EFFECT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
- INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE SUDY
Most teachers leave teacher training institutions with limited knowledge of ways technology canbe effectively used in their professional practice. In this age of digitization, being able to effectively apply technology should be high on the list of what teachers at all levels of our education should know and be able to do in any instructional transaction. There is substantial evidence that, if used appropriately for specific purposes in specific contexts, technology can be an effective tool in supporting teaching and learning. The way Information Communication
Technology (ICT) has been used in the education can be divided into two broad categories i.e. ICT for Education and ICT in Education. ICT for education refers to the development of information and communication technology specifically for teaching/ learning purposes, while ICT in Education involves the adoption of general components of technologies in the teaching process, more specifically, often for the training of teachers in the use of technology for teaching (Olakulehin, 2007). Similarly, UNESCO (2004) classifies ICT in education into three broad categories: pedagogy, training, and continuing education. Pedagogy is focused on the effective learning of subjects with the support of the various components of ICT.
In the past few decades Information and Communication technology (ICT) have provided the society with a vast array of new communication capabilities for example, people can communicate in real time with others in different countries using technologies such as Instant Messaging, Voice Over IP (VOIP) and Video Conferencing, social networks like Facebook allow users from all over the world to remain in constant and communication on a regular basis (African Union, 2004). Information and Communication technology (ICT) have created a global village in which people can communicate with other across the world as if they were living next door. For this reason, ICT is often studied in the context of how modern communication technologies affect the society. Information and Communication Technology (ICT ) is an umbrella term that include any communication device or application, encompassing : Radio, Television, Cellular phones, computer and network, satellite systems and so on , as well as the various service and application associated with them; such as video conferencing and distance learning. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are often in particular context such as ICTs in education, health care or libraries. (EASCAP 2006).
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is more common outside the united states, according to European Commission, the importance of ICT lies in the technology itself i.e. its ability to create greater access to information and communication in underserved population around the world have established organization for the promotion of ICT, This is because, it is feared that unless technology advance in developed nations will only serve for exacerbate the already existing economic gap between technologically “have” “have not” areas. Internationally, the United Nations activity promotes ICTs for Development (ICT4D) as a means of bridging the digital device (EASCAP 2006).
