1.1 Introduction
Digital library information is a child of necessity resulting from the need to use technologies to increase the availability and accessibility of information from various electronic resources (Ogunshola 2005). Digital libraries have therefore been described as a child of necessity resulting from the need to use technologies to increase the availability and accessibility of information from various electronic resources (Ogunshola 2005). With this development, Computers and electronic networked tools (e-resources) are an important part of libraries and references are now made to ‘information commons’ which refers to a specific environment in a library where a designated number of computer workstations, networked to databases and other e-resources, are made available to readers (Igun, 2010) for the purposes of providing access to timely information.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of the Study
The library is meant to provide information resources for improvement of teaching, learning and research as a way of supporting the parent institution in actualizing the goals of scholarship. The introduction of digital libraries is a way of enhancing the traditional library’s roles in providing access to more adequate, timely and current electronic information resources to users. The conventional library system is limited by poor funding as a result of decreasing budget leading to dearth of core print collections in various fields and inability to meet up with the cost of preserving decaying materials; proliferation of electronic resources and the libraries’ inability to acquire and keep up-to-date with the astronomical increase in the volumes of information resources being produced as well as the need to access remotely stored information and effective collaboration (Igun, 2010, Mutula and Ojedokun, 2008).
Teaching and learning are inseparable concepts with learning playing more of judgmental role to teaching. It is believed that “unless the child learns the teacher has not taught”. Though teaching and learning are intimately linked processes and are interdependent as well as inter woven, teaching is a social phenomenon, while learning is a psychological phenomenon. It is teaching which generally results into learning but there can be learning without teaching. Teachers in the recent trend of teaching and learning are therefore seen as facilitators or guide, and I believe this can better be enhanced through utilisation of ICT facilities.
ICT has been acknowledged globally as one of the greatest techniques infused into the teaching learning process. It is used in the context of this research work to imply a diverse set of electronic technologies, technological tools and resources used to communicate, disseminate, store and manage information in the course of teaching and learning. ICT include computers, the internet, broadcasting technologies and telephony (Adoni and Kpangbam, 2010; Chukwudi and Ejita, 2008).
Achuonye (2002) sees information and communication technology as the collection, storage, processing dissemination and use of information. Information and communication technology has the potential to accelerate, enrich and deepen skills; motivate and engage students in learning; it also help in relating school experiences to work practices, helps to create economic viability for workers; contributes to radical changes in school; strengthen teaching and provides opportunities for connection between the school and the world (Kirschner and Woperies, 2003).
Ogunsola (2005) sees ICT as an electronically based system of information transmission, reception, processing and retrieval which has drastically changed the way we think, the way we live and the environment in which we live. Information and communication technology offer several opportunities in education, they can be used as a means of preparing the current generation of students for future workplace, that is, providing tools for tomorrows practices. Ndukwe (2006) emphasized that the production and introduction of calculators and computers in the education system worldwide has helped in simplifying teaching and learning in schools, thereby content, and it provide real opportunities for individualized instruction.
Therefore, in Ebonyi State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to examine the Availability of Information and Communication Technology for Teaching.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Investigation revealed that teachers or educators in Faculties of Education are expected to integrate information and communication technology gadgets in the teaching and learning process, they ought to use technology so that it supports instruction and enables learners to use it as an important tool to meet their information and learning needs but this expectation has not been met in Faculties of Education in tertiary institutions (Inije, Utoware & Kren-Ikidi, 2013).
Observation from the researchers perspectives shows that teachers can make use of information and communication technology facilities in teaching in faculties of education if available but due to lack of information and communication technology facilities or gadgets, its utilization is being confronted with so much challenges. Most Faculties of Education curriculum have not fully embraced the use of information and communication technology gadgets or facilities in teaching and learning; this is as a result of the prevailing challenges like non-availability of information and communication technology gadgets or facilities and if available non utilization of it.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to determine the Availability and Accessibility of Digital Information. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain the level of utilization of interactive digital information in teaching of secondary school subjects,
- To ascertain the availability of interactive digital information in teaching of secondary school subjects,
- To determine the availability of non-interactive digital information in teaching and learning of business education, and
- To determine the level of utilization of non-interactive digital information in teaching of secondary school subjects in the area under study.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- To what extent are interactive digital information available for teaching of secondary school subjects in the area under study?
- To what extent are interactive digital information utilized in teaching of secondary school subjects in the area under study?
- To what extent are non interactive digital information available for teaching business education courses in the area under study?
- To what extent are non interactive digital information utilized in teaching of secondary school subjects in the area under study?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant difference in the responses of teachers and students on the extent of availability and accessibility of digital information in teaching of secondary school subjects.
- H1: There is a significant difference in the responses of teachers and students on the extent of availability and accessibility of digital information in teaching of secondary school subjects.
1.7 Significance of the Study
The findings of the study will be of immense benefit to the students, teachers, education shake holders, the government philanthropists. Information and communication technology is of great important to teachers and students of business education in Izzi and Ishieke, Ebonyi State; this is because from this research, they will able to ascertain the important of information and communication in teaching and learning.
Secondly, this work will be of great important to educational stakeholders. This is because from the research they will be able to know the plight of the student and therefore work out modalities to solve the problems.
Thirdly, this work will be of great important to the government through the ministry of education they would be able to ascertain the course of poor performance of the student of business education and work out modalities to solve the problems.
Furthermore, the work will be of great important to the philanthropists in the area, this is because from the work, they will be able to identify problem of students in studying business education. This will encourage them to donate information and communication technology tools that will be used in teaching and learning in the area.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Availability and Accessibility of Digital Information for Teaching Secondary School Students. The study is limited to Four Secondary School in Izzi and Ishieke of Ebonyi State namely:
- Unity Secondary School Ishiagu
- Echele Secondary School Amata Isa
- Ishiagu High School
- Community Secondary School, Amaeze
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
ICT: Refers to all forms of technologies such as internet, computers, websites, telephones mobiles, wireless devices, networks, hardware, software and telecommunication equipment.
