This novel achievement of the 21st
century is presently not fully employed in the niger-Delta region of Niger
delta university. This negative development might not be unconnected with the
lack of ICT facilities in our public schools, negligence from the authorities
concerned or the misuse of the available ICT equipment on the ground by the
office information management teachers. This unfortunate situation is in fact,
what motivates the researcher to evaluate the level of ICT usage in our public
university.
1.2 Statement
of the Research Problem
This
is more like a question that needs answer. What gave rise to this problem are
the complaint made by firms or institution who have inexperienced office
managers as their manager and also firms who have ordinary typist {clerk} as
manager.
The
office managers lack skills in operating computer, electronic typewriter,
photocopies etc. If they should posses the skill required of them; the modern
business will reap the benefit of electronic equipment.
The
use of the ICT to disseminate information has posed more problems of constant
failure, inadequate finance to purchased these machines, lack of training and
retraining, facilities to retain office managers on the intricacies and
operation of those sophisticated machines, besides; the use of office equipment
may expose an office manager to substantial risk of loosing their job.
There is widespread acknowledgment of
the necessity to employ the use of the new technology in training as we move in
to the time of digitalization of data streaming by means of satellite and the
web ruled worldwide data and information dispersal. As of now, Nigeria is still
on the negative side of the worldwide digital divide because she is yet to
incorporate ICT into office information management education . Most of the
educational and managerial tasks in Nigeria collages are still completed
physically. Probably, because there are no enough ICT facilities deficiency in
office information management teachers` competency or resistance from the side
of the office information management teachers. Again it is perhaps due to lack
of good policy and readiness from the side of the administrators to get
together with the complications of the 21st century. This study is
considered so important especially at this present era of information age as it
will look in to in-depth understanding of the current perceptions by all the stakeholders
and also to understand the policies and politics surrounding the integration
and application of computers in the public institutions particularly in
that region of the country.
1.3 Aim of
the Study
The main objective of this study is
to investigate the level of use of ICT in Training office information
management (OIM) in University of Niger-Delta Nigeria.
1.4 Research
Questions
This study intends to achieve the
above aim through the following research questions.
1. What are the office information
management students’ perceptions on the availability and usage of ICT
facilities in their class rooms?
2. What are perception of office
information management teachers and their level of competencies in the use of
ICT facilities in their teaching profession?
a.
What
are the office information management teachers opinions on the availability of
these ICT facilities and how much they are been used?
b.
What
are the office information management teachers opinions regarding the policies
and interventions toward the use of ICT in schools?
3. What are the opinions of the
administrators regarding the use of ICT in Training office information
management (OIM) in Public schools?
a.
What
are their views about the policies and interventions either by government,
private organizations or individuals with respect to the use ICT in schools?
b.
What
are their opinions on the availability of these technical facilities and how
much they are been used?
1.5
Significance of the Study
A statistical survey report released
by Join Admission and Matriculation Board reveals that the enrolment of the
office information management students In the computer based test (CBT) in the
Niger-Delta states is very low (JAMB, 2015) in view of the above and some
related challenges it’s a strong reason why this research work is considered
important.
Moreover, the study is timely and
relevant because today it’s the use of ICT that is making some nations a highly
advance in education. So if ICT is properly integrated in to education system
it can make not only the region but the country at large a highly progressive
nation.
This study will also provide an
enquiry through which the application of this new technology in education can
be assess so as to help the administrators to ascertain the level of office
information management teachers` competencies and the perception of both the
instructors and the learners in using ICT in training practices. Again the
study will be useful in discovering the weaknesses of the instructional
materials (if any) which will be beneficial to the policy makers because they
will make the findings of this study a basis for formulating policies and
developing a better strategies for incorporating ICT in academic activities.
Furthermore, the study will again be helpful in identifying possible causes of
poor usage of ICT facilities in the national exams so that a remedial measures
will be instituted to solve the problem and to use the situation as an avenue
to seek for more intervention from the federal government and other relevant
ICT facilities donor agencies.
1.6
Limitations
This research work, the assessment of
the use of ICT in training was conducted within the period of July to December,
2015. The study was limited to the public schools in towns and cities of the
selected states due to a number of reasons which include insecurity, bad roads
and financial constraint.
1.7
Definitions of Key Terms
ICT:
Information and Communication Technology/Technologies- is a general term
comprises of any communication device or software and the various services and
applications associated with them (wikibooks, 2015).
CAI: Computer
Assisted Instructions- A self-learning system, generally offline/online,
including communication of the office information management students with
modified instructional materials (wikieducators, 2008).
CAL: Computer
Assisted Learning- is defined as learning through computers using a set of
learning packages/materials (wikieducators, 2008).
CBT: Computer
Based Training: these are programs occasionally called
"courseware" that give
two-way instructional meetings to all disciplines (whatis.com,
2011).
ICT in Education: this refers to the training using ICT (wikibooks,
2015).
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