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ATTITUDE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE IMPACT OF
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) OF TEACHERS
    IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO
                    LEARNING SCIENCE




                           BY

                    ABDULLAHI AMINAT

                      NOU 060241125

                   MINNA STUDY CENTER




BEING ORIGINAL PROJECT SUBMITTED TO SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
  NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, LAGOS, IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER
           OF EDUCATION IN SCIENCE EDUCATION




                        JUNE 2010


                            1
CERTIFICATION

      This thesis by Aminat Abdullahi has met the requirements for the

award of master of Education degree in science education of the National

Open University of Nigeria, and is approved for its contribution to knowledge.




…………………………. ……………………………..                                    ……………….

DR. D.I WUSHISHI                      SIGNATURE                      DATE

(Supervisor)




…………………………. ……………………………..                                    ……………….

DR. FRANCIS GANA                      SIGNATURE                      DATE

(Centre Manager)




…………………………. ……………………………..                                    ……………….

(External Examiner)                   SIGNATURE                      DATE




…………………………. ……………………………..                                    ……………….

(HOD Science Education)               SIGNATURE                      DATE



                                      2
DEDICATION

      This thesis is dedicated to Mrs. Habibat Onu Suleiman for her

financial, moral, continual and unrelenting support. My Kids Fadilah, Safiya

and Mustapha. The memory of my late mother Hauwa and Husband Bello

Abdullahi. May Allah grant their souls al-jannatul firdaus.




                                       3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      All praise and appreciation goes to Allah (S.W.T) who bestowed his

protection, guidance and mercies on me, who also granted me patience,

wisdom and knowledge in completing the thesis and studies in spite of all

odds. This work has been successful through the immerse guidance,

experience and expert supervision of Dr. D.I Wushishi of the department of

Science education, Federal University of technology, for his assistance all

through the processes of questionnaire designing and data analysis. During

this processes, he had offered invaluable suggestions and criticisms,

invaluable role of proof reading the thesis and providing necessary guidance,

correction and very useful suggestions which saw the thesis through to

completion.


      My profound gratitude goes to my ever supporting sister Hajaratu and

her Husband, Moh‟d Suleiman for their overwhelming moral support. I will

also say „thank You‟ to my dear Husband Mal Salihu Isah Lemu for his moral

support which has rekindled my life. I am also indebted to Aisha Suleiman for

her patience and assistance accorded to me during the process of data

analysis. My indebtedness also goes to Aisha Mohammed a Colleague, a

friend and confidant for her understanding throughout the period of my

studies. My sincere gratitude goes to all the principals, H.O.D science and

computer teachers and students of the schools visited for this study. „Thank

you‟ to Fatima L. Yakubu C.B.N Abuja for her financial and moral support



                                      4
accorded to me. I am most grateful to all my family members for the moral

support given to me throughout the period of my studies.


      I am also grateful to all my colleagues and members of staff of

ETF/CERC. Most especially Sala Emmanuel Yisa head of computer unit ETF

for his patience, endurance and unrelenting assistance and guidance given

to me in the laboratory when sourcing for data and Abdulkadir K. Ibrahim for

being there for me anytime I needed his assistance. My appreciation also

goes to Mr. Suleiman Agboola Head of ICT ERC Minna for his necessary

correction and pain taken to see to the successful completion of the analysis.

I am also indebted and grateful to my typist Emmanuel Chinedu Okonkwo of

Federal University of Technology Minna. I will not fail to acknowledge my late

brother    Dr.   Suleiman   Danjuma   Suleiman    for   his   inspiration   and

encouragement to embark on this course may Allah grant him al-jannatul

firdaus.


      My special gratitude goes to the entire members of staff of National

Open University of Nigeria minna study centre for their encouragement most

especially Mrs. S.A. Alao, the centre‟s manger Dr. Francis Gana and Ndagi.


      Alhamdullilah.




                                      5
ABSTRACT

This research is on the attitude of secondary school students on the impact
of continuing professional development of teachers in information and
communication technology to learning science. Four schools were used for
this study namely El-Amin International College, New Horizon College,
Himma International College and Hill-Top Model School. Descriptive survey
method using a questionnaire tagged “QICPDTICTASSSS” was used for
data collection. It was validated by three experts and by pilot tested using
test retest method. The reliability was calculated using the pearson product
moment correlation coefficient and coefficient of relation (rxx) 0.89 was
obtained. The results were calculated using simple distribution table, Anova
and Scheffe‟s Test using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS)
software. The results obtained showed significant differences in the attitude
of students to the impact of continuing professional development of teachers
in information and communication technology to learning of science. It was
recommended that teacher training and professional development oriented
policies should be made by government to support ICT related teaching
models.




                                      6
CHAPTER ONE

1.1      BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

         Technology has changed the way people live, work and learns.

The use of technology in education is one of the main challenges for

education policy makers (Zalzadeh, 2006). Traditional methods of

education are no longer able to meet the needs of today‟s learner.

New technologies provide opportunities, including the ability to tailor

learning to the individual (Aminpoor, 2007). In view of the above

statement, there is need for continuing education of teachers to meet

these global challenges of technology to make teaching and learning

more meaningful.

         However, professional development have attracted increasing

attention in recent years (Anna Craft,2000) faced with rapid change,

demand for high standards calls for improving quality of teachers and

the need to update and improve their skills through professional

development. Recently, there are pressures at national and school

levels    of   professionalism   in   information   and   communication

technology. These arise from the demand for increased quality and the

need to implement the national curriculum. The interest in Information

and Communication Technology (ICT) is hardly surprising given the

worldwide impact ICT is having on many aspect of modern life

especially in the field of education. Harnessing the power of ICT to

support education is a major challenge, for not only is the technology


                                 7
itself changing very rapidly, but education systems are culturally

bound. Fullan (1991) highlighted the possibilities of bringing about

changes in education through a deliberate process. In many parts of

the world, several initiatives appear to have had little impact, despite

significant investment in the expectation that it will improve the quality

of teaching and learning thereby having positive effect on the student

attitude. It is now widely accepted that effective use of ICT cannot be

merely introducing teachers to the technology. Harland and Kinder

(1997) suggests the need for professional development initiative to

bring about planned change.

      The rapid development of ICT and having easy access to

information through the e-mail and internet is one that is inextricably

linked with modern education. As ICT is a resource to learning,

science is primarily about methods of doing science and not ICT but

students should learn how to develop scientific skills and learn about

its role, function, application, preservation and processing using the

ICT. The science teacher is not an ICT specialist and is not expected

to teach ICT as his specialism. However, like every other teacher, they

are required to support student‟s use of ICT within their subject. The

more confident and competent the science teacher is with the ICT, the

more likely he will be able to incorporate the latest, most up-to-date

and accurate resource s of ICT into his teaching. Godfrey (2001)

states that to become confident, critical and creative user of ICT,


                                 8
Teachers must have access to professional development programs

that enables them to have multiple skills, both in the use of technology

and in task design (p.16). Therefore teachers need not only the ICT

skills but also the models of the best practice and knowledge to

support learning. They need to understand the rationale for integrating

ICT into learning environments and interpreting curriculum documents

to make decisions about designing, delivering, managing and

evaluating instruction.


Jegede (2004) p.66 says, continuing professional development must

be created to re-skill the potential teacher, re-motivate the interested

teacher, retain the dedicated teacher and retain the practicing

teacher. It is a known fact that computer which is the major tool used

in ICT especially in the classroom depends on the attitude towards

computers {Lawton and Gerschner, 1982). Several studies states that

teachers attitude, knowledge and skills in using computers are major

factors affecting their initial acceptance of computer technology and

their future behavior regarding computer usage (violato, mariniz and

Hunter, 1989; koohang, 1989). Office of technology assessment of

the united states congress (OTA) states that a number of teachers

with access to computers purposely avoid integrating technology into

their instruction because of their lack of training, while Bulkeley

commented that few teachers publicly criticize computer for fear of

appearing technologically backwards, but many ignore the machines

                                9
after one or more frustrating experiences. These fast growing use of

new technologies in schools means that modes of professional

learning are opening for the teachers to equip themselves with all the

knowledge and technical no-how {application} needed to carry out

this operation. The use of these computers without providing teachers

with professional development time to learn equipment operations

and application will eventually make the teacher to be scape goat.

Several studies have been carried out on the assessment of attitude

of students towards computer and it was found that students who

received computer training were found to have a better understanding

in the computer assisted teaching than the students who have not

received any computer training. However, Johnson and Rising (1972)

reported that computer programming helps students to learn how to

solve problems systematically, carefully and in details, and helps to

transfer acquired skills to other similar situation. They further

explained that computer helps students to develop positive attitude,

desirable interest and appreciation.


      Hoyle, (1983) said, the introduction of ICT into the educational

system has been hailed as a major catalyst of the long dreamed about

educational revolution, especially as ICT is designed to serve as a

major vehicle for improving the efficiency of the educational process (

Jones and Knezek, 1993). Offir-et-al. (1994) described the historical

development of ICT use in the educational process and indicated that

                               10
since the introduction of ICT, the traditional open courseware

continuum succinctly and accurately depicts the progress made in the

use of ICT for learning and instruction. The traditional open continuum

provides an insight as to how ICT approaches evolved and developed

as educational media since the early 1960s. Offir et al (1993) reported

that in the early days of ICT use in the school classroom, traditional

computer assisted instruction (CAI) based on rigid and „closed‟ drill

and practice, was the dominant ICT approach. When poignant

questions were raised regarding the relative advantages and

effectiveness of drill and practice over more traditional and instruction

approaches, more flexible and open learning and instruction program

were developed and introduced into educational system. The use of

spreadsheet (Dreyfus et al, 1997) contributes to the enhancement of

learner independence and creativity, and provides students with

sophisticated graphical assistance that promotes the understanding of

complicated subject matter. According to (Appelberg, 1997) database

provides students with the opportunity of enriching their knowledge

and comprehension of subject matter by facilitating the ability to

conduct comprehensive searches for sources hitherto available only in

libraries and museums. However, the introduction of the use of

spreadsheets and databases in the educational process contributed to

the promotion of improved learning and instruction and increased

effectiveness in the educational process.


                                11
Simulations which is sophisticated, progressive and improved

form of ICT are equally used as learning instruction. (Offir and katz,

1994),said, through simulations teachers are able to provide their

students with realistic models of subject matter as experienced in real

life situations thereby facilitating students understanding and mastery.

