CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
The knowledge and information revolution has taken place in the 21st century. This signifies the transition from an industrial civilization to an informational society, and at the present time, the most prosperous nations and human societies are those that have access to the biggest amounts of information, knowledge, and awareness. According to Alinston (2017), technology has played an extremely important part in the 21st century. Therefore, the use of information technology is crucial for any firm in the modern day (Kurupparachchi et al., 2016). In the latter half of the 20th century, modern businesses have increased their spending on information technology (IT) due to the belief that IT has a beneficial impact on the overall performance of the organization (Muata et al., 2021). Both the social network and the data network have grown in importance within enterprises, and the two networks have actually been combined into a single one (Baines, 2018). Thus, it is important to point out that the use of information technology in businesses is now an industry standard and has been demonstrated to be an essential component in the achievements of many businesses (McClea &Yen, 2018).
There is no doubt that information and communication technology (ICT) has take the major role in education in the future. (Norouzi et al. 2021). The management of the classroom has been turned around as a result of the incorporation of information and communication technology into the teaching and curricular program areas. This management is now carried out using a technique that is research-based and student-based. It is no longer the role of the instructors to collect and pass on knowledge; rather, they are now expected to adopt a wide range of duties, for which they should have a diverse set of skills. Hence, students have the opportunity to learn at a faster rate, perform at a higher level, and experience a greater sense of fulfillment as a result of their participation in classroom activities when modern technologies such as computers and the internet are utilized in educational settings (Milleken & Bames, 2021).
Importantly, students of today are born into a world that is audio, visual, and motion based. Consequently, the efforts that instructors have made for their own training in the past by benefiting from various educational media and techniques will either be fruitless or will not be followed by a substantial outcome. For this reason, it is essential for educators to have a solid understanding of contemporary educational media and technology and to maintain a positive attitude while interacting with it (Tileston, 2014). Making some facilities to implement these educational innovations in the process of teaching and learning is extremely important given the significance of educational improvement in the process of teaching and training, as well as the necessity of increasing the quality of instruction and making significantly better use of the phenomenon of ICT. As a result, it is necessary to conduct research on the phenomena and impacts of the application of information and communication technologies in a variety of sectors.
1.2 Statement of the problem
One of the major challenges confronting the educational sector in Nigeria is the scaring discrepancy between the astronomical increase in the number of applicants seeking admission into various higher institutions and the available facilities in these institutions to provide quality education; the main purpose for their existence. Each year the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) register hundreds of thousands of students seeking to get admission into various institutions of higher learning in the country. Unfortunately less than 20 percent of these students are absorbed by these institutions, as the facilities they have on ground can only support fewer students. As a matter of fact, Ebube (2021) observed that those even admitted by these institutions often outstrip the facilities available to support qualitative education and make the academic environment conducive for learning environment. It is therefore not a surprise that in most of these institutions students are often cramped up in lecture rooms, with most of the students struggling to get themselves desks and chairs just to listen to lectures.
According to Ekpenyong (2021), more outrageous and embarrassing is the situation whereby students sit on the floor while some hang on window frames just to be in the class and listen to their lecturers.The horrible situation of students sitting on the floor and hanging on the window frames in classes so they can receive lectures is not faced by the students alone. The lecturers also have their own share of this unfortunate situation in our institutions of higher learning. For instance due to huge number of students they have in their classes, lecturers dissipate their energy while lecturing as they need to shout, not speak, for them to be audible enough that the students can hear them. No public address system and when there is, there is often no electricity to power it. Obviously the productivity of both the lecturers and students are negatively affected. And ultimately the prior aim of these institutions (providing quality education of international standard) is defeated.
`Therefore, the introduction and adoption of effective and efficient ICTs will surely go a long way in ameliorating the above sorry situation but will also compliment the effort of these institutions in task of providing quality education. It is a creative and an innovative development that allow teachers to teach more comfortably and conveniently. Especially in a virtual classroom where the presence of teachers and students are not necessarily required, this is made possible through a web collaboration technology. Virtual classroom just like physical classroom is interactive, and in a densely populated area, it puts the institution in a vantage position to admit more students than they currently do without compromising the quality and standard of education the offer, but rather improves it. Upon this premise that this study seek to review the effect of information and communication technology (ICT) on classroom instruction.
1.3Objectives of the study
The objective of this study is to review the effect of information and communication technology (ICT) on classroom instruction. Other specific objectives includes:
i. To determine whether there is availability of information and communication technology (ICT) in secondary schools.
ii. To investigate whether teachers utilize information and communication technology (ICT) in secondary schools during classroom instruction.
iii. To ascertain whether utilization of information and communication technology affects classroom instruction.
iv. To investigate whether availability and utilization of information and communication technology impacts teaching-learning outcome in secondary school.
1.4 Research Hypotheses
The probable research questions are:
HO1: Utilization of information and communication technology does not have effect on classroom instruction.
HO2: Availability and utilization of information and communication technology does not impacts teaching-learning outcome in secondary school.
1.5 Significance of the study
The increasing use of technology in all aspects of society makes confident, creative and productive use of ICT an essential skill for life. ICT capability encompasses not only the mastery of technical skills and techniques, but also the understanding to apply these skills purposefully, safely and responsibly in learning, everyday life and employment. ICT capability is fundamental to participation and engagement in modern society. ICT can be used to find, develop, analyze and present information, as well as to model situations and solve problems. ICT enables rapid access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures, and allows students to collaborate and exchange information on a wide scale. ICT acts as a powerful force for change in society, and citizens should have an understanding of the social, ethical, legal and economic implications of its use, including how to use ICT safely and responsibly. Increased capability in the use of ICT supports initiative and independent learning, as pupils are able to make informed judgements about when and where to use ICT to enhance their learning and the quality of their work.
Findings of this study will contribute to the general body of knowledge and serve as reference material for scholars and student who wishes to conduct further studies in related field
1.6 Scope of Study
This scope of this study borders on the effect of information and communication technology (ICT) on classroom instruction. The study is however delimited to secondary school in Kuje area council in Abuja.