The Role of ICT in Education: Focus on University Undergraduates taking Mathematics as a Course

A.Iahad, N,Z.K Shallsuku,Oye N

doi:10.14569/ijacsa.2012.030224

A.Iahad, N, Z.K Shallsuku + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14569/ijacsa.2012.030224

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Abstract

This paper examines the role of ICT in education with focus on university undergraduates taking mathematics as a course. The study was conducted at the Federal University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. 150 questionnaires were administered to the first year students offering MA112 which was completed and returned in the lecture hall. According to the study ICT usage shows that majority (32.7%) use technology once or more in a day. Again the majority of the respondents (35%) said that the greatest barrier to using ICT is technical. The survey shows that there is significant correlation between the students and the use of ICT in their studies. However difficulties facing ICT usage is highly significant also. This shows that students have negative attitudes towards using ICT in their academic work. This is a foundational problem which cannot be over emphasized. Most of the students have never practice using ICT in their primary and secondary schools. Recommendations were made, that the government should develop ICT policies and guidelines to support all levels of education from primary schools to university. ICT tools should be made more accessible to both academic staff and students.

Highlights

E-learning is a unifying term used for online learning, webbased training and technology delivered instruction
In the UK there is a statutory requirement for information and communication technologies (ICT) to be used in mathematics teaching and learning at all levels; the requirements are summarized in statements such as Students should be offered the following opportunities ... using ICT such as spreadsheets, dynamic geometry or graphing software, calculators (DCSF, 2008) In other countries, similar encouragement is given to teachers, and is described by as incentive action and institutional support
In the case of the availability of ICT tools (AICTT), the students state that the use of ICT depends on its’ availability lack of ICT tools affect the use of ICT in education

Summary

Introduction

E-learning is a unifying term used for online learning, webbased training and technology delivered instruction. Using ICT such as spreadsheets, dynamic geometry or graphing software, calculators (DCSF, 2008) In other countries, similar encouragement is given to teachers, and is described by as incentive action and institutional support. Despite these efforts to embed computers in mathematics teaching and learning, and despite the growing numbers of computers in schools [1], there are some concerns about the degree to which computers have become embedded in mathematics classrooms. The higher education institutions around the globe have increasingly adopted ICT as tools for teaching, cirriculm development, staff development, and student learning [9, 10]

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