Thus, simulations enhances ICT mediated learning by providing an

added dimension that closes the gap between theoretical subject

matter and the application of knowledge to real life situations.

However, the steady evolution of ICT (radio, television, interactive

video, electronic mail, World Wide Web) has considerably influenced

the development of learning (Jones and Knezek, 1995). Passing and

Levin (2000) provided an in-depth analysis of multimedia packages

and stated that when using multimedia approaches in learning the

student does not only study the subject matter but also learn how to

deal with the synthetically programmed environment. The ease of use

and the uniformity of the multimedia interface have significant

implications for both teacher and student, since they provide a

platform for a higher level of motivation, concentration and

understanding of the content being studied. Multimedia of educational

packages attempt to provide a clear consistent and attractive ICT

platform, which contributes towards the ability of teachers and

students to reach excellence through user friendly instruction and

learning approaches.


                               12
ICT use in education can be described as a major breakthrough

for teaching, learning and instruction. In a series of studies, a number

of researchers (Chandra et al, 1988; Karz and Offir, 1991; Offir and

Karz, 1990) as well as numerous others, testified to the existence of

psychological attitudes held by elementary and secondary school

teachers towards the use of ICT as an instructional approach.

Research studies have established that psychological attitudes such

as independence, creativity, tough-mindedness, sociability, risk taking,

stimulus and sensation seeking are key attitudes connected with

effective ICT use. Similar situations have been found with elementary

and secondary school (Dunn and Ridgway, 1991; Katz, 1993; Katz,

1995; Karz and Offir, 1990). Students who held attitudes such as

positive self-image, positive social-image, independence in learning

process, self-confidence in the learning, satisfaction with learning

internal locus of control, level of control of learning, creativity and

motivation for study were significantly more positive towards the use of

ICT than students who are not typified by the same traits.The use of

technology (ICT) to teach students in the classroom challenges the

students in learning to think, interact and solve problems, learn how to

learn with the aid of technology. Using ICT equally challenges the

students to use higher level thinking skills and become active seekers

rather than passive receivers of information.Using ICT enhances




                               13
student‟s   collaborative   construction   of   meaning   via   different

perspective on shared experiences (Chan, Burtis and Bereiter, 1997).

ICT enables students to utilize modeling and visualization as powerful

means of bridging between experience and abstraction (Gordin and

Pea, 1995).


      Dertouzes and Gates (1998) reported that in developed

countries, computers and telecommunications are on the verge of

reshaping the mission, objectives, content and processes of schooling.

This is the part of a larger change in those nations from loosely,

coupled, mature industrial economies to a profoundly interconnected,

knowledge based global market (Thurow, 1999). Since one of the

educational goal is to prepare students for work and citizenship the

introduction of ICT in schools (primary and secondary) are attempting

to change their policies, practices and curriculum to meet the

challenge of making student ready for a future quite different than the

immediate past.


      Furthermore, culminating ICT as a teaching aid encourages

users to rely not only upon stored knowledge, but also on uniquely

human reasoning and problem solving skills. Anita Cox remarks that

this form of technology will become more widespread and visible in

response to education‟s increasing need to prepare students for work

in the information age. These challenges will in turn make the



                                14
students to realize the importance of life long learning and become

motivated participants in the world and the workplace of the future.


      Computer assisted Instruction (CAI) programs are being used in

schools as a supplement to traditional instruction. CAI is a spectrum

of computer technologies that assist the teaching and learning

process. Example of CAI applications include guided drills and

practice exercises, computer visualization of complex objects and

computer facilitated communication between students and teachers.

Several programs are used           for courses (chemistry, physics,

geography, mathematics etc). These programs simulate the setting

of laboratory apparatus and also guides the students through the

steps required to complete the procedure (De la cuetara and Lamba,

1995). Some programs are equally used to increase the students

understanding of specific topics. Such as Animal pathfinders that

illustrates specific application of scientific method (Matray and Proulx,

1995).


      Computer assisted instruction (CAI) enhances the learning rate

of students. The students learn faster with CAI than the conventional

instruction. Capper and Copple (1985) stated that CAI users

sometimes learn as much as 40% faster than those receiving the

teacher directed instruction. Using ICT in the teaching and learning

indicates that self esteem is enhanced and improves behavior. It

equally assists in exploring new opportunities for improving classroom

                               15
practice. It makes lessons more stimulating, enjoyable, interactive and

   gives room for appropriate selection of technologies. Students have a

   positive attitude to learning as they retain their learning better

   [Bialo and    Sivin 1990;Maverech     and    Rich   1985; Robertson,et

   al.1987,Rupe 1986]. Evarest .C. (2004) stated the following impact

   that ICT has on the students


1. With online teaching /learning, students can work independently with

   customized instruction and at his/her own place.

2. It increases the student‟s independence and motivation for self

   directed study.

3. It increases the student‟s commitment to the learning risk.

4. It assists in exploring new opportunities for improving class room

   practice.


     Other potential benefits of ICT (using CAI) includes:


1. It also makes students to have more of internal locus of control or

   sense of self efficiency.(Capper and Copper 1985,kinnaman 1990 and

   Lovie1985).

2. Students have better attendance. Capper and copper, rupees 1986

   and 1990 ISTE.

3. Students have higher rate of motivation or time on task (Bialo and

   Sivin, 1990; Capper and Copper 1985).




                                   16
4. Students exhibit higher rate of cooperation or collaboration and

  presocial behavior (Dickson, 1986,Maverech, Stern and Levita, 1987;

  and Rupe, 1986).

          Having seen the relevance of ICT in education, there is need for

  continuing development of teachers to meet this enormous task of

  technology. However, it has argued for creating a collaborative

  professional learning environment for successful school improvement

  and the first order of business for those seeking to enhance the

  effectiveness of teaching and learning (Eastwood and Louis,

  1992:215).The department for education and employment (DfEE,

  2001)    in   their   professional    strategy   suggests   that   effective

  professional learning      should be focused on classroom practice,

  collaborative learning together, learning from the best and learning

  from what works. By so doing, an ultimate change in practice will be

  achieved. Education of teachers both at pre-service and in-service

  through professional learning is recognized as being the major catalyst

  for change (Finger, Russell, Jamieson-Procter and Russell, 2006).

  Teacher on continuous training of ICT will build more confidence,

  competence and develop appropriate skills in handling curriculum.

          The Research on teacher‟s education has consistently stressed

  the need to regularly provide opportunities for teachers to improve

  their knowledge of the subject matter they teach and the teaching

  skills they learned in the pre-service courses they attended. Recent


                                   17
research conducted by Tee Kay educational consultancy services

   done on behalf of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC),

   NCCE, National Teachers Institute (NTI), Teachers Registration

   Council (TRC) and world Bank revealed that their exist wide or major

   gaps in the present NCE and degree curricular in the following areas;

   computer education, small scale research technique, health and

   environmental studies, resource management, skills for teaching

   multigrade classes, National curriculum modules and sexuality

   education. These gaps have urgent implication for pre-service training.

   For those already trained needs to be followed up with in-service

   continuing professional development programme to correct the

   deficiencies and broaden their horizon. Fitzallen and Brown (2006)

   carried out a research on the factors that impact on successful teacher

   implementation of professional learning while incorporating the

   Schulman‟s essential teacher knowledge (1982 a,b) which Identifies

   three interconnecting categories.

a. Teacher knowledge (including knowledge of; content and curriculum,

   teacher characteristic, ICT content, application of ICT in context).

b. Teacher dispositions (confidence, previous success, engagement in

   reflection.

c. External factors (background, professional learning, time and access).

   until these interlinking contents are considered the full promise of

   digital content may not be realized. Professional learning is insufficient


                                   18
in itself for the adoption of ICT into teaching and professional practice,

teacher belief, confidence and expertise (Jamieson- proctor and

Finger, 2006; Phelps, Graham and Kerr, 2004; Albion, 1999). Having

access to appropriate equipment and infrastructure have been

identified to be an added advantage (Norris and Soloway, 2000).


      With the present pace of dispensational development, ICT is

said to be a vital tool which teachers, students and lecturers must

equip themselves with, if they must move with the trend of global

awareness to enhance their teaching skills and improve their learning

abilities. Just as computer has played vital roles in many aspect of life

such as transportation, communication, national defense, material

production and scientific research, it has also become the fastest

reliable way of communication between teachers and students in our

education today. Using computers as an aided instruction is the best

way and the fastest object of instruction in today‟s world. Computers

also serve as a medium of teaching and learning methods to students

thereby bringing the close understanding between the two. Madu

(2002) reported that there is an increasing awareness of the potentials

for the use of ICT in education and the information technologies are

tools used to produce, store, process, disseminate; and exchange

information.


The need for continuing professional development (CPD) has the

following advantages
                                19
1. To improve the job performance skills of the whole staff or group of

   staffs

2. To improve the job performance skills of an individual teacher.

3. To extend the experience of an individual teacher for career

   development or promotion.

4. To develop the professional knowledge and understanding of an

   individual teacher.

5. To enable teachers to anticipate and prepare for change (Anna Crafts,

   2000).

6. CPD may enable practitioners to widen their understanding of society,

   especially information and communication technology (Bland ford,

   2000). A lot of these training have been offered to Nigerian teachers

   through workshops, seminars and conferences in ICT appreciation

   and programming. This raises the need to assess the impact of CPD

   of teachers on ICT Minna metropolis.



1.2         STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

   Education is generally acknowledged as one of the crucial allies of the

   development process. Therefore educational policy makers and social

   planners, in recognition of it‟s potentials for leveraging existing social

   stratifications have placed a huge premium on the development of the

   education sector. This is reflected in the emphatic resonance in the

   National Policy on education (NPE, 2004) that „no nation can rise


                                   20
above the quality of its education systems‟. Based on this evident

truth, the national policy formulators recommend, as a priority, the

training of those responsible for faciliting the education of Nigerians in

the development planning process. On this, the National policy on

education unequivocally focuses attention to all aspects of education

planning, because of its teachers. This view was crystallized by lassa

(2000) and the roles that they play in the educative process to (basic)

education, particularly in third world countries. However, the challenge

of teacher training appears to be the most daunting challenge facing

the education system in general. Researchers have observed that out

of all the educational problems that beset the African continent today,

none is as persistent or compelling as the one relating to the training

of competent teachers who directly and indirectly is bound to influence

the quality and quantity of services provided by other teachers and

professors, as poor teachers tend to produce their own kind (Fafunwa

1967; Afe, 1999) in Afe 2000).


