Project Material on; Assessing utilization of e-learning resources and multimedia technologies for learning enhancement among technical and vocational education students in tertiary institutions, Bauchi State

Project Material on; Assessing utilization of e-learning resources and multimedia technologies for learning enhancement among technical and vocational education students in tertiary institutions, Bauchi State

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the Study

Tertiary education is the capstone of the development of any nation. As the apex of educational structure, it is a critical pillar of human development which provides a life-long learning framework for training high-level skilled human capital resources in all spheres of life namely, teachers, doctors, nurses, civil servants, engineers, humanities, entrepreneurs, scientists, myriad of personnel (Aduwa-Ogiegbaen&Imogie, 2005). Tertiary education depends on availability of learning facilities current and relevant resources. With the advent of globalization and information revolution, education is expected to create intellectual capacity on which knowledge production and utilization depends on. It is also expected to play a key role in promoting life-long learning practices that is necessary for updating people’s knowledge and skills. To achieve this, tertiary institutions need to prove adequate, current, relevant teaching and learning resources with technological integration for students and lecturers.

Empirical evidences have shown that inadequate educational resourcesis a major problems facing tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Odogwu (2008) posits that the problems that weaken African schools include financial constraints, lack of human resources and inadequate materials. The authors added that most institutions have outdated books and journals in their shelves. Odini (2016) avers that low budget makes it difficult for schools to provide optimum resources for their users. The inability of tertiary institutions to stock their libraries with relevant materials has a great implication for teaching, learning research and development. Omekwu (2004) maintains that it is difficult for a single institution to have all the resources it requires to meet the information needs of its actual and potential clientele.  The author proffers solution through resource sharing whereby people can share online database, electronic journals, online reference tools, web resources, electronic books, multimedia and hypermedia facilities etc. 

E- learning according to Wikipedia (2010) is the use of electronic media and information communication technologies (ICT) in education which includes all forms of educational technology in learning and teaching. E-learning is synonymous with multimedia learning, technology enhanced learning (TEL), computer-based interactions (CBL), computer-based training (CBT), computer assisted instruction (CAI), internet-based learning (IBL), web-basedtraining (WBT), online education, virtual education, virtual learning environment (VLE) (which is also called learning platforms), and digital educational collaboration (DEC). According to Jackson, (2001) e-learning materials, ask questions, submit assignments and receive corrections electronically. Nwako (2008) posits with the e-learning facilities, educational resources sharing can be done globally.

e-learning resources or electronic learning resources according to Cristopher are digital learning resources deliverymedia formalized through electronic devices such as computers, tablets, and even cellphones that are connected to the internet. Examples of e-learning resources include YouTube, Coursera, Lynda, Udemy, Alison, Khan Academy, MIT open courseware, Masterclass, Zoom, NLP etc. 

Multimedia technology is described as the integration of sound, animation, and digitized video with more traditional types of data such as text. It is an application-oriented technology that is used in a variety of ways, for example, to enhance presentations, and based on the increasing capacity of computers to store, transmit, and present many types of information (Stankovic, Sejdic&Orovic 2016).

Multimedia technology is the field concerned with the computer-controlled integration of text, graphics, drawings, still and moving images (video), animation, audio, and any other media where every type of information can be represented, stored, transmitted and processed digitally (Zeng, El-Sadik, & Jiang 2017).

The adoption of e-learning as a platform for resource sharing largely depends of technological skills of the users. Okoli and Ifeakor (2011) reported that technological skills is basic requirement for e-learning adopting. However, study conducted by Ekuk (2007) shows that most lecturers and students find it difficultto operate computers due to inadequate skills. Similarly, Adamu (2010) reported that even in this age of information revolution made possible by computer, most lecturers and students still rely on and massively adopt the orthodox typewriters and outdated books. Oluwatobi (2017) noted that most lecturers and students have limited computers word processing skills needed in the 21^st century educational revolution. Akuegwu&Ntukidem (2011) noted the utilization of ICT and computer facilities for quality instructional service delivery hampered by inadequate skills of the lecturers and students.  This situation let and motivate the researcher to carry out this study.

1.2  Statement of the problem

 The booming of social network platforms for business activities has not been enjoy for teaching and learning processes among youths in developing countries (McKinsey, 2016). Social media helps to better understand their audience by their likes and dislikes. Study conducted by Oxvevad (2013) reported that most tertiary institutions students use social and multimedia elements for charting and watching videos, but lacks basic skills for generating online materials for assignments and collaborative learning. Joseph (2017) stated that most students waste their own time using social and multimedia technologies for charting, downloading and watching videos without knowing its impact on learning enhancement.

To ensure that tertiary institutions meet the global digital requirements, government and non-governmental agencies have invested financial resources in both federal and state government institutions in Nigeria. Despite the huge amount of money invested in ICT facilities in Nigeria, the e-learning take up in service delivery in still unpopular. The use of e-learning platform for accessingonline books, journals, and other related educational materials is not encouraging. Many lecturers and students do not have the required skills and competency in the utilization of e-learning materials (Shahadat, Muhbub& Clement, (2012). The authors added that, several higher institutions are finding it difficult to even implement basic of ICT, the for this assertion is attributed to influence of information and communication technology.

