Information Communication Technology and the Learning of Government in Secondary Schools
ABSTRACT
The study focused on Information Communication Technology and the learning of Government in Secondary Schools in Okobo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The variables considered in this study were wealthy homes, socio-economic status, provision of learning materials and parental education. In pursuance of the study’s objectives, four research questions were formulated to give direction to the study. It was a survey study with a target population of all SS3 Government Students in all public secondary schools in the research area. The sample consisted of eighty (80) students, selected by simple random sampling technique from the four (4) public secondary schools on the basis of twenty (20) from each school. One researcher – developed instrument, namely, Information Communication Technology Variables Questionnaire (ICTVQ) was used in collecting data. ICTVQ was a 25 – item questionnaire. From the analysis of data, students from high socio-economic homes were better motivated to learn Government than those from poverty – stricken homes. It follows therefore that the wealth of parents significantly influences students learning. Recommendations were made also.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Information and Communication technology (ICT) is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term, that stresses the role of unified communication and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), Computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio- visual system, which enable uses to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information. The term ICT is also used to refer to the convergence of audio-visual and telephone networks with computer networks through a single calling or link system. There are large economic incentives (hug cost savings due to elimination of the telephone network with the computer network system using a unified system of cabling signed distribution and management.
According to Bushati, Barolli, Dibbra and Haveri (2010) information technology (IT) is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics – based combination of computing and telecommunications. It is the area of managing technology and pane wide variety of area that includes but are not limited to things such as processes, computer soft-ware, information systems computer hard-ware, programming languages, data constructs. In short, anything that renders data, information or perceived knowledge in any visual format whatever, via any multimedia distribution mechanism, is considered part of the domain space known as Information Technology (IT).
Information Communication Technology and the Learning of Government in Secondary Schools
The history of the term and the phrase ICT has been used by academic researchers since 1980s, but it became popular after it was used in a report to the UK government by Dennise Stevenson in 1997, and in revised National Curriculum for England, wale and Northern Ireland in 2000. As of September 2013, the term “ICT” in the National Curriculum has been replaced by the broader term “Computing”.
The presence of technology in every aspect of our life in the XXI century faces up the people all around the world with new choices, opportunities and challenges that has parallel emerged and developed, have created a new global economy powered by ICT and driven by knowledge. While ICT has had great impact on this “revolution” of the global economy, traditional teaching and learning paradigms have been shaken by the impact of ICT integration in education. (Buohati, Vidaceh – Hains, Barolli and Gorishti, 2012).
The ultimate goal of education as have been manipulated, is to inculcate in the youth, or learner the desire to discover his abilities, get along with others, assert his rights, earn a living and perform his duties as a citizen. For that matter, education has been described as the process. There are three directions the ICT development has taken, namely, Connectivity, Interactivity and Multimedia. These developments have held ICT in high heights.
Connectivity: The connection of computers to one another by a Communication line in order to provide online information access and or the sharing of peripheral devices. This has made it possible for email and online shopping.
Interactivity: A two way communication – in which case, a user can respond to in formation he or her receives and modify what a exchange or dialogue between the responds to user requests.
Multimedia: Radio is a single – dimensional medium (sound), as is most email (mainly text). In multimedia, the technology presents information in more than one medium. It can be text, pictures, around, video or animation in a single integrated communication of preparing the learning for useful living within the society and preparation for higher education. On our age, young people, more than ever before have been afforded the advantage of a systematic education that has opened their mind to a vast array of facts and notions about themselves and the physical world they live in.
Government, as a school subject, is the act or process of governing, especially, the administration of public policy in a political unit or political jurisdiction. The main objective being to highlight to students a system or policy by which a political unit is governed so as to prepare them for useful living within the society. Sometimes referred and called “political science”, the institution of government has existed with the creation, though with variations between the countries.
There are many factors in a school setting that determines the effective learning of subjects, these variables at times act in combination with each other to produce the observed level of learning. Generally, the variables are those of heredity and environment. Indiscipline on the part of students, poor student/teacher relationship, bad method of teaching and poor staffing condition can lead to low standard of education. High standard of education can be attributed to ICT facilities, good method of teaching, good staffing and teachers effectiveness. The home variables of parents determine the schools and the learning of government.