      As new technologies transform classroom and laboratories,

academics will have to learn, change or improve their teaching styles

and every body will need some necessary ICT skills regardless of their

interest or their employment. Tools that incorporate ICT will undertake

many specialist tasks, learning to perform these task and using the

tools will be part of education.




                                   21
In Nigeria, teachers have been trained in several for a in ICT

teaching and learning especially in programmes organized by

UNESCO and UNICEF and government also occasionally organizes

ICT training for teachers of primary and secondary schools. As a result

of these, this study attempts to investigate the impact of continuing

professional development of teachers on the attitude of secondary

school students to learning science. It will also investigate the

difference between senior secondary school (SSS)1, SSS 2 and SSS

3 students attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning

science. It will also do the same on variables such as age groups and

male and female students.


1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY


The main purpose of the study is to find out the impact of continuing

professional    development       of   teachers   in   information    and

communication technology (computers) on secondary school student‟s

attitude to learning science. Specifically, this research is designed to

Investigate    the   difference   between   the   impact   of   continuing

professional development of teachers on student‟s attitude to learning

science in relation to variables such as class level, age of students

and gender of students.




                                  22
1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

  1. What is the attitude of secondary school students on the impact

      of    continuing   professional    development    of    teachers    in

      information and communication Technology to learning science?

  2. What are the differences between SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3

      student‟s attitude on the impact of continuing professional

      development of teachers in information and communication

      Technology to learning science?

  3. Are there differences between student‟s age groups (13-15years

      and    16-18years)    attitude    on   the   impact    of   continuing

      professional development of teachers in information and

      communication Technology to learning science?

  4. What would be the difference between male and female

      student‟s attitude on the impact of continuing professional

      development of teachers in information and communication

      Technology to learning science?

1.5   RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

      Ho.1 There is no significant difference between SSS1, SSS2

             and SSS3 student‟s attitude on the impact of continuing

             professional development of teachers in information and

             communication Technology to learning science.




                                23
Ho.2 There is no significant difference between students age

            groups(13-15years       and 16-18years) attitude on the

            impact of continuing professional development of teachers

            in information and communication Technology to learning

            science



      Ho.3 There is no significant difference between male and

            female student‟s attitude on the impact of continuing

            professional development of teachers in information and

            communication Technology to learning science.



1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY


This study would benefit the Federal ministry of Education, National

Teachers institute (NTI), National Board for Technical Education

(NBTE), Nigeria University commission (NUC), proprietors of private

schools, principals, teachers, lecturers, students and users of

information and communication technology facilities to designed

appropriate curricular materials for teaching and learning of science by

the use of ICT. This study will be a guide to curriculum developers of

science to develop and integrate ICT in to learning and interpreting

curriculum documents to make decisions about designing, delivering,

managing and evaluating instruction. Through continuing professional

development, teachers will also benefit in getting new and better ways

                               24
of improving their methods and techniques of teaching. Students will

not only learn how to use computers, but effectively use it through the

internet to learn outside the class and beyond the given syllabus. They

will be able to access the web ICT for course information, such as

course outline, objectives, information about assessment and note for

the subject. This study will serve as a yardstick for Federal

Government, National Teachers Institute (NTI), National Board for

Technical education (NBTE), and Universal Basic Education (UBE) to

evaluate the achievement of the set national educational objectives.


1.7     SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study will cover all the students in secondary schools in Minna

metropolis but specifically restricted to students from Himma, New

Horizon College, El-Amin International Schools and Hill-Top Model

Schools Minna. This is because the schools have computer

laboratories and have teachers that went on CPD in ICT.

1.8     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY


        There are limited literature about CPD of teachers in Nigeria, so

      it limits the scope of generalization of the findings of this study.

  Samples are drawn mostly from among private secondary school

  students in Minna Niger State, because most of the public schools

  have no computers and their teachers have received limited or no

                         CPD on ICT.                  .



                                   25
CHAPTER TWO


                    LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0   INTRODUCTION


The importance of continuing professional development (CPD) cannot

be over –emphasized, especially in field as vital as education. Only by

continually arming oneself with the latest research techniques and

knowledge in the profession can one hope to stay effective in one‟s

career.


Any training programme is thus concerned with improved ways of

doing things of carrying out various activities in a professional manner.

The contribution of the ICT can be very useful tool for the development

of skills on it provides effective training programme which can be

attributed to its capacity for stimulation, model-building and interactive

adaptation. This usage applies not only to subjects like sciences but

also to various aspects of professional courses like engineering and

teacher training. The concept of life long education is associated with

a learning society, in the contemporary society; the end of formal

education does not mean the end of one‟s learning.


The University of Wisconsin –Madison in 1907 was the first academic

institution in the united state to offer an identifiable continuing

education program (schugurensky, Daniel (1907). In 1969, Empire

state college, a unit of the state university of New York, was also the
                                26
first institution in the united state to exclusively focus on providing

higher education to adult learners. While in 1976, the University of

Florida created its own division of continuing Education and most

courses were offered on evenings or weekends to accommodate the

schedule of working student‟s .Hopkins, Ainscow and west, 1994;

southworth 1994; Sammons, Hillman and mortimore, 1995; Green,

1999) reported that learning is a worth while process and not a static

or bounded process, however learning of education professionals

throughout ones career is essential. These researchers, commentators

and policy makers equally explained that teacher‟s development to

raising of pupils standards of achievement is a central policy.


Generally, continuing professional development is acknowledged to be

centrally important    in maintaining and enhancing the quality of

teaching and learning in schools (craft 2000, Harland and Kinder 1997,

Harri 2002). The International research literature has consistently

shown that professional development is an essential component of

successful school level change and development (day, 1999b,

Hargreaves 1994).It has confirmed that where teachers are able to

access new ideas and to share experiences more readily, there are

greater potentials for schools and classroom improvement .Improving

schools, invest in the development of staff and create opportunities

for teachers to collaborate and to share best practice. Evidence also

suggests that attention to teacher learning can impact directly upon

                                27
improvements in student learning and achievement. Teachers expand

and develop their own teaching repertoires and are clear in their

purposes, it is more likely that they will provide an increased range of

learning opportunities for students (Joyce et al,1999). The research

literature demonstrate that professional development can have a

positive impact on curriculum, pedagogy as well as teachers sense of

commitment and their relationship with students (Talbert and

McLaughlin 1994).


Several and resent research has reiterated that quality of professional

interaction, focus on staff development and the relentless pursuit of

improved teaching and learning are the characteristic of successful

school improvement ( Gray 2000; Harris 2000; Maden and Hillman J.

1996;   OFSTED      2000).   However,      it   also   acknowledges    the

importance‟s of teachers engaging in continuing career long

development that will meet their own personal and professional needs.

These needs will vary according to circumstances, personal and

professional histories and current dispositions. Matching appropriate

professional needs of the teacher and the selected activity is critically

important in ensuring that there is a positive impact at the school and

classroom level, where staff development improvement is paramount

(DfEE,P3) and offers a number of new initiatives to achieve particular

important   goal.   The   richer    mix   of    professional   development

opportunities will allow teachers to focus upon their own learning,

                                   28
career and promotion ambitions and to consider new responsibilities

within their own school content. This will lead to an improved and

enhanced sense of professionalism for teachers, plus an increased

motivation to stay within the profession.


2.1   DEFINITION         OF       CONTINUING          PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT (CPD)


Debates around CPD have been numerous in recent years. Much of

the recent debate regarding CPD has been concerned with who and

what is being develop, by whom and most importantly, in whose

interest (Nofke, 1997, p.334). Wikipedia defines CPD as the skills and

knowledge attained for both personal development and career

advancement. It encompasses all types of facilitated learning

opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework,

conferences and informal learning opportunities in practice. Analytic

quality Glossary defines CPD as the study (that may accumulate to

whole programmes with awards) designed to upgrade knowledge and

skills of practitioners in the profession, while higher education funding

council for England (HEFCE, 2003), sees CPD as a range of short and

long training programmes, some of which have an option of

accreditation, which foster the development of employment related

knowledge, skills and understanding. Northeast Texas Network

consortium (NTNC, 2007), defines professional development as

courses offered to improve knowledge and skills in a specific

                                29
professional area, such as professional certification programs. Usually

not offered for academic credit.


David Hargreaves (1998), refined his definition about the nature of

CPD exploring the need for better professional knowledge which a

transition towards a knowledge society requires. He argues that

knowledge transmission in the past has failed partly because

University-based researchers were not very successful in either

knowledge creation or dissemination. He argues further that new

knowledge transmission models are required which involves a radical

reconceptualization of knowledge creation and its dissemination in

education, and the consequent restructuring that is necessary to

support it (p.1). To these new models, for Hargreaves is the

knowledge creating school. This would involve schools conducting a

knowledge    audit,   managing          the   processes   of   creating   new

professional knowledge, validating the knowledge creating and

disseminating the created knowledge (p.2). The support and co-

ordination of schools and networks of school engaged in this new form

of knowledge creation and dissemination would require a rethinking of

the nature and role of CPD.


Welsh (2002) endorses that collaborative professional development

which could bridge research, policy and power at the same time

recognizing the potential for element of political conflict inherent in

restructuring teacher and school development. Similarly, Barber (1996)

                                   30
argues that professional development should not be founded on

„narrowly conceived idea about in-service education for teachers but

the idea of the teacher as a life long learner who is a member of a

research- based profession. It has been suggested that continual

development is a relatively straight forward concept to accept. But, the

term „professional‟ is much more problematic (Bolam, p.280). Bolam

suggests that professional development is the process by which

teachers learn, enhance and use appropriate skills and knowledge and

the essence of such profession development for educators would

presumably be, therefore the learning of an independent, evidence-

informed and constructively critical approach to practice within a Public

framework of professional values and accountability, which are also

open to critical scrutiny. (Bolam, 2000, p.272).


In the current climate of professional issues in teacher‟s live, relating to

teacher workload, shortage and retention, it has been argued that the

focus of CPD should both be more structured and more teacher-led,

offering opportunities not just to minorities but to all irrespective of

factors such as geographical constraints and the size of the school.

Carol Adams, Chief Executive of the general Teachers council (GTC)

voiced her concerns, she said her biggest worry was about how to

ensure we have a proper, structured programme and avoid lots of little

pilots with only short term horizons and limited impact (quoted in

cordingley, 2001, p.82).

