AN INVESTIGATION ON THE AVAILABILITY OF COMPUTER TEACHERS, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND THEIR ACCESSORIES FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF COMPUTER SCIENCE IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       i

Approval Page          –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       ii

Certification     –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       iii

Dedication       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       iv

Acknowledgement    –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       v

Table of Content      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       vii

Abstract   –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       xi

 

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

Background of the study –       –       –       –       –       –       –       1

Statement of problem      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       6

Purpose of the study        –       –       –       –       –       –       –       7

Significance of the study –       –       –       –       –       –       –       8

Scope of the study   –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       9

Research Questions         –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       10

 

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Conceptual Framework         

Concept of Computer and Computer Education      –       –       12

 

Teachers and Instructional Applications for Computer

Lessons    –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       16

Prospects in the Use of Computers in Secondary Schools  22

Rational for teaching computer science in secondary

schools    –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       24

 

Theoretical  review

Method of teaching computer sciences in secondary

school      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       26

Exposure to students’ practical knowledge of computer  30

Maintenance of available computer systems and their

accessories      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       31

Obstacles to the Use of Computer in Secondary Schools

in Nigeria         –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       32

 

Empirical Studies   –       –       –       –       –       –       –       37

Summary of the review    –       –       –       –       –       –       40

 

 

 

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD

Design of the Study –       –       –       –       –       –       –       43

Area of the Study     –       –       –       –       –       –       –       44

Population of the Study   –       –       –       –       –       –       44

Sample and Sampling Techniques   –       –       –       –       45

Instrument for Data Collection        –       –       –       –       –       46

Validity of the instrument        –       –       –       –       –       47

Method of Data Collection       –       –       –       –       –       48

Method of data analysis   –       –       –       –       –       –       48

Decision Rule –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       49

 

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

Presentation and data analysis    

Research Question 1        –       –       –       –       –       –       50

Research Question 2        –       –       –       –       –       –       51

Research question 3        –       –       –       –       –       –       –       53

Research question 4        –       –       –       –       –       –       –       54

 

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUMMARY

Discussion of Findings    –       –       –       –       –       –       56

Conclusion      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       61

Implications of Findings –       –       –       –       –       –       62

Recommendations   –       –       –       –       –       –       –       63

Limitation of the Study    –       –       –       –       –       –       64

 

 

 

Suggestion for Further Study   –       –       –       –       –       65

Summary         –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       66

References       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       68

Appendix A – List of schools sampled      –       –       –       76

B – Letter of introduction                 –       –       –       77

C – Personal Data    –       –       –       –       –       78

Questionnaire –       –       –       –       –       –       79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

The study was conducted to investigate the extent of availability of computer teachers, computer systems and accessories for effective teaching and learning of computer science in senior secondary schools in Awka South Local Government Area. The population of the study consisted of the ss1 and ss2 students in all the eighteen (18) secondary schools in Awka South L.G.A. Seven schools were sampled with sample size of One hundred and forty (140) students as respondents after which One hundred and twenty (120) were returned duly completed while twenty (20) were not returned. Simple Survey research was used for the research design and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the schools for the study. Four (4) research questions guided the study. A questionnaire made up of four (4) point rating scale was used to collect data. A mean of 2.50 and above was adopted as a cut of mark for the acceptance of items. The result findings showed that the computer teachers, computer systems and accessories for teaching and learning computer science in schools, are largely unavailable. Based on this, some implications of the study and recommendations were made also the limitations of the study were stated and suggestions for further studies were made.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

It is widely believed that the most significant way to effectively study computer depends on the extent of the practicals involved in teaching computer. This study focuses on the availability of computer teachers, computer systems and their accessories.

Teachers are important inputs into the educational system. Aghenta (2000) described them as “the key factors in formal education.” Adesina (2001) called them the “key input of a highly-skilled labour resources” while Adeyemi (2004) regarded them as the “hub of the educational system.” Qualified and adequate teachers therefore constitute an important aspect in student’s learning. Supporting this point, Umeasiegbu (2001) argued that “the level of performance in any school is intimately related to the quality of its teachers” while “the quality of any school system is a function of the aggregate quality of teachers who operate it.” His argument was in agreement with Moore (2004) contention that competent teachers would improve effective teaching in schools.  A computer teacher is one who is trained to teach computer science, they should have a wide knowledge about computer, its accessories, and operations. There are no adequate computer teachers in secondary schools in Nigeria, also teachers in Nigerian secondary schools cannot impact computer education because majority of the teachers are not competent in basic computer operation and the use of simple application software (Yusuf,2005b).  According to a study by Bukaliya and Mubika (2011), the qualifications of majority of the teachers are far from being satisfactory, they have poor practical skills in computer usage. Lau and Sim (2008) established that teachers needed training which should be offered on a continuous basis so that their computer knowledge is upgraded over time.

