Availability and Usage of Computer Systems/Accessories and Effective Teaching and Learning of Computer Science in Secondary Schools

Availability and Usage of Computer Systems/Accessories and Effective Teaching and Learning of Computer Science in Secondary Schools

 Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate availability and usage of computer systems/accessories and effective teaching/learning of computer science in secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government Area. Three research questions were formulated to guide the study. The survey research design was used for the research with the population of one thousand and twenty two (1022) computer studies students from five public secondary schools in the study area.

Data was obtained from one hundred (100) computer studies students from all the six schools which accepted to participate out in the study using checklist and questionnaire. The data were subjected to analysis using simple percentage statistical tool. The analysis revealed that on the whole, computer system/accessories are in abundance with a few exceptions but not all of the available computer system/accessories were maximally utilized in the teaching of computer studies. Teachers were therefore recommended to make conscious effort to use computer system/accessories for effective delivery of computer lessons.

Availability and Usage of Computer Systems/Accessories and Effective Teaching and Learning of Computer Science in Secondary Schools

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

Every individual grows towards becoming functioning members of the society. In the process of growth he gains empowerment through school learning. Stakeholders in education industry such as government, parent, missionaries and proprietors of schools had invested huge sum of money and materials to ensure high performance of students under their care.

There has always been diversity in the learning process in computer studies among students in secondary schools. While some students learn very fast, others do the opposite. This failure in computer studies has been attributed to some factors which include the level of intelligence, some socio-economic factors, the school environment, availability and usage of computer system/accessories. Computer system is a programmable machine which responds to a specific set of instruction in a well-defined manner, whereas computer accessories are parts or peripherals that make up the whole component of the computer. It can execute a pre-recorded list of instruction (a program). The place of computer in education, like in any field of human endeavour, has assumed an unimaginable dimension.

Today, computers are used in various ways for teaching and learning in schools at various levels. Computer can now guide a learner through a course of instruction via 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 repeat any aspect of the subject matter as many times as he/she deem necessary.

This process of learning is called computer assisted learning (CAL). Computer can also provide instructions (usually multiple choice questions),make the students’ responses, grade their performance and decide 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 go from one library to another in search of library materials. With just a press of button (keys on computer keyboard) or a dick on the mouse the information will be at the disposal of the intended user.

According to Aneke, (2015), accessories are those devices which are useful to the operation of computer. Example keyboard, scanner, printers, mouse, monitors etc.The extent which these accessories are seen in the laboratory is the major aim of this study. Unavailability of computer system/accessories is one of the problems facing Nigerian students in Akwa Ibom State and NsitAtai in particular.

In this sense, students hardly make use of the systems due to non-availability of these accessories in their schools. These computer system/accessories must be available and used for the effective learning and teaching of computer studies. The study therefore sought to investigate the influence of availability and usage of computer system/accessories and effective teaching/learning of computer studies in secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.

Availability and Usage of Computer Systems/Accessories and Effective Teaching and Learning of Computer Science in Secondary Schools

1.2     Statement of the Problem

In spite of the accompanying gains and the clarion call for the provision and utilization of computer facilities in the school system, in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State there are still serious inhibiting factors encountered in the attempt to revolution Nigeria education. The current educational situation in Nigeria only portrays computer in computer science and science related subjects and therefore not beneficial to other educational units. There are many challenges that hinder the process of using computers in the classroom.

However, when effectively used, computers have a dramatic effect on teachers and learners. But, where computers are not used effectively, they do not add value to teaching and learning. The problem of this study therefore is to find out how the provision of computers and their accessories in secondary schools in Nsit Atai affect the effective teaching/learning of computer studies in the area.

1.3     Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the availability and usage of computer systems/accessories and effective teaching/learning of computer science in secondary schools in NsitAtai Local Government Area. Specifically, the study sought to:

1. Investigate the extent of availability of computer/accessories in secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government Area
2. Investigate the extent of usage of computers accessories in secondary schools in Nsit Atai.
3. Investigate the effect of the availability, of computers/accessories on the teaching of computer science in secondary schools in Nsit Atai.
4. Investigate the effect of the availability of computers/accessories on the learning of computer science in Nsit Atai.

1.4     Significance of the study

This study will be practically significant to teachers, students, curriculum planners, textbooks writers and general public. Through dissemination of information, teachers will be aware of the use of computer system/accessories as substitute to conventional resources for teaching and learning of school subjects.

For students, the findings of this study will help promote the use of computer system/accessories that are readily available at affordable price.