                                 31
CPD is seen as part of the career development of all professionals

which is a shared responsibility with their employers because it serves

the interest of both. Day, (1999) says, professional development

consists of all natural learning experiences and those conscious and

planned activities which are intended to be of direct or indirect benefit

to the individual, group or school which constitute through these, to the

quality of education in the classroom. It is a process by which, alone

and with others, teachers review, renew and extend their commitment

as change agents to the moral purposes of teaching; and by which

they acquire and develop critically the knowledge, skills and emotional

intelligence essential to good professional thinking, planning and

practice with children young people and colleagues throughout each

phase of their teaching lives (Day, 1996. b.). In February 2000, the

government published its consultation document on professional

development (Green paper, DfEE, 2001). The document argues that

good professional development requires time to reflect and set

objectives, recognition and commitment, opportunity, particularly for

work based learning. The documents equally argued that professional

development reflect three perspectives; Individual teacher‟s needs and

aspirations, the need of the school and national strategic priorities.


In a study conducted by National Foundation for educational Research

CPD. Teachers perspective (2000), stated that CPD is mostly needed

in the development of knowledge in the teachers own subject area; the

                                 32
use of ICT and the internet in the curriculum; assessment; support for

pupils with special educational needs and leadership skills. Gatewood

and Conrad (1997) also explained at another workshop held at

implementing technology in the school curriculum that teachers‟

training is essential for computers to be effective teaching tool. They

reported that training opportunities enable teachers to build skills and

confidence and learn strategies to integrate computers into their

curriculum. Epstein (1993), identified four critical components of

training, practical experience, workshops, models and mentors and

supervisory follow-up.


2.2 IMPORTANCE OF CPD


CPD are undertaken by teachers beyond the point of initial training.

The   following   are    the   resource   for   undertaking   professional

development.


   1. To improve the job performance skills of the whole staff or group

      of staff.

   2. To improve the job performance skills of an individual teacher.

   3. To extend the experience of an individual teacher for career

      development or promotion.

   4. To develop the professional knowledge and understanding of an

      individual teacher.

   5. To extend the personal or general education of an individual.


                                 33
6. To make staff feel value.

   7. To promote job satisfaction.

   8. To develop an enhanced view of job.

   9. To enable teachers to anticipate and prepare for change.

   10.       To clarify the whole or department policy ultimately all

       teachers development will have as one of its aims the

       improvement of pupils learning.


Blancd Ford (2000) emphasizes that professional development enable

practitioners to widen their understanding of society in particularly of

ICT.




2.3    THE     CONCEPT        OF       CONTINUING       PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT


The concept of CPD is often left ill-defined, being in many cases

conflated with related concepts of in-service training and on the Job

learning. Both are more limited to CPD, as CPD encompasses a wide

variety of approaches and teaching and learning styles in a variety of

setting (inside or outside of the workplace) it is distinguishable from the

broader concept of learning. It is primarily related to people‟s

professional identities and roles and the goals of the organization they

are working for (Galloway, 2000).




                                  34
The concept of lifelong education is based on post formal education

and it assumes learners to adults or near adults who can mange their

learning on their own.


In a paper presented by Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed of NTI on

creating opportunities for CPD, he said teacher‟s professional

development has two main phases: Initial preparation and continuing

professional development. He said initial teachers training takes the

form of full time residential pre-service programmes in teachers

colleges or universities. The initial training may also be available to

serving unqualified teachers through distance education or out of

school programmes during vacations or on release from schools for

extended     periods    of    time.     The   pedagogical   or   professional

components of initial teacher training programmes can be either

conservative or concurrent with academic subjects. However, initial

teacher training has been criticized for its inadequacy in preparing

students for teaching. Learning to teach is a process that requires

continuing    support        and      resources.   Continuing    professional

development of teachers comes from various sources and in various

forms; orienting teachers to curriculum or examination changes,

upgrading qualification levels, donor- funded projects, professional

teachers association in developing subject teaching e.g. STAN;

sometimes teachers unions, school based improvement initiatives or

individual teachers working to improve their qualifications, career

                                      35
prospects or teaching skills.     In our national situation where both

qualified and unqualified teachers are employed in schools, pre-

service and in-service education may go on simultaneously. Therefore,

structured and unstructured approaches of professional development

of teachers should be employed.


2.4     RATIONALE          FOR        CONTINUING         PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS


The pace at which new knowledge is being generated and old

knowledge is becoming outdated, demands that an individual should

continue to learn throughout one‟s life. ICT can be very effective for

facilitating lifelong education, both an tutor and as a tool.


The teacher is increasingly becoming an important factor in the

educative process. According to Sprinthall, Reiman and sprint

(1999:666), there is no such thing as a teacher-proof curriculum. They

pointed to the massive failure of national curriculum projects of the

1960‟s with the attendant “failed ideas, unused curriculum guide, and

tarnished hopes. By implication, teacher‟s characteristics, attitudes,

conception of self and intellectual and interpersonal dispositions in

large measure determine both the explicit and the hidden agenda of

the classroom. The formal curriculum is represented by the materials,

lesson plan and objectives, but the informal agenda is the atmosphere




                                 36
or climate in the classroom as indicated by important teacher

characteristic.


The society expects great deal from their educational systems. New

goals are being continuously set such as life long learning, life skills

education, and competency in the use of ICT etc. As key agents in

these changes, teachers face high expectations, new roles which they

can get through CPD. One of the key elements of teacher quality, is

the provision of adequate opportunities for personal growth and

professional development.


Research on teacher‟s education has consistently stressed the need

to regularly provide opportunities for teachers to improve their

knowledge of the subject matter they teach and the teaching skills the

learned in the pre-service courses they attended. This is based on the

recognition of the fact that we live in a rapidly changing world such that

whatever knowledge and skills teachers acquired in their pre-service

training becomes stale very fast as new challenges and realities

emerge in the socio-economic and political environments.


2.5 MODEL OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT


Various model for teacher professional developments have emerged.

Most CPD models and practices emphasize formal CPD programmes

and activities. Spark, D and Loucks-Horsley, S (1989, fall) says there

are five models of staff development for teachers (Journal of staff

                                37
development, 10(4), 40-57). Sparks and Loucks-Horsley (1989) who

are influential researchers suggests five models that are useful for

accomplishing the goals of staff development. These models includes


   a. Individually Guided Development

   b. Observation and Assessment

   c. Involvement in a Development or improvement process.

   d. Training

   e. Inquiry


In Nigeria, three commonly used models are workshop models,

school-based teacher professional support and in-service training of

teachers (INSET).


The workshop model is the commonest form of CPD in Nigeria. It

entails drawing participants out of their school to a venue where they

are exposed by experts to a core of information and skills. The

workshop may be short or long term. The nature of skills and

processes to be acquired also vary.


The school-based teacher professional support and mentoring is a

recent alternative for in-service training of teachers. Pupils, teachers,

supervisors and facilitators are involved collaboratively in carrying out

a series of classroom/school-based activities that will help the teacher

to improve. The teachers get professional support from facilitators and

supervisors who serve as mentors. Activities may include direct

                                38
classroom support by the facilitators and supervisors, staff meeting

  within the school and involving head teachers and the participating

  teachers, demonstration lessons by teacher educators (mentors); visit

  to the school by mentors etc. Erant, (1994) suggest that any

  framework for promoting and facilitating professional learning should

  take into account the following;


  1. An appropriate combination of learning settings (on the Job, near

     the Job, home, library, course).

  2. For study consultation and reflection.

  3. Availability of suitable learning resources.

  4. People who are prepared (i.e. both willing and able) to give

     appropriate support.

  5. The learners own capacity to learn and take advantage of the

     opportunities available.


    In-service training of teachers (INSET) has relied upon teachers

participating in courses delivered by external providers either at the

school or at dedicated training centers.




                                     39
2.6 EFFECTIVE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPPMENT


A key factor of ensuring effective CPD is matching appropriate

professional development provision to particular professional needs. This

„fit‟ between the developmental needs of the teacher and the selected

activity, is critically important in ensuring that there is a positive impact at

the school and classroom level (Hopkins and Harris, 2001). Where staff

development are poorly conceptualized, insensitive to the concern of

individual participants and make little effort to relate learning experiences

to workplace conditions, they make little impact upon teachers or

pupils(Day,1999). There have been claims that CPD needs to be linked

to both individual and organizational goals, if both individual and

organization change are to be achieved (Jones and Fear, 1994).


2.7 FORMS OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT


Continuing professional opportunities ranges from a single workshop to a

semester long academic course, to service offered by a              medley of

different professional development providers and varying widely with

respect to philosophy, content and format of the learning experiences

(Goggle). Other forms of CPD includes on the Job, in- house activities,

work shadowing or secondment (Michael Fullan).


  Some examples of approaches to professional development includes:-




                                    40
1. CASE STUDY METHOD: - The case method is a teaching approach

  that consists in presenting the students with a case, putting them in

  the role of a decision maker facing a problem (Hammond, 1976).

2. CONSULTATION: - To assist an individual or group of individuals to

  clarify and address immediate concerns by following a systematic

  problem solving process.

3. COACHING: - To enhance a person‟s competencies in a specific skill

  area by providing a process of observation, reflection and action.

  Flaherty (1999) presents coaching as a way of working with people

  that leaves more competent and more fulfilled, so that they are more

  able to contribute to their organizations. He described the product of

  coaching as

      Long term excellent performance.

      Self correction.

      Self generation.



4. LESSON STUDY: - To solve practical dilemmas related to intervention

  or instruction through participation with other professionals in

  systematically examining practice.

5. MENTORING: - To promote an individual‟s awareness and refinement

  of his or her own professional development by providing and

  recommending structured opportunities for reflection and observation.




                                 41
6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: - To assist individuals and their

  organization to improve by offering resources and information,

  supporting networking and change effort.

7. RELECTIVE SUPERVISION: - To support, develop and ultimately

  evaluate the performance of employees through a process of inquiry

  that encourages their understanding and articulation of their rationale

  for their own practices.

  In united State of America, many American State have professional

  development requirement for school teachers. Arkansas teachers must

  complete 60 hours of documented professional development activities

  annually. Teachers in Idiana are required to earn 90 continuing

  renewal units (CRUs) per year. In Massachusetts, teachers need 150

  professional   development    points   (PDPs)    and   in   Georgia   10

  professional learning units (PLUs) (Wikipedia). In Singapore, every

  teacher is required to submit himself/herself to 100 hours of re-training

  every year. In Scotland, every Thursday during term time, teachers

  have an opportunity to take part in some live on line CPD in part of the

  glowing Thursday programme.