Computer system is a programmable machine which responds to a specific set of instruction in a well-defined manner. It can execute a pre – recorded list of instructions (a program). The place of computer in education, like in any field of human endeavor, has assumed an unimaginable dimension. Today, computers are used in various ways for teaching and learning in schools at various levels. Computers can now guide a learner through a course of instructions at a video display unit in such a manner that will facilitate the understanding of subject matter. This process helps to speed up the students learning process. This practice, unlike the case of human teacher gives the opportunity to re – learn any aspect of the subject matter as many times as he/she deems it necessary.  This process of learning is called computer – assisted learning (CAL). Computer can also provide instructions to students, ask them questions (usually multiple choice question) mark the students responses, grade their performance and determine by itself whether to take the students to next level of study or repeat the previous portion of the lecture just concluded based on the students’ performance. This process of learning is called computer aided instruction (CAI). Apart from instructional programs, computers also make a lot of impacts in provision of educational materials. Computer transform school libraries into new information service unit. Through virtual library, one does not need to go from one library to another in search of library materials. With just a press of button (keys on computer keyboard) or a click on the mouse the information will be at the disposal of the intended user. According to Aneke,

Accessories are those devices which are useful, helpful to the operation of computer. E.g. keyboard, scanner, printers, mouse, monitors etc. The extent through which these accessories are seen in the lab is the major aim of these studies. Unavailability of computer accessories is one of the problems facing Nigerian secondary school students at Awka South LGA in particular in the sense that, they hardly make use of the system due to non-installation of these accessories in the computer. In other to maintain the 32nd ministerial council meeting of the national council of education in 1987, which is to set-up computer study at the secondary school level. These accessories must be available to an extent that is to say that installation of accessories will enhance the smooth running of programs for the betterment of the students learning. This research work will provide necessary steps to the secondary schools to select competent computer teachers

which will also enhance effective maintenance of the available computer system and accessories.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The present state of computer education in Nigeria has been very unsatisfactory despite the several efforts the government has made to improve it by providing the computer systems and even computer teachers needed. Questions has been asked as to why there have not been improvements, could it be that there are no computer systems? Could it be that there are no qualified and trained teachers? Or are the accessories not available?

Answers to these several questions is the reason for this study as it is aimed at investigating the availability of computer teachers, computer systems and their accessories for effective teaching and learning of computer science

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The study was designed to find out the extent of availability of computer teachers, computer systems and their accessories for effective teaching and learning in senior secondary schools under Awka south local Government Area. The major aim of this research work is to find out:

  1. The extent of availability of computer teachers.
  2. The extent of availability of computer systems
  3. The extent of availability of computer accessories
  4. The extent of maintenance of the available computer system and their accessories in schools.

 

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is expected to bring out results and good information on the investigation of availability of computer teachers, computer systems and their accessories for effective teaching and learning of computer science in senior secondary schools under Awka south education zone. The findings of this study will be of benefits to students, teachers, and educational administrators. The students may stand to benefit when the computer system and their accessories are available in the lab for practicals and when there are good and adequate teachers to teach the subject in order to enhance effective teaching and learning. The teachers work will be made easier when instructional material are adequate and upgrade following stored information in the computer. This materials is of benefits to educational administrators to achieve their objectives which is to set-up computer study at the secondary school level as well as devising clear strategies and technologies to be used by the federal and state government in introducing computer education in Nigeria. This strategy includes:

  • Training teachers and associate personnel.
  • Hardware facilities
  • Curriculum development
  • Software development and evaluation
  • Maintenance of hardware and peripheral

 

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is meant to discover the extent of availability of computer teachers, computer systems and their accessories in senior secondary schools within Awka South Local Government Area. The accessories expected to be seen in the schools include:

  • Input devices such as keyboard, and mouse etc.
  • Output devices such as monitors, scanner,
  • Installation of software including system and Application software.
  • Equipped computer lab.

 

 

 

 

 

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

For the purpose of this study, the researcher has proposed the following research questions.

  1. To what extent are computer teachers adequate and competent.
  2. To what extent are computer systems available in schools
  3. To what extent are computer accessories available in schools
  4. To what extent are the available computer system and their accessories maintained for effective teaching and learning.