Study conducted by Mannir (2011) pointed out that due to inadequate resource sharing skills and use of multimedia elements, many students complained of inability to access needed materials for learning activities. This unfortunate situation is obviously a problem which will necessitate   the need to investigate the availability and utilization of e-learning and multimedia technologies for learning enhancement among technical and vocational education students of tertiary institutions in Bauchi state - Nigeria.

1.3  Purpose of the Study:

The main purpose of this study is to assess the utilization of e -learning and multimedia technologies for learning enhancement among technical and vocational education students in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area. Specifically, the study intends to:

1.      Assess the level of availability of e-learning and multimedia facilities in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area.

2.      Assess the level of awareness the students of technical and vocational education have on e-learning and multimedia element for learning activities

3.      Assess the perceived ease of use of e-learning and multimedia elements as a toolfor teaching and learning activities in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area.

4.      Assess the perceived usefulness of e-learning and multimedia elements as a tool for teaching and learning activities in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area.

5.      Assess the extent to which technical and vocational education student’s utilize e-learning and multimedia technologies for learning enhancement in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area.

1.4  Research Questions

In line with the specific objectives, the research questions of the study are:

1.   What is the level of availability of e-learning and multimedia facilities in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area?

2.      What is the level of awareness the students of technical and vocational education have on e-learning and multimedia element for learning activities?

3.      What is the perceived ease of use of e-learning and multimedia elements as a tool for teaching and learning activities in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area?

4.      What is the perceived usefulness of e-learning and multimedia elements as a tool for teaching and learning activities in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area?

5.    To what extent technical and vocational education student’s utilize e-learning and multimedia technologies for learning enhancement in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area?

1.5  Hypothesis

The following hypothesis will be tested using ANOVA at 5% level of significance:

H01       There is no significance difference among mean responses of technical and vocational education students based on their institutions on availability of e-learning and multimedia elements in Bauchi local government area.

H02      There is no significance difference among mean responses of technical and vocational education students based on their institutions on level of awareness they have on e-learning and multimedia element for learning activities?

H03There is no significance difference among mean responses of technical and vocational education students based on their institutions onperceived ease of use of e-learning and multimedia elements in Bauchi local government area.

H04      There is no significance difference among mean responses of technical and vocational education students based on their institutions onperceived usefulness of use of e-learning and multimedia elements in Bauchi local government area.

H05There is no significance difference among mean responses of technical and vocational education students based on their institutions on utilization of e-learning and multimedia technologies for learning enhancement in tertiary institutions in Bauchi local government area.

1.6  Significance of the Study

The research is very essential in assessing the availability and utilization of e-learning and multimedia technologies for learning enhancement among technical and vocational education in tertiary institutions of learning in Bauchi local government area, Bauchi state. The findings of the study after publication will benefit the following: Students, lecturers, educational planners, administrators, international donor agencies, ICT development agencies, government and general public.

      The outcomes of the study will enable students to understand the benefit of e-learning and multimedia elements for accessing resources in other institutions. The students will benefit from the study as it will provide them with knowledge of using e-learning and multimedia technologies to access books, journals, clips, educational collaborative learning nationally and internationally. The outcome of the study will also provide students with needed materials for further study in the area.

      Lecturers will also benefit from the findings of this study by developing instructional strategies technologically that will encourage using e-learning and multimedia resources among students of technical and vocational education in tertiary institutions of learning in Bauchi state. Educational planners and administrators will also benefit from the findings of this research in making new plans, designs and developing new curriculum related to the use of e-learning and multimedia technologies for teaching and learning activities in tertiary institutions of learning.

      International donor agencies and non-governmental organizations that are supporting educational development in Nigeria such as United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programs (UNDP), United State agency for International Development ( USAID), among others that are supporting various programs on developing learning and technology in tertiary institutions of learning. It can also use the findings of this research to map out new strategies that will encompasses technical and vocational education students in tertiary institutionsto change patterns in order to embrace and utilize e-learning and multimedia technologies for learning enhancement.

1.7  Scope of the Study

The scope of the study will cover three tertiary institutions (Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic and Federal Polytechnic Bauchi) offering technical and vocational education program in the local government area in 2022/ 2023 academic session in the study area. The study will be limited to final year students in the institutions. The decision is because to enable the researcher to have target the students who are very familiar with the school and is expected to have exposed more to the learning environment.

1.8  Operational Definition of Terms

1.8.1        Multimedia:Multimedia technology is described as the integration of sound, animation, and digitized video with more traditional types of data such as text.

1.8.2        E-learning resources:e-learning resources or electronic learning resources according to Cristopher are the digital learning resources delivery media formalized through electronic devices such as computers, tablets, and even cellphones that are connected to the internet.

1.8.3        Technology:An application of scientific knowledge and principles about human learning,

communication and management to the solution of problems in teaching and learning.

.

1.8.4        E-learning:is the use of electronic media and information communication technologies (ICT) in education which includes all forms of educational technology in learning and teaching.

1.8.5        Tertiary Institution:Tertiary institution or tertiary education refers to all formal post- secondary education, including public and private universities, colleges, technical training institutes, and vocational schools.