  2.8 CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA.

  From time immemorial, the training of teachers has been an issue of

  concern to researchers and lay members of society alike. Fafunwa

  (1974) argued that teacher education continues to be the key to


                                  42
educational development, In Nigeria and else where, for without

adequately trained teaching cadre, Nigeria cannot hope to expand her

educational facilities.

Till-date,   the   pre-service   training   and   in-service   professional

development of Nigerian teachers has not reflected the attention and

focus of these observers of our education system. Jegede (2002)

observed that the teacher training system in Nigeria has failed to

adhere to the provisions of the National policy on education that the

teacher education shall continue to take cognizance of changes in

methodology and in curriculum and that teachers shall be regularly

exposed to innovations in their professions. But, Okebukola (2002)

opined that in times past the teacher as well as his/her education did

enjoy some pride of place….. But teacher education in Nigeria and

indeed decades had been characterized by incessant instability, not

unconnected with attempts by practitioners in the field to better their

lot.

Afemikhe (2004) quoting taiwo (2002) added that teacher education

suffered some setbacks as greater emphasis was then laid on how to

teach rather than on what to teach.

However, it appears obvious that teachers need CPD and substantial

research seem to have confirmed this, not much importance seem to

be attached to continuing professional development of teachers in

Nigeria. For most teachers, training ends as soon as they graduated


                                  43
and no opportunities exist for updating their knowledge and skills by

attending seminars, conferences, and workshops that will enhance

their knowledge and skills and ultimately classroom practice (Ahmed

Modibbo, 2006).

2.9   A      MODEL    OF    ICT    APPLICATION          FOR   TEACHERS’

PROFESSIONAL              DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

The pace at which new knowledge is being generated and old

knowledge is becoming outdated, demands that an individual should

continue     to   learn    throughout   one‟s   life.    Information   and

communications technologies can be very effective for facilitating

lifelong education, both as a tutor and as a tool. The concept of

lifelong education is based on post formal education and it assumes

learns to be adults or near adults who can manage their learning on

their own.

However, teacher training process in Nigeria is regarded as the

foundation of quality and relevance of education at all levels of the

levels of the national educational system of the initial teacher training

process and the CPD of Nigerian teachers is currently besortted by

number of challenges.

However, ICT is having a major impact across all curriculum areas

most especially in science subjects, easy worldwide communication

provides instant access to vast array of data, challenging assimilation

and assessment skills (Fowowe, 2006). Rapid communication plus


                                  44
increased access to ICTs in the home, at work and in educational

establishment, learning becomes a truly lifelong activity- an activity in

which the pace technological change forces constant evaluation of

teaching process itself.



2.10 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

If students of today are to be prepared for the workplace of tomorrow,

computers must become an integral part of the current curriculum of

the school system.


2.10.1 DEFINITION OF COMPUTER


A computer can be defined as an electronic device or contrivance that

works under the control of stored instruction known as programs to

speedily accept data, process the inputted data into meaningful

information and then present its output in a well organized format

predefined by the user.


2.10.2 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS


Computers are grouped into various classes depending on the

character they exhibit, the way they look or the way they are located.


Classification of computers by type: -


    Analogue Computers: Computers which does not compute

      directly with discrete values (digits), rather, it measures quantity


                                45
in continuous flow e.g. current, temperature, voltage. Examples

     of such computers are diagnosis, thermometer, analog watch.

   Digital Computers: These computers cannot measure quantity in

     continuous flow. I.e. measures discrete values such as digit (0-

     9), understands binary(0 or 1) letter of alphabets(a-z). Examples

     are calculators, desktop, laptop, gaming computers.


     Hybrid Computers: These computers have the features of the

     analog and digital computers. It can measure quantity in

     continuous flow as well as those in discrete values .e.g. the

     system used in the electricity reading is hybrid.




2.10.3     CLASSIFICATION BY SIZE/CAPACITY


  a. Mainframe Computers: these computers are bulky and stored in

     control rooms with air-conditioning accommodation. They are

     the largest form of computers. Examples IBM370, ICI 900.

     Mainly used in research institute.

  b. Mini Computers: These computers are smaller in size and can

     perform arithmetic and logic operational functions, can process

     task that do not require access to large masses of stored data.

     Examples are Vax series, PDP-8 etc.

  c. Micro Computes: these are the personal computers (Pc). They

     are the smallest form of computers and uses micro processor as

                               46
its central processing unit (CPU). Examples are the Desktop,

      Laptop, Notebook and palmtop.

   d. Super Computers: These are faster than mainframe and are

      designed for specialized application. E.g. monitoring and

      controlling space flights and weather forecasting.


2.10.4      CLASSIFICATION BY NATURE OF LOCATION


Computers are also classified by the way they are located or located in

other devices. In this class, are the embedded computers.


Embedded Computers: Are computers that are located within other

machines to make them act like computers e.g. Speedometer.


2.10.5      CLASSIFICATION BY GENERATION


Computers passed through series and chains of development called

computer generations. The computer generations are:-


         1. First generation Computers

         2. Second generation Computers

         3. Third generation Computers

         4. Fourth generation Computers

         5. Fifth generation Computers

         6. Sixth generation Computers




                               47
2.10.6 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER


The characteristics is that, it is a general purpose device which take

input from output devices like mouse, keyboard, bar code reader etc.

Some of these characteristics include


      1.    Speed- Computer works at very high speed.


      2.    Accuracy- Can do billions of calculation in a second
            without error.

      3.    Storage- Can store data permanently.

      4.    Versatility- Can do various type of job at a time without

            error.


      5.    Automation- It can run itself without human interaction. It

            is an     automatic machine because once it start on a job

            they carry until job is finished.


      6.    Diligence- Unlike human being, a computer is free from

            monotony, tiredness and lack of communication.


      7.    Reliability


      8.    Convenience


      9.    Flexibility


      10.   Power of Remembering


      11.   Larger Storage


                                48
12.   No Feeling


             Wikipedia (2009).


2.10.7       COMPUTER SYSTEM


The computer consists of vital components which are very essential for

information processing. The component are divided into two main

categories namely


  i.   Hardware.

 ii.   Software.


HARDWARE includes all equipment or physical devices used in

processing data and delivering information. It encompasses everything

that is tangible. I.e. any part that can be seen, touched and felt.

Hardware can belong to any unit such as the input unit (keyboard,

mouse, scanner), output unit (monitor or console, printer, speaker),

storage unit ( Hard disk, flash disk, Floppy disk, compact disk,

Diskette, memory card) processing unit (Ram, Rom) and other

peripheral parts such as power pack, plotter etc.


SOFTWARE: - These are the invisible or intangible portions of the

computer. A software is a set of instruction the computer programs

that are used to command the computer. Computer software are

divided into two categories


  i.   System Software.

                                 49
ii.     Application Software.


System Software is also referred to as operating system. This software

provides routines needed to allow application software‟s to interact

with the hardware. I.e. it interprets user‟s programme commands. This

operating system is a collection of programme modules that act as

interface between the computer hardware and the user.


Application Software:- These are programmes created specifically to

meet the user‟s need. The ones developed by the manufacturer are

called Generalized Application Software, while the one developed by

the user are called user program or user-define software. Examples of

Generalized Applications packages are word processing software‟s,

spreadsheet software, Graphics etc.


Pelgrum and law (2003) state that near the end of the 1980s, the term

computer was replaced by Information Technology (IT). Information

Technology according to Ayo,(2001) is the use of computer system

and telecommunication equipment in information handling. He

identifies three basic component of information technology. These

components include


       a. Electronic processing using the computer.

       b. Transmission    of     information   using   telecommunication

          equipment.




                                   50
c. Dissemination of information in multimedia. Oketunji, (1999)

      quotes Marghalana M.A as being of the view that information

      technology    encompasses      the   notion   of     application    of

      technologies to information handling. This includes generation,

      storage, processing, retrieval, dissemination etc.


However, Cole (1956) supplied a useful definition which was given by

the Department of Trade and Industry in Britain, which states that

information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and

dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numeric information by a

micro-electronic    based     combination      of    computing           and

telecommunication. Some of the IT facilities are computers of various

types, scanners, printers, servers, word processors, photocopiers etc

and other devices for information acquisition and dissemination such

as teleconferencing/video conferencing, Networks, tele-text, facsimile,

internet, e-mail and voice mail etc. These signify a shift of focus from

computer technology to the capacity to store and retrieve information.

This was followed by the introduction of the term ICT (information and

communication technology) around 1992, when e-mail started to

become available to the general public (Pelgrum, w.J law N, 2003).


Literature search revealed quite a number of studies globally on the

impact of ICT on teaching, learning and other research activities.

However, Itegboye (2002) describes ICT as the application of

computers, telecommunication equipment to process, store, retrieve

                               51
and send information of all kinds. She added that information is power

and technology is the bedrock of development of any nation. Adeya,

(2002) describes ICT as electronic means of capturing, processing,

storing and disseminating information. According to another definition

by Adeya, 2002, ICTs are embedded in networks and services that

affect the local and global accumulation and flowing of public and

private knowledge. But according to united Nation report (1999) say

that ICT covers internet services provision, telecommunication

equipment and services, information technology equipment and

services, media and broadcasting, libraries and documentation

centres, commercial information providers, Network-based information

services and other related information and communication activities.

UNESCO (2002) studies on the stages of teaching and learning using

ICT facilities, the report draw out some broad stages in the way

student and teacher learn about and gain confidence in the use of ICT.

These stages are discovering, learning how, understanding how and

when, and specializing in the use of ICT tools. It described discovering

stage as a link to the emerging approach in the ICT development,

which the impact of teaching, learning and research using ICT has not

been quantified and the implication is that technology is still not fully

explored and hence no research in the classroom is been done.

Learning how to use ICT tools, in this stage where learners and

teachers begin to make use of ICT tools in different disciplines and this


                                52
is linked to the applying approach in the ICT development that in most

development. This study therefore discovered that in most developing

countries, tertiary institutions are generally at this stage, common

application of ICT includes editorial work and internet. Actual research

on how students learn and use ICT tools has just begun in most

institutions. The third stage, understanding how and when to use ICT

tools to achieve particular purposes. The ability to recognize situation

where ICT will be helpful choosing the most appropriate tool for a

particular task, and using these tools in combination to solve real

problems. In study, an example was cited using Excel by students to

plot graphs of statistical data generated from a classroom exercise.