The findings will provide curriculum planners with information about computer system/ accessories which can be incorporated in the curriculum of computer studies for secondary school education

1.5     Research Questions

1. To what extent are computers and computer accessories available in secondary schools in NsitAtai Local Government Area?
2. To what extent do computer studies teachers use computer / accessories in teaching computer studies in secondary schools in NsitAtai Local Government Area?
3. To what extent do students make use of computers / accessories while learning computer studies in secondary schools in NsitAtai Local Government Area?

1.6     Limitation of the Study

In conduction a research study of this kind there are bound to be some challenges. Thus, some of the challenges encountered in the course of this study was as follows:

1. Time Constraint: time (duration) allowed for the completion of this research work could be enough for the researcher to have a wodge scope. Hence some schools were sampled and student out of all schools in the area
2. Financial Problem: this constituted one of the major limitations to the researcher especially as the research has to source for relevant materials on the topic and visit the sampled schools under the investigation for data collection.
3. Insufficient Reference Materials: this also was a problem as the researcher needed enough relevant literature on the topic.

1.7     Delimitation of the Study

The study was meant to examine the availability and usage of computer systems/accessories for effective teaching and learning of computer studies in senior secondary schools within Nsit Atai, Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

1.8     Operational Definition of Terms

Computer: it is the electronic device that accepts data as an input and, processes them electronically to produce the desires output or information with the aid of a set of instructions.

Accessories: are these computer devices that are useful, helpful to the operations of the computer.

Program:  a program is set of instructions that inform the computer on what to do and how to do that.

Software: is a collective term that refers to a group of related programs that directs the computer on what to do and how to do such a thing.

Hardware: is a collective term that refers to all the physical components of the computer that can be seen or touched.

Peripherals: are the computer devices that are connected to the central processing unit via cables or cords.

Teaching: refers to the process of delivering of instruction and information to a learner for the purpose of deriving specific objects.

Availability: refers to the extent of which a particular facility or resource ie made reachable and provided for use.

Usage: simply refers to the possibility of individuals to make use of resources or facilities at their disposal.

Availability and Usage of Computer Systems/Accessories and Effective Teaching and Learning of Computer Science in Secondary Schools

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In this chapter, reviews of related literature were done under the following sub-heading.

2.1     Concept of Computer Science

2.2     Availability of computer system/accessories in teaching and learning of computer science

2.3    Utilization of computer systems/accessories in teaching and learning of computer science in secondary schools

2.4     The Benefits computer systems/accessories in the teaching and learning of Computer Science

2.5     Summary of literature review

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

5.1     Summary

The study examined availability and usage of computer systems/accessories and effective teaching/learning of computer science in secondary schools in Nsit Atai Local Government Area. In order to attain the aims of the topic, three research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study area was Nsit Atai Local Government Area. Literature of work done by other authors was reviewed to in order to employ the opinion on this topic.  The researcher adopted a survey research design in carrying out the study.

Population of the study consisted of all the computer studies teachers and students in all the six secondary schools in Nsit Atai. The study sampled size was 100 students from the five secondary schools who accepted to participate out of the six public secondary schools in the study area randomly selected from all the secondary school in Nsit Atai Local Government Area. The instruments used for data collection were checklist and researcher made questionnaire. To ascertain the level of availability and utilization, a simple percentage statistical tool was used.

5.2     Recommendations

Based on result of findings it was recommended that:

1. Schools should construct computer science laboratory to promote the teaching and learning computer science.
2. Government should ensure regular supply of electricity for effective use of computer system/accessories for computer education.
3. Government should embark on training and retraining of teachers for effective teaching of computer science through short-term courses, seminar, workshops and conference.
4. Infrastructural facilities such as the computer laboratory and computerized library should be provided in the schools for effective teaching of computer sciences
5. Government should employ technicians for repair and maintenance of computer system/accessories being used in computer studies.

Availability and Usage of Computer Systems/Accessories and Effective Teaching and Learning of Computer Science in Secondary Schools

5.4     Conclusion

Computer science is a subject of study in schools and colleges. As a school subject which has Information and Communication Technology inclination, it requires a lot of computer system and accessories for effective teaching and learning. Some of the accessories are computer, scanner, printer, monitor, keyboard e-books. The result of the findings showed that many of the computer system/accessories are not available for effective teaching of computer science. It was also revealed that few computer system and accessories were being utilized by teachers in the teaching of computer studies.

5.4     Suggestion for Further Studies

The researcher suggested that similar researches should be carried out in other science subjects.