A child from the upper and middle socio-economic class enters the school with an initial advantage. He comes from a background where feeding is good, books are provided, there is availability of ICT, he is emotionally stable and this gives him a positive self-image which tends to enhance learning in school. on the other hand, a child from the lower socio-economic class is disadvantaged from the outset. The child is disturbed by worries of money to buy learning materials such as books, uniforms, soap etc. His learning in school is greatly deprived.
ICT is starting to spread further than the conventional personal computer and network technology, and more into integration of other technology such as the use of cell phones, television, automobiles, and more. A student from the deprived background cannot have these facilities. ICT can affect in the spread of education and enable greater access to it. Moreover, they increase flexibility so that students can access educational resources regardless of time, space and geographical barriers. They can affect the way that students are given instructions and how they learn. They enable collaborative development of skills and abilities to create knowledge. This as a result, will bring a better preparation for students and life long learning.
Information Communication Technology and the Learning of Government in Secondary Schools
ICT can improve the quality of learning and the overall economy (Bhattacharya and Sharma 2007). According to UNESCO (2002) ICT is considered the most powerful means for learning education in this century. This is as true that today it has opened a debate that it has changed the classical meaning of learning. Hence it became necessary to ask “How does ICT influence the learning of government in secondary schools in Okobo local Government Area?” This study was an attempt to find plausible answer to this question.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
One of the major tents of the Nigerian philosophy of education is the building of a just and egalitarian society and a land bright and full of opportunities for all citizens (FRN, 2014).The implies the provision of equality of educational opportunities for all children. This aim cannot be achieved if some students are deprived by the socio- economic states of their parents, a factor which children come to meet due to circumstances of birth.
A cluster of variables usually associated with family background are associated with learning (Eke, 1986). The family’s social groups and his own social group, the times and places for his recreation, the chores required of him by his family, the rooms and facilities in the home for use, the wearing of certain clothes at certain times, the economic control to which he is subjected to by his family/ parents, all vary according to the social class of the child in question, which results in the student’s ability to effectively learn.
In Nigeria where some levies are collected in schools, students from high socio-economic class pay readily than those from lower socio-economic class. In view of the fact that studies by Eke (1986) has shown that there is a certain correlation between learning and economic status, the problem arises to find out if this relationship exists between students who learn though the influence of ICT. The problem also exists to find out whether all students from poor homes who have no facilities of ICT tend to learn Government and perform lower than those from rich homes with ICT.
Another problem is whether parents with high socio-economic status create an enriched environment by use of ICT that would enable their wards to learn Government well in schools. Generally, the problem is that of finding out whether by use of ICT, students nowadays learn Government better in secondary schools in Okobo Local Government Area.
1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of the study was to examine Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the learning of Government in secondary schools. Specifically, the study sought to:
(i) Find out whether students from wealthy homes, with ICT facilities. Perform better academically than those from poverty stricken homes.
(ii) Find out to what extent does an ICT facility influence the learning of Government in Secondary Schools.
(iii) Find out if the provision of learning facilities by the parents affect the learning of Government in Secondary Schools.
(iv) Find out why the academic background of parents affect the learning of Government in Secondary Schools.
1.4 Significance of the Study
Due to the fact that low academic performance in our country has been attributed to poor educational facilities, administration, students indiscipline and poor staff condition, the researcher is encouraged to carry out this study to make parents and government to be aware of the need of ICT facilities for the learning of Government. This study is significant in the following ways:
(i) Parent will know that excessive of inadequate financial support to a child may lead him/her to some indulgences or constitute and important variable that may affect the learning of Government.
(ii) The school administrators to see the need to provided adequate instructional facilities in schools to cater for the needs of children from deprived homes.
(iii) It will create awareness among teachers about the effect of home background on students learning of Government.
(iv) School counselors will be able to solve students’ academic, emotional and social problems in schools.
(v) Help parents that normally exhibit negative or positive attitudes towards their children’s progress in schools.
1.5 Research Questions
This study will attempt to provide answers to the following questions.
(i) Do students from wealthy homes, with use of ICT facilities learn Government better than those from poverty stricken homes?
(ii) To what extent does the socio-economic status of the parents influence the learning of Government?
(iii) Does the provision of learning facilities by the parents influence the learning of Government?
(iv) \Does the academic background of the parents affect students’ learning of Government?
Information Communication Technology and the Learning of Government in Secondary Schools