This stage is linked with infusing and transforming approaches in the

ICT development. The last stage in the study is specializing in the use

of ICT tools, here students study ICT as a subject to become

professional as opposed to the general knowledge in the use of ICT

where courses are supposed to be handled together with basic ICT

tools associated with it. The above four stages are closely related and

do provide a framework or a model for an ICT curriculum. Teachers

expertise is finely tuned to the teaching and learning setting, what is

flexing and responding to the introduction of digital technologies. They

further lamented that integration of ICT with teaching and learning

activities support knowledge building and consolidation and application

to new contexts. Although ICT can be adapted to different needs, its


                               53
exploitation    is     limited    by    forceful     constraints‟.   These     include

resourcing, technical and classroom management issues. They

concluded      that        success     relies   on    exploiting     dynamic    visual

representations as a reference point in order to exchange ideas,

negotiate meanings, build knowledge, and restructure problems. A

supportive classroom culture is characterized by structured activities

and interactions which promote teachers insights into teachers

thinking and vice versa. These incorporate proactive and responsive

guidance that continually assesses and accommodates learners

various and shifting needs.


In concrete terms, ICT enhances teaching and learning through its

dynamic, interactive, flexible and engaging content. It provides real

opportunities        for    individualized      instruction.   Further   more,    the

application of ICT enhances and facilitates teachers pedagogical

activities. For instance, e-learning is one most common means of

using ICT to provide education to students both on and off campus by

means of on-line teaching offered via web based system (Yusuf, 2005;

Mutula, 2003). Abifarin, (2003) asserted that the Nigeria educational

system cannot afford to ignore the potentials of ICT for its continued

survival, because no other delivering model or medium can cope with

demand for up-to-date information and ideas across the world. The up-

to-date training facilities depend to a very large extent on the ability to

harness ICT as a source of knowledge and man power development.

                                         54
However, according to Finger, Russell, Jamieson Proctor and Russell,

2006, p.17) says without adequate infrastructure and technical support

meaningful ICT learning experiences by students might not happen at

all. Similarly, training and professional development for teacher in ICT

use needs to be effective.


2.10.8 ELEMENTS OF ICT


Hess, Leal (2001), reported that four elements of ICT are

distinguished.


   a. Equipment or hardware: physical devices, such as personal

      computers and mobile phones.

   b. Content/data/information/subject matter: Thing to be learned

      and to be learned about.

   c. Connectivity:   communication    infrastructures     which   enable

      data/content to be passed between and shared by the users of

      hardware devices.

   d. Software which control and functions and operation of the

      hardware and communications and allow data/content to be

      manipulated by users of hardware devices. Software is

      increasingly built into (embedded in) hardware but may also be

      passed between devices (just as though it is data) and then

      used by them to allow new or better functionality.




                                 55
This is of course a much simplified picture: for other purposes it is

useful to distinguish many more separate categories. Educational

software is any combination of content and software used for

educational purposes. For each of the four categories, there is or

maybe both a general and an application (education) specific

subcategory, with overlaps between them of these categories, content

is the most important, the rest are means of improving its effectiveness

and delivering. ICT provides many different modes of and tools for

information processing, including calculation, text/word processing,

spreadsheets, Databases, graphics, animation, sound, communication

(e-mail), dissemination, information retrieval and virtual reality.


2.10.9         USES OF COMPUTERS


The use of computer and its application areas are


   a) E-Marketing: This can simply be defined as achieving marketing

         objectives through use of electronic communications technology.

         It involves moving elements of marketing strategies and

         activities to a computerized networked environment such as the

         internet. It is the strategic process of creating, distributing,

         promoting and pricing goods and services to a target market

         over the internet or through digital tools.

   b) E-Banking: Internet banking or online banking is a term used for

         performing transactions, payments etc over the internet through


                                    56
a bank‟s secure website. Example is the automated money

   transfer (ATM).

c) Health Service: The automatic monitoring of patient records,

   diagnosis and therapy administration has been made easy with

   the use of computers. The auto Doctors, magnetic resonance

   scanners and computerized axial tomography are inventions

   brought about by the use of computers.

d) E-Business: Electronic business is conducting business on the

   internet. It includes buying, selling, servicing customers and

   collaborating with business partners via internet.

e) E-Entertainment/Re-creation:         The    internet   offers    host   of

   entertainment such as games, music, sports. The presence of

   film   industry     on   the    internet   along   side   with    various

   entertainment and News websites makes the internet an avenue

   for catching fun.

f) Education: Computers can be used in education in the following

   ways

     i.   On-line Education: This term encompasses any kind of

          learning that is done exclusively online. At times the

          learning is through free self study website e.g. WEBCT.

    ii.   Application Packages: Computer aided instruction (CAI)

          and computer aided learning (CAL) has tremendously




                                  57
reduced the work load of teachers and increased students

              successes.


Internet resources that are used in education includes


  i.    E-Mails (Electronic mail): This is the exchange of electronic

        messages and computer files between computers that are

        connected to the internet or other computer network. E-mail can

        be used by students to communicate with lecturers, teachers

        and colleagues.

 ii.    Virtual Library: This is one of the best ways of getting library

        information via the internet.

 iii.   World Wide Web (www): This is a hypermedia based system for

        browsing internet sites. It is called the web because it is made

        up of many sites linked together; students can travel from one

        site to another by clicking on hyperlinks.

iv.     Usenet: This is the discussion groups on the internet that talks

        about specific topics. A newsgroup is a repository, usually within

        the Usenet system where students can post educational topics

        for discussion.

 v.     File Transfer: This is the transfer of files, software‟s etc between

        a host and remote computers.

vi.     Data Conferencing: This is a communication session in which

        two or more participants are sharing computer based data in

        real time. Any participants keyboard/mouse can control screens

                                  58
of other participants. Voice mail or voice communication can be

        out of band using a totally separate voice connected or in- band

        using a simultaneous voice and data technology.

vii.    Video Conferencing: It involves the using of a computer, video

        camera and network such as internet to conduct a live

        conference between two or more people (students and

        lecturers/teacher). Video Conferencing is an extremely useful

        method of communication because it saves people the time and

        expense of travel and can often accomplish many of the things a

        physical meeting can. A two person video conference is known

        as point to point, while more than two people involved in a

        session is a multipoint conference.

viii.   Teleconferencing/Web cast: This is the use of electronic

        channels to facilitate real time communication among groups of

        people at two or more locations. Teleconferencing is a generic

        term that refers to a variety of technologies and application

        including audio-conferencing, audio graphic, video-conferencing,

        data conferencing, business, television and distance learning or

        distance education.

 ix.    Gopher: Gopher is a distributed document search and retrieval

        system. It takes a request for information and then scans the

        internet for it.




                                 59
2.11 ICT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN UK


The use of ICT in secondary school has a recent but relatively fast

moving history in the school curriculum in the UK. In the early to

middle 1960s, computers were rarely seen in the schools and few

teachers had any formal training. With the increased availability of

computers at the end of the 1970s, computer studies examinations

courses became popular and were taught in specialist computer rooms

(DES, 1990s). Boyd Barrett (1991) argued that the interest was

restricted to male teachers of science and mathematics departments.

It was with the introduction of microcomputers in the 1980s, that it

became possible to introduce computers into individual classrooms to

support the curriculum. However, it was the introduction of national

curriculum in 1990 that established a need for computers in the school

curriculum. Pupils/students were required to use computers for their

lessons to communicate and handle information, design, develops,

explore and explore models of real or imaginary situations and

measure and control physical variables and movement (DES, 1990b).


The latest National curriculum document for design and technology (D

& T) highlights the compulsory nature of computer- aided design and

manufacture (CAD/CAM) in secondary schools as an integral part of

designing and making (DFEE, QCA, 1999). Similarly, the postgraduate

certificate of education (PGCE) students to gain qualified teachers

status (QTS) must demonstrate by the end of their courses that they

                              60
have achieved all the „Standard‟ required on courses of initial teacher

training (DFEE,1998). These include knowledge and understanding of,

and competence with ICT in the subject to enable them to decide

when the use of ICT is appropriate and effective to achieve their

teaching objectives.


2.12 ICT AND SECONDARY EDUCATION


Secondary        education   is   concerned     with   acquiring    additional

knowledge,       behavioral and other         skills. Possession     of basic

knowledge, skills and attitudes will be assumed. Presentation of the

intellectual content will be ICT-based and largely under the control of

the pupil/student. It will involve studying subjects and skills in greater

depth. The aim will be to enable each learner to maximize their

individual potential in individual subjects. It will be concerned with

building on those, so that learners acquire further knowledge and skills

according to their aptitudes, needs and preferences. Posen and

Michelle (1995).


Education and training are fundamental to achieving priorities for the

Nigerian economy in the twenty-first century. All Nigerians need to be

“enterprising,     innovative,    adaptable     and    socially    responsible

participants in the information economy‟‟ and Nigeria will be at a

serious disadvantage in the global knowledge economy if it fails to

produce workers, professionals and managers. With the skills to work


                                   61
in the online environment (National Office of the Information Economy,

1999, p.11). These national views also are reflected in the Nigerian

Curriculum framework.


To meet this challenge, the Nigeria government has invested on

information technology in schools. However, increased spending on

ICT in schools does not necessarily quarantee improved teaching and

learning environments and improved student‟s outcomes. [Centre for

Research on information technology and organization, 1999, EDNA,

1999a; While, 1999]. Education has a poor history of successfully

meeting the challengers of shifts in information technology (Trinidad,

1998). There has been far too little research into the implementation

and   educational   benefits   of    technology   rich   school   learning

environments. Therefore, this research as part of the larger study is

investigating on the impact of continuing professional development of

teachers in ICT on the secondary school students, as well as the

attitudes of students to using ICT in learning food science. Preston

(1998) describes some of the information technology (IT) products that

would be used in the classroom of the future to include electronic

whiteboards, which teachers can use to write on the board in the

conventional method while integrating with the computer at the same

time; delivery of lesson notes in the form of interactive presentations,

which will be projected onto the whiteboard incorporating video

animation and sound; and liquid crystal display LCD projectors, which

                                62
will be used in a similar way to project video images and live television

programmes. The white board helps students to develop cognitive

skills, enables ICT use to be more integrated into classroom, allow text

and images to be moved around the board and/ or changed, and

finally allows work to be saved or to be printed out (Gage, 2006).

