THE APPLICATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING OF VOCATIONAL SUBJECTS IN BORI POLYTECHNIC
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).
