STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ACQUISITION OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF ICT IN TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN ENUGU STATE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Approval page                                                                                           i

Certification page                                                                                       ii

Dedication                                                                                                  iii

Acknowledgment                                                                                        iv

List of tables                                                                                               vi

Table of contents                                                                                                  vii

Abstract                                                                                                      x

CHAPTER ONE: Introduction                                                                1

Background Of The Study                                                                          1

Statement of the problem                                                                           9

Purpose of the Study                                                                                  12

Significance of the Study                                                                            12

Research Question                                                                                      15

Hypotheses                                                                                                 16

Scope of the study                                                                                               16

CHAPTER TWO: Review Of Related Literature                                    18

The Concept of ICT                                                                                    18

Utilization of ICT in Skill Acquisition                                                        22

Development of Vocational and Technical Education in Nigeria                24

The Role of Technical Colleges in Skill Acquisition                                   25

Technical Colleges initiatives on skill acquisition                                     27

The use of ICT in personalized instruction learning                            28

The use of ICT in situation instruction                                                       31

The use of ICT in Action learning                                                              33

Programmed knowledge                                                                                       35

Questioning insight                                                                                     36

The use of ICT in co-operative learning                                                     38

Theoretical Framework                                                                              42

Review of Related Empirical Studies                                                                   44

Summary of Related Literature                                                                            46

CHAPTER THREE: Methodology                                                                   48

Design Of The Study                                                                                  48

Areas Of The Study                                                                                    48

Population For The Study                                                                          49

Sample And Sampling Techniques                                                             49

Instrument For Data Collection                                                                           49

Validation Of Instrument                                                                           50

Method Of Data Collection                                                                        51

Method Of Data Analysis                                                                           51

CHAPTER FOUR: Presentation And Analysis Data                              53

Research Question I                                                                                    53

Research Question 2                                                                                   55

Research Question 3:                                                                                  56

Research Question 4                                                                                   58

Testing of Hypotheses                                                                                61

Hypothesis I                                                                                               61

Hypothesis 2                                                                                              63

Hypothesis 3:                                                                                             65

Findings of the Study                                                                                 67

Findings on Hypotheses                                                                                       72

Discussions of the Findings                                                                       73

CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Conclusion And Recommendations            77

Restatement of the Problem                                                                        77

Summary of Procedures Used                                                                    78

Summary of Principal Findings                                                                           79

Implications of the Study                                                                           81

Conclusion                                                                                                 82

Recommendation                                                                                        83

Suggestions for Further Studies                                                                 84

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

ABSTRACT

This study identified strategies that can improve the acquisition of vocational and technical skills through the utilization of ICT in Technical Colleges of Enugu State. To elicit the pertinent information for the purpose of the study, four research questions and three null hypotheses were also formulated. The research design was a descriptive type using the survey method. The instrument for collection of data was a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was face validated by three experts. The population for the study was 202 respondents made up of academic and non academic staff in technical colleges of education in Enugu State. The data collected were analysed using mean to answer the research questions. The three null hypotheses were tested with t-test and ANOVA statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The findings from this research reveal that ICT can be utilized as a strategy for the improvement of vocational and technical skill acquisition in Technical Colleges in Enugu state of Nigeria. ICT should be used in teaching and learning with personalized instruction by tailoring learning program for each student according to the needs and interests of each individual student.  ICT should be used in Situative learning by allowing an individual (students/learner) to learn by socialization, visualization, and imitation. This improves students’ effectiveness in skill acquisition, re-conceptualizes the school by providing time for teachers to work and learn the same time. ICT and action learning can improve students vocational and technical skill acquisition in universities by taking action and reflecting upon the results. Cooperative learning with ICT ensures network design skills that must be taught in order for successful co-operative learning to occur. The study recommends that the National Commission of Colleges of Education should as a matter of urgency ensure ICT is used as a strategy for improving the acquisition of vocational and technical skills acquisition in technical colleges in Enugu State. The study also concludes that there is need to develop and enhance skills acquisition in vocational and technical colleges in Enugu state using appropriate ICT strategies, in technical colleges of education in Enugu State.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background Of The Study

          Information can be described as facts and figures about something. In the view of Hornby (2006), it is a fact about something. Information is a fact said or known by people to aid their language, action or sign (Ezeji 2006). With reference to this study, information is a collection of related data used by people for the purpose of helping them have a better knowledge about something. Information can be communicated to people through different means like internet, mass media and telecommunication.

          Communication can be described as the process of disseminating information. According to Hornby (2006) it is the activity or process of expressing ideas and feelings of people.

          In the opinion of Osuala (1997) communication is a mutual exchange of fact, thought, opinion, emotions or knowledge that requires representation and reception resulting in understanding between parties. In the context of this study, communication is the transfer of ideas from teachers to students. This transfer can be carried out by the effective use of the computer or other technological devices which enhances the acquisition of Vocational .and Tech. Skills.

           UNESCO (1984) defined vocational and technical education as an educational Process which involves, in addition to general education the study of technologies and related sciences and acquisition of practical skills and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of the economy and social life effectively and adequately enhanced by use of modern technology..

              Technology is the utilization of energy in any process designed to satisfy a need, it also involves usage of scientific  knowledge in practical ways to meet human needs (Ogbuanya, 2005). With references to this study, technology is a branch of knowledge that deals with industrial art and sciences and the utilization of that knowledge in the production of materials. Information can be communicated through the use of technology and is referred to as Information Communication Technology (ICT).

          According to Ibezim (2010) ICT is the combination of network, hardware and software as well as the means of communication, collaboration and engagement that enables the processing, management and exchange of data, information and knowledge. ICT according to Obetta (2008) means Information and Communication Technology and comprises a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communication, create, disseminate, store and manage information.  Bakpo (2006), explained that ICT is the application of digital equipments to all aspects of teaching and learning. ICT promotes collaborative learning which includes role playing, group work, problem solving activities, personalized learning and articulated projects (Moifino et al, 2000). ICT can be defined in this study as a collection of individual technology components, the human resources that are needed to develop, install and operate the hardware and software as well as the services associated with their uses in acquiring skills.

          Skills refer to the ability individual posses that enable him/her to perform a job well. According to Osinem (2005) skill means the expertness and proficiency displayed in the performance of a task. Skill involves the acquisition of performance capability through repetitive performance of an operation and can be developed through work experience, education in the school workshop and laboratories. According to Ogwo (2006) skills exhibited by an individual shows the extent the individual acquired it. Using educational technology for drill and practice of basic skills can be highly effective according to a large body of learners (Kulik, 1994). Students usually learn of ICT in course that has computer assisted instructions (CAI). Therefore new developments in skills acquisition need to be improved in the area of vocational and technical education by applying or employing certain strategies.

          According to Baker (2001) strategy is the skill of planning in advance or well planned series of action for achieving an aim. Strategy means an intelligent trick which an individual has, specifically known to him or her alone for the achievement of certain objectives.

          Osuala (2002) has provided some teaching strategies such as personalized instructional learning, situative instructional learning, action learning and cooperative learning. These strategies can be employed in teaching vocational and technical courses. The vocational and technical courses offered in the technical colleges in Enugu State includes; welding and fabrication, electronics, building and construction, wood work, auto mechanics, home management and computer science education. These courses are designed to achieve the goals of technical and vocational skills in Nigeria. One of which is to give training and impart the necessary skills to individuals who will in turn become self- reliant economically, Federal Government of Nigeria (2004). National policy on Education (FGN, 2004).

          Education is the acquisition of skills so as to develop one’s potentials in order to perform effectively and become functional and beneficial to oneself and the society. It is generally believed that technical education is an essential pre-requisite for the technological development of any society. The National Policy on Education (2004) spells out the broad goals of vocational and technical education as being meant to: provide trained manpower in the applied science, technology and business particularly at craft, advanced craft and technical levels; provide the technical knowledge and vocational skills necessary for agricultural, commercial and economic development; and to give training and impart the necessary skills to individual who shall be self-reliant economically. This necessitated the introduction of courses that are tailored towards achieving the set objectives. Such as welding, building technology, electrical and electronics technology, automobile technology, metal work technology as well as woodwork technology among others. These courses/programmes requires certain equipments like Cutting Machine, Planning Machine, Jointing Machine, Lathe Machine, Computer and its accessories, Tenonner Machine, Mortiser, Band Saw, Dimension Saw, Oscilloscope, Galvanometer, Digital Multipurpose Meter, Frequency Indicating Device, Pylon Lifter, Synchronoscope etc. Granted that the functions being performed with these basic equipments cannot be replaced with ICT as at the moment, ICT can be adopted in writing software programmes indicating how the use of such machines can be simplified. This is necessary given the fact that the use of robotic machines has not gained popularity in Nigeria.