Similarly, detachable LCD displays from laptop computers will be used

to give presentations using an overhead projector. To achieve the

effective use of these tools, scholars must learn or improve on the use

of the new set of skills associated them, such as strategies to search

for relevant materials skills in evaluating the quality of documents

found, knowledge of such web design skill in using discussion forum

and chat rooms and a basic understanding of how to send e-mail

attachment(Lacey, 1999 quoted in Ojedokun and Owolabi 2003).The

classroom of the future should have a mobile furniture i.e. tables with

mounted wheels and rolling chairs. This mobility of furniture allows the

students to see the fixed interactive white board and also makes

possible to change direction of teaching and gives students more

surface to work in groups. This classroom of the future promotes not

only a sense of well being and produces a home-like atmosphere and

its interior is technically well equipped and designed for effective

teaching. Jervis and Steeg (2000) discussed the use of internet in

secondary schools in British schools to support teaching and learning.




                                63
2.13 TEACHING AND LEARNING STYLES AND ICT


People have preferred styles of learning. For example, some people

prefer to read or listen while others like a highly visual approach.

Research [Carbo, 1986; campell and Campbell, 1999] continues to

show what when learners are able to use their own particular styles of

learning and processing information on their motivation, initiative and

result improve.


People have preferred ways of absorbing, processing, and retaining

information (schunk, 2000) Not synonymous with academic ability, this

preference is called learning or cognitive styles. The term learning

styles or cognitive style are often used interchangeable (James and

Garduer, 1995). Gregore (1982a) defines learning styles as the way

that people perceive, sort, absorb, process and retain information.

Within and Good enough (1981) elaborated that cognitive styles are

individual differences in how people process information. Similarly,

James and Garduer (1995) defined learning style as “the ways

individual learners react to overall learning environment” (p.19). While

Dunn and Dunn (1993) added that both biological and environment

characteristics contribute to a student‟s learning style.


Teacher centered learning approaches often our passive reception of

knowledge, whereas learner centered approaches encourage a

process of active inquiry. Learners are best motivated to learn when


                                 64
they can take responsibility for their own learning as it is an active

process.


Interactive technologies encourage active learning and with the

increased popularity of computers, today‟s students are learning with

technology, as opposed to learning about technology. Schweizer,

1999; Nelson, 2001) show, teachers can provide powerful learning

opportunities through ICT when students are responsible for their own

learning and are active learners defining their learning needs; finding

information on their own knowledge base and communicating their

discoveries. These ICT (computers) need to be carefully designed,

giving thought to the different learning styles of students and the way

in which students learning. In the information age, the implication of a

move from teacher- centered to learner centered education are that it

is important for students to be able to analyze and synthesize

enormous amount of information, thus determining what should be

learned, how it will be learned and when it will be learned.


The specific ICT competencies refer to the special skills a teacher

trainee acquires in other to enhance the quality of the teaching and

learning that takes place in the school. The special skills cannot be

acquired without the general abilities, and the general abilities are not

of much benefit if the teacher does not possess specific skills for

applying ICTs in his teaching activities. Studies in ICT development in

both developed and developing countries identify at least four broad

                                65
approaches through which ICTs could be adopted for teacher training

and professional development.




 EMERGING      APPLYING              INFUSING        TRANSFORMING




Model depicting a continuum of approaches to ICT application for

teacher training and development


The continuum model above indicates that the skills of teacher trainee

flow from the emerging to the applying into the infusing and then

culminates in the transforming processes of the educative activities

which takes place in schools. The Emerging approach is the first stage

of ICTs skills development in teachers, here the focus is on

appreciation of technical functions, components and general uses of

ICTs, especially for education and training. This approach tends to be

theoretical and the practical components involves the personal use of

ICT such as the use of word processing to prepare worksheets,

locating information on CD-ROMs or on the internet, or communicating

with friends and family via e-mail. The emphasis here is on training of

teachers in a range of tools and applications, and increasing teachers‟

awareness of the opportunities for applying ICT to their teaching in the

future.




                                66
The next level of the continuum model emphasizes the application of

ICTs to teachers‟ subject areas. In the applying approach, teachers

use ICT for professional purposes, focusing on improving their subject

teaching   especially   in      science   subject   (Physics,   Chemistry,

Mathematics, Biology, Geography etc) in order to enrich how they

teach with a range of ICT applications. This approach often involves

teachers in integrating ICT to teach specific subject skills and

knowledge; beginning to change their methodology in the classroom;

and support their training and professional development. The infusing

approach involves the inclusion of ICT in all aspects of teacher‟s

professional lives in such ways as to improve student learning and the

management of learning processes. The approach supports active and

creative teachers who are able to stimulate and manage the learning

of students, integrating a range of preferred learning styles and uses

of ICT in achieving their goals. The infusing approaches other subjects

into project based curricula.


Transforming teaching through ICTs involves teachers and other

support staff in the school system regarding ICT as a natural part of

everyday life of the system that they begin to look at the processes of

teaching and learning science in new ways. The emphasis changes

from a teacher-centric to a learner-centric system where the teachers

is seen as a „guide by the side, rather than sage on the stage‟, helping

students as the facilitator of their learning experiences to construct

                                  67
new learning paradigms out of the various offerings that the school

   makes available to them. This shift in emphasis in learners need also

   calls for new training needs on the part of the teachers, where they

   would be imbued with such components of knowledge that prepares

   them to annex the potentials of ICTs in sourcing and disseminating

   information to their students.


   2.14 TEACHER TRAINING IN NIGERIA


   The initial teacher training process and the continuing professional

   development of Nigerian teachers is currently besotted by a number of

   changes. These are directly connected with the incessant modification

   of the planning policies several times before such policies have been

   appropriately implemented in its original form. These problems have

   been further accentuated by the parlous state of economic

   development, which has made „teaching‟ a less desirable profession

   for many youth.


   The NPE (1977, revised 1998, 2005) provided the objectives of

   teacher education in Nigeria as follows:


 To provide highly motivated, conscience and efficient classroom

   teachers;

 To encourage further the spirit of enquiry and creativity in teachers;

 To help teachers commitment to the teaching profession.




                                    68
However, many researchers have noted that these „lofty‟ objectives

have scarcely been met (Okebukola, 2002; Isyaku, 2002; Ukeje, 2002

& Afemikhe, 2004). For instance, the same policy document provided

that the Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) shall be the minimum

qualification of teachers in any level of education system (NPE, 1997,

revised 1998, 2005; p.33), but the reality is completely at variance with

this provision. According to the Situations and policy Analysis jointly

published by the UNICEF and the Federal Government of Nigeria

(1993) the Teachers Grade II certificate is still found among the

qualification of teachers in Nigerian primary schools, in many states in

Nigeria. Also, with the launching of the Universal Basic Education

(UBE) scheme in 1999, when it was found that there exists an

inadequacy in the number of available teachers for the compulsory

basic education scheme for Nigerian school children.


   The National Teachers Institute (NTI) was required to introduce the

Pivotal Teachers Training Programme (PTTP) to train a cadre of

teachers for qualification much lower than the NCE and the teachers

Grade II Certificate to cater for the shortage in supply of primary

school teacher needed to met the demands of the demands of the

UBE scheme (NTI, 2004; Tahir, 2001). Amidst this obvious inadequacy

of teacher in sufficient number and quality, Ukeje (2002) echoed the

fact that teachers are the foundation of quality in the school; it is upon

their number, their quality, their effectiveness, their efficiency, and their

                                  69
education, that depend the quality of the educative process and the

education system.


   Whatever is needed in the society is always made a central part of

the school curriculum, so that learners can jointly and severally proffer

potent and innovative solutions to social challenges. But this can only

be meaningful and successful if we have the right caliber of teachers.

All existing teacher education programmes in Nigeria, Diploma in

Education, Bachelor of Education, postgraduate Diploma in Technical

education and the Nigeria Certificate in Education, all have three major

components (Afemikhe, 2004).


   These are, to wit, the Foundations of education (Historical,

Psychological, Sociological, Philosophical and Religious Foundations);

Pedagogy courses (classroom Management, Curriculum Design &

Development, Counseling, Design & Construction of Methodology,

Measurement & Evaluation, Counseling, Design & Construction of

Instructional Aids, etc.); and teaching Subjects under the broad

categorizations-science, arts, social sciences. In addition, there is

usually a teaching practice exercise whose duration varies across

institutions. This is what the teacher training model looks like in a

Nigerian Teaching education institution. This model is rather restrictive

in the sense that it fails to take into cognizance the burgeoning

possibilities of information and communication technologies in the

teacher production process. Compounding the issues related to

                                70
teacher training as discussed above is the changing social context of

the 12st century that has placed a huge demand on teachers to

become facilitators of knowledge acquisition in remote fields which do

not have direct link with their primary professional training. The

convergence of information and communication technologies (ICTs)

has turned the whole world into a global village, making it possible to

foster interaction with people in remote geographical locations of the

world at previously unimaginable speed.


The phenomenon has also shortened the turn around period of

knowledge such that „knowledge becomes obsolete almost as soon as

it is required or learnt‟. The result of this development is that teachers

are now challenged to be at the cutting-edge of knowledge production,

modification and application. A view which has been further

emphasized by the ubiquitous forces of globalization that has made it

necessary to interact with diverse socio-cultural practices, sometimes

at the expense of local cultural influences. More than ever before, the

knowledge and capability for          information and communication

technologies have become a common denominator in all human

interactions. However, the school system in Nigeria, at all levels,

seems to have been left behind in this interactivity. The entire school

curriculum require urgent overhauling and / or enrichment, to equip

participants in the education system with the knowledge, skills and

attitude for understanding and appreciating the content and structure

                                71
of ICTs. This responsibility for this social reorientation lies heavily on

the shoulders of the members of the teaching cadre. UNESCO (2002)

also indicated that keeping pace with technological development and

the changing competencies required of both students and their

teachers requires a state-of-the-art curriculum and appropriate teacher

development. Consequently, the teaching force in Nigeria would need

to be imbued with the rudimentary skills for applying ICTs and

products of technology in their teaching assignments to foster greater

intellectual understanding.


2.15 THE CHALLENGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGIES


Across Africa and most developing countries of the world, Nigeria

inclusive there are a deluge of challenges confronting the application

of ICTs in teacher training and in the educative process in general.

