INFLUENCE OF INADEQUATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF OTM STUDENTS (A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, EDE)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Information Technology had turn to a very significant tool in order to ease our daily activities. Several organizations had accepted the use of Information Technology as a tool that need to be understood, know the concept, and have the ability to properly adapt its usage. Universities are becoming familiar with the adaption of Information Technology in their system. This is seen as a fuel that increases the speed of proper academic activities and good administration in the University system. Different infrastructures and technologies are utilized for processing and transmitting data or information been captured. These infrastructure and technology range from that of the University to that of the staff and students, and these include devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistant, computers, radio, television, network communication devices, satellite system, hardware and software, as well as other different services and applications (Kumar, 2006).

The use of these technologies which were designed for other purpose had found its way into the educational environment. In such a way that nobody in the educational institution is left out in regard to its usage, starting from the top management, across the staff to the students. To some researchers, it enhance academic activities while, other researchers call it e-learning or embedded learning, whatever the terminology it is called, the purpose is to make learning and knowledge gain easy for the students and make learning assessment easier for the academic staff while keeping effective and efficient record by management for various usage.  However, it has been observed that there are inadequate provision of IT  tools for an effective teaching and learning and also contributing to the academics performance of office technology management.  With the use of computer and related technology, a special way for learning assessment was devise and named Computer-Based Testing or Computer-Based Assessment or e-examination. It is a way for conducting, processing, recording and assessing examination in an electronic format. As the name implies and adapted by federal polytechnic Ede, Computer-Based Testing makes use of a computer in order to assess students based on their courses of study. This computer could be a stand-alone with a learning management system installed within a local network or virtual learning environment which can be accessed through the web.

Computer-Based Testing had been available in various forms and has grown from its initial focus on certification testing for the IT industry as well as language examinations such as TOEFL to a widely accepted delivery. model serving elements of virtually every market once dominated by paper-and-pencil testing. Friedrich (2008) noted that CBT allows trainers and teachers to plan and report on surveys, quizzes, tests and examinations. Proper application and use of these technologies facilitates learning (Ndume et al., 2008). With the use of these technologies both the teachers and students had been witnessing an excellent performance in the academic activities. Ugwuadu and Joda (2013) Found students taught with computer mediated learning performed better in class than the conventional students.

However, students’ assessment is a very important aspect in the learning process, as it helps the student, parents, teacher and the management to determine performance and take various decisions on the students’ learning. The conduct of examination as an assessment is as significant as the total process of learning due to its validity and reliability to the student, teacher, management and other relevant institutions that the result could be employed.

1.2            STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Access to information is a key for academic performance of students , but with inadequate inadequate information technology students would not be able to attain a high performance in school. with advent of ICTs student have acquired additional source for getting information along with the libraries in the university.  However, there are cases considered to be the reason for the inadequate provision of office technology, especially, to student studying office technology management which are but not limited to economic reasons, embezzlement of funds, lack of quality equipment among many others. This research explores the Influence of inadequate information technology on academic performance of OTM students.

1.3            OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The general objective of the study is Influence of inadequate information technology on academic performance of OTM students. Specifically, the study will be guided by the following objectives.

1.       To examine if office technology students are access to information technology in other to boost their academic performance.

2.       To evaluate if there is a relationship between information technology and students of office technology management academic performance.

3.       To find out if students of office technology management have challenges in the use of information technology.

4.       To recommend ways information technology can be made adequate in other to boost the academic performance of office technology management student.

1.4            RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following questions have been prepared for this study

1)      Do office technology students have access to information technology in other to boost their academic performance?

2)      Is there a relationship between information technology and students of office technology management academic performance?

3)      Do students of office technology management have challenges in the use of information technology?

4)      What are the  ways information technology can be made adequate in other to boost the academic performance of office technology management student?

1.5            SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will examine influence of inadequate information technology on academic performance of OTM students.

The present work is most significant to the ICT department in the federal polytechnic Ede because information and communication technologies are a factor which not only affect the social affairs but also influence the economic sector. The present work will be exposed the root cause of students’ academic failure in access to information.

This study will be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

1.6            SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will examine if office technology students are access to information technology in other to boost their academic performance. The study will also evaluate if there is a relationship between information technology and students of office technology management academic performance. The study will further find out if students of office technology management have challenges in the use of information technology. Lastly, the study will recommend ways information technology can be made adequate in other to boost the academic performance of office technology management student. Hence this study will be delimited to federal polytechnic Ede, Osun state.

1.7            LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

 just like any other research, ranging from unavailability of needed accurate materials on the topic under study, inability to get data

Financial constraint , was faced by  the researcher ,in getting relevant materials  and  in printing and collation of questionnaires

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher.

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