Internet access and usage patterns as teaching and learning facilities among lecturers and students of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed internet access and usage patterns as teaching and learning facilities among lecturers and students of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was used to collect data from a sample of 583 respondents, comprising 231 lecturers and 352 students. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. Test re-test method was used to determine the reliability coefficient of the instrument using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) which was found to be 0.83. Mean and standard deviation were used answered the research questions. It was found that Wi-fi, cybercafé, laptop and the phone were the main internet access points. Internet usage patterns found by the study were sending and receiving messages, web pages and chatting with colleagues, among others. The study found only daily use of the internet as the only viable frequency of internet usage by respondents. Inadequate skills, irregular power supply, few computers and poor network were found as the challenges faced by respondents in the use of the internet at MAUTECH. Inadequate projectors and solar systems were found to be among the major challenges of internet facilities at the institution. The study suggested among others, cost of access to the internet and printing of materials on the internet should be made affordable for average students, the university should subscribe to a bigger bandwidth to speed the rate of downloading and browsing and internet facilities be installed in all schools.