These challenges include ICT in teacher infrastructures (in terms of

facilities and competent staff); lack of information and information

illiteracy in teachers and teacher trainers-technophobia; poor or

nonexistent internet connectivity; inadequate learning resources

including related educational tools, course curriculum and other

learning materials; attitude of teacher-trainees and teacher trainers

which indicates a gross lacking in independent learning skills and

reluctance to take responsibility for their own learning; software license

and highly prohibitive costs associated with the; maintenance and

                                72
technical support as well as poor power supply in most parts the

developing regions of the world, a problem that is peculiar to Nigeria in

particular. Countries must be able to benefit from technological

developments. To be able to do so, a cadre of professionals has to be

educated with sound ICT backgrounds, independent of specific

computer platforms or software environments. From the foregoing it is

distressing to observe that Nigeria and many other countries in Sub-

Saharan Africa fall below expectations regarding the use of ICTs in

general and particularly in instructional/learning activities. The disparity

in access to information and communications technology in Africa is

occasioned by many diverse problems, including, low bandwidth for

internet access, lack of funds to embark on full scale computerization,

irregular supply of power, inadequate functional telephone lines and

other infrastructural facilities needed to support the efficient and

effective introduction and development of the technology. Nigeria is

also short of manpower for effective utilization of software and for

maintenance. Qualified programmers, engineers and technicians are

equally difficult to find and when they are found, the (public) education

sector cannot afford to retain them, as competition from the private

sector is fierce. This lack of manpower breeds a compendium of other

problems. Teachers can only pass on skills and ideas to the learners,

if they are masters of their trade, and they are at the cutting-edge of

knowledge     and      developments     in   their   disciplines.   This   is,


                                 73
unfortunately not the case here in Nigeria, most teachers at all sectors

of the education system have minimal or no ICT skills and hardly use

existing opportunities to develop them. But this generation cannot

survive the challenges posited by the contemporary social realities

with this level of ignorance, technophobia and information paranoia of

the teaching force. This development, therefore calls for a rethinking of

the strategies that are adopted for teacher production in order to

enhance the drive towards sustainable development.


2.16   FACTORS      CONTRIBUTING         TO    USING     ICT   IN   THE

CLASSROOM


According to Cox, Preston and Cox (1999), there are number of

factors which have been identified which might influence and support

teachers in using ICT in the classroom. In order to investigate these

factors further in relation to teachers‟ ICT use, the study make use of

technology acceptance model TAM developed by Davis, Bagozzi and

Warshaw (1989) which was an adaptation of theory of reason action

by Ajzen and Fisbein (1980) to investigate the reason why teachers

use ICTs. Their model, shown in Figure 1, links the perceived

usefulness and case of use with attitude towards using ICT and actual

use (system use). They tested this model with 107 adult users, who

had been using a managerial system for 14 weeks. They found that

people‟s computer use was predicted by their intentions to use it and

that perceived usefulness was also strongly linked to these intentions.

                                74
Perceived
            usefulness


External                  Attitude          Behavioural          Actual
Variables                 Towards           Intention to         System use
                                            use
                          use

            Perceived
            ease of use




     Figure 1 – Technology acceptance model (TAM) (Davis, Bagozzi and

Washaw, 1989)


     External variables


     In TAM, the external variables represent the many influences on

     teachers which come from outside their sphere of control. These will

     include:


     The requirement of a national curriculum or national guidelines; the

     changes in society with the rapid growth in the uses of the Internet and

     ICT in general; school policies on using on using ICT; opinions of

     colleagues; responsibilities of the teacher; pressure from parents and

     students; the influence of the local education authority. Although these

     have been identified as very important by a number of research

                                     75
studies, in leading teachers to understand the need for change and to

question their professional practice, discussed earlier, only a few could

be investigated within the scope of the project. The main focus of this

research is how teachers perceive ICTs contribution to teaching and

learning. These factors come within Davis et al‟s perceived usefulness

and perceived ease of use components.


2.17 PERCEIVED EASE OF USE


From pervious studies there are a number of factors which have been

identified which relate to the perceived ease of use of ICT, which in

our case is for experienced practicing ICT/IT users. The Impact project

(Watson, 1993) and other studies identified a wide range of skills and

competencies which teachers felt they needed in order to find ICT

easy to use. Some of these are given in Table 1 below.


Table 1- Positive and negative factors influencing perceived ease of

use


 Positive Factors                 Negative Factors

 Regular use and experience Difficult more technical support

 of ICT outside the classroom

 Ownership of a computer          Need more technical support

 Confidence in using ICT          Not enough time to use ICT

 Easy to control the classroom Is too expensive to use regularly



                                76
Easy to think of new lesson Insufficient access to the resources

 ideas

 Can get help and advice from Restricts the content of the lessons

 colleagues

Source: Cox, Preston & Cox, (1999).


2.18 PERCEIVED USEFULNESS


If teachers see no need to question or change their professional

practice according to TAM then they are unlikely to adopt the use of

ICT. However, if they ICT to be useful to them, their teaching and their

students‟ learning, then according to the empirical evidence of

pervious studies (Cox, Preston and Cox, 1999) they are more likely to

have a positive attitude to use of ICT in the classroom. In the review of

literature a number of factors which will contribute of teachers‟

perceived usefulness of ICT were identified. Some of these factors are

given in Table in 2 below.


Table 2- Positive and negative factors influencing perceived

usefulness


 Positive Factors                     Negative Factors

 Make     my    lessons      more Makes my lessons more difficult

 interesting

 Make     my    lessons      more Make my lessons less fun



                                 77
diverse

 Has        improved        the Reduces pupils‟ motivation

 presentation of materials for

 my lessons.

 Gives me more prestige             Impairs pupils‟ learning

 Makes     my     administration Restricts the content of the lessons

 more efficient

 Gives me more confidence           Is not enjoyable

 Makes the lessons more fun         Takes up too much time




2.19 ADVANTAGES OF ICT TO SCIENCE


Science is a foundation which the bulk of present technological

development is built.     Through its application, man ensures the

longetivity of his existence through various discoveries, innovations

and inventions that have improved the quality of lives of mankind. The

prestige, political power and economic survival of any nation resides in

its level of scientific activities. Developed nation of the world are so

called based on their advancement and growth in science and

technology. For Nigeria to be at par with the developed nations of the

world, there is need to make science more ensure its effective

teaching and learning in our schools.




                               78
Modem science curricular stresses students‟ involvement in science

activities and teachers use of pedagogy that moves always from

teacher dominated to student centered. Also, this age is witnessing the

use of ICT in teaching/learning process. Computers are important to

ICT. For a developing countries like Nigeria, computers have become

deeply involved in many areas of human life than any other dominant

technology literacy in our educational system has been considered

imperative    (Abimbade,      1997;     Akudolu,2002;     Oludipe,2004).

Abimbade, (1997) was of the view that the use of computer as

instructional tools permit self-pacing by learners provide remedial

instruction for those who need it, and support learner‟s exploration of

all aspects of knowledge that is of interest. Badmos, (2004) benefits

that ICT enable learners to absorb more information with a short time

limit. Infact, there is a widespread belief that ICT can empower

teachers and learners, transforming teaching and learning process

from being highly teacher dominated to students centered and this

information will result in increased learning gains for students, creating

and allowing for opportunities for learners to develop their creativity,

problem-solving abilities, informational reasoning skills, communication

skills and other high thinking skills. (Trucano, 2005).


 2.20 STUDIES ON TEACHERS USES OF ICTS


Previous studies into teacher use of ICTs have identified staff

development as one of the contributing factors in using ICT effectively

                                 79
in the classroom. McCartney (2004) gave a report on an investigation

into effective staff development in ICT for teachers. A sample of

Scottish primary school teachers have been surveyed to investigate

the impact of different models of staff development in ICT on the

teachers and to explore the knowledge and skills gained by teachers

from   staff   development:   technical;   academic    /content-related;

pedagogy. The results indicate the need for a much greater emphasis

to be placed on the pedagogy of ICT. This should be of interest to all

involved in teacher education and the continuing professional

development of teachers. Mosley et al. (1999 in UNESCO 2004), in a

study of primary school teachers known to be achieving either average

or above average gains on measures of relative attainment by pupils,

that focused on pedagogy using ICT. Observation showed that the

successful teachers were those who used examples and counter

examples and involve students in explaining and modeling in the

class. Teachers who favored ICT were likely to have well –develop ICT

skills and to see ICT as an important tool for learning and instruction.

They were also likely to value collaborative working, enquiry and

decision making by students. Teacher‟s pedagogical approaches are

in turn affected by a number of key factors. First, they are affected by

knowledge of their own subject. There is a clear distinction between

teachers who choose ICT resources to fit within a particular topic who

choose resources merely to present pupil‟s work in a new way, without


                               80
any direct application to the topic. The evidence shows that when

teachers use their knowledge both the subject and also how the

student understand with their use of ICT have more direct effect on

students‟ attainments. Cox et al., (1999) report findings of small project

funded by the Teachers Training Agency and Oracle through the

MirandaNet project, set up to investigate the factors which have

contributed to the continuing use of ICT by experience ICT and ICT

teachers in their teaching. Evidence has been collected through a

literature search, teacher‟s questionnaires, teachers‟ reports and

interviews. The factors which have found to be most important to these

teachers in their teaching were; making the lesson more interesting,

easier and more fun to them and their pupils, more diverse, more

motivating for the pupil and more enjoyable. Additionally, more

personal factors were improving presentation of materials,


Allowing greater access to computers for personal use, giving more

power to the teachers in the school, giving the teacher more prestige,

making the teacher‟s administration more efficient and providing

professional support through the internet. Gray and Souter (2004) in a

study of secondary science teachers use of ICT conducted in America

focuses on the data from one aspect of the use of ICT in secondary

subject areas, and the perception of teachers in these areas. A

comparison of science teachers‟ perception is made with teacher from

other disciplines. Although the responses of biology teachers could be

                                81
analyzed the number s in the study were quite small overall so a

general view is taken across the three science disciplines of biology,

chemistry and physics. Examination of the data indicated that, relative

to other subject teachers, science teachers came out positively with

regards to use and confidence in ICT. However, in absolute terms and

although the availability of computing facilities were reportedly quite

high, actual level of use was quite low. In addition, where level of use

was higher, it was with regard to a rather narrow range of applications,

particularly word-processing. In addition, little was reported in the way

of pupil use of ICT in science, teachers‟ classes. Although there

appeared to be an ICT radically changing the way in which teaching

took place, nor changing the teacher-student relationship. Science

teachers were reasonably confident in their use of ICT but felt that

they needed much more in the way of support and professional

development to maximize their use of ICT in the classroom. The

Gordon University Aberdeen (2004) in a study conducted in Scotland

on teachers ICT skills and knowledge need reported that the use of

ICT is relatively low and is focused on a fairly narrow range of ICT.

Word processing is the predominant