          One cannot over-estimate the importance of the use of ICT in everyday activities of the school. however, it is saddening to note that a cursory look at the technical colleges in    Nigeria will show that many teachers in the system still rely much on the traditional “chalk and talk” method of teaching rather than embracing the use of ICT. Little wonder, Okebukola (1997) stated authoritatively that computer is not part of classroom technology in over 90% of public schools in Nigeria, thus the talk and chalkboard, textbooks and note copying continue to dominate classroom activities resulting to boredom. This is an indication that the students are still lagging behind in the trend of changes in the contemporary ICT world. This presupposes that there is the tendency for the teachers and students to be denied the opportunities which ICT offers in the teaching-learning activities. There is the need to replace the traditional pedagogical practices that still undermines the educational system in the country, hence the need for strategies to adopt in improving the acquisition of vocational and technical skills through the use of ICT in technical colleges in Enugu state.

          The various ICT facilities used in the teaching and learning process in schools according to Babajide and Bolaji (2003), Bryers (2004), Bandele (2006) and Ofodu (2007) include; electronic whiteboard also known as smart board or clever board, clever pad, word wall, radio, television, computers, overhead projectors, optical fibres, fax machines, CD-Rom, Internet, electronic notice board, slides, digital multimedia, video/VCD machine and so on. It appears some of the facilities are not sufficiently provided for teaching – learning process in most technical colleges in Nigeria in general and Enugu State in particular.  To further buttress the afore-mentioned, the skills acquired by the students of some technical colleges are not complementary enough for them to be self-employed and reliant (Ogwo, 2006). The poor performance is as a result of the equipment, machines, tools and strategies that are used in training the students. With the rate of changes of globalization in the twenty first century, there is need to improve the students  skills in the technical colleges using the new ICT strategies such as personalized instruction, situative instruction, action learning and co-operative learning.

          Some countries like America, Japan, China, and German regard the development and utilization of ICT within their economy and society as key component of their national vision to improve the quality of life, knowledge and international competencies which should be focused on.

          In the view of Hornby (2006) improvement is the change in something that makes it better. According to Osinem and Nwoji (2005) improvement refers to the process of acquiring knowledge, skill or attitude needed to perform better. Osinem and Nwoji (2005) further define improvement in education as an inter-mix of teaching and practice carried out in order to attain desired standard of behavior, efficiency and effectiveness with the sole purpose of effecting a change for the better.

        As a matter of enhancing this “change for the better”, utilization of ICT will in no small way facilitate this improvement in skills acquisition in the technical colleges in Enugu state.

          Utilization is the act of using something.  In the context of this study, utilization means the act of using ICT to acquire vocational and technical skill using four ICT strategies of learning, which are; personalized instruction learning, situational instruction learning, action learning, and co operational learning.

        Personalized instructional learning as viewed by science in Farrant (2006) is the transmission of information or skill by providing activities, materials and necessary guidance that facilitates learning in formal and informal situations. It is about giving learners the opportunity to take their learning in the direction they want to take it to.

       According to Spillane (2002), learning which is based on situativity theory involves “changing the culture of schools so that teaching is more of a public practice, open to regular discussion among peers”. It is a meaningful action in a socially constituted environment, (Okorie, 1993).

       The utilization of ICT in Action Learning is the process of doing something in order to make something happen or to deal with a situation. Action theory according to Marshall (2002), states that action learning is used to teach learners in order to impart experience and skills. 

        Co-operative learning in the view of Hornby (2001) involves working together with others towards a shared aim. Co-operative learning according to Johnson and Hollube (1994) is the instructional use of small groups through which students work together to maximize their learning. In this type of learning, the students interact with their groups and perform task oriented activities designed by the teacher.

             In conclusion, Olaitan and Nwachukwu (2001) believe that the ICT and effective learning strategies will enhance the learning and acquisition of skills in technical colleges. Unfortunately, most of the technical colleges in Enugu state have been facing a lot of setbacks that have hindered the effective acquisition of skills through the use of ICT. Among these is insufficient technical staff to teach and operate the system, ill-equipped teachers of technical colleges, lack of infrastructures and materials, inadequate funds, poor awareness and support from people, and ineffective traditional pedagogical strategy.  It is against this background that this study is being carried out to find out the learning strategies that will improve the acquisitions of vocational and technical skills through the utilization of ICT in technical colleges in Enugu State.

Statement of the problem

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ACQUISITION OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF ICT IN TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN ENUGU STATE