Project Materials

KNOWLEDGE ACCESSIBILITY AND USE OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AMONG STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Over time, people have developed many methods for communicating their thoughts, wants, and wishes to others. People in early civilisations communicated effectively through speech and written texts.

In the previous few years, communication in teaching and learning was mostly done through a teacher-centered education system (Adeyinka, Adedeji, Majekodunmi, Adika, & Adeyinka, 2011), when the traditional method of teaching was the norm.

The instructor was seen as the sole source of knowledge, with the students serving as “mere recipients” of his or her information. Schools employed chalk and talk methods to provide lectures to students and learners.

The advent of information and communication technology (ICT) has had an impact on every element of life (Nadira, Kamal & Banu, 2010). ICT has become an essential component of our modern environment.

It’s no surprise that phrases like e-nursing, e-commerce, ebanking, e-medicine, e-government, e-learning, and e-education, to name a few, are used to demonstrate how technology influences various sectors of life. ICT materials are used to perform ordinary tasks in practically every facet of life.

ICT refers to any equipment or a system of equipment that is used to automatically acquire, store, manipulate, manage, move, control, display, switch, interchange, transmit, or receive data or information resources (National Information Technology Policy, 2010).

This policy defines ICT as computers, supplementary equipment, software, and firmware (Hardware), as well as related procedures, services (including support services), and resources.

According to the Federal Ministry of Education (2010), ICT includes all equipment and tools (from traditional radio, video, and television technologies to newer technologies such as computers, hardware, firmware, and so on), as well as the methods, practices, processes, procedures, concepts, and principles that are used in the conduct of information communication activities.

Globally, the rise of ICT has accelerated development in all areas of the economy, particularly in the socio-cultural and political spheres of life (Akanbi, 2005; Olatokun, 2009).

Ajayi (2003) stated that ICT is redefining practically everything and is a ready instrument for all levels of society. According to Danner (2013), ICT has transformed the world into a large global connected community, and it now plays an increasingly important role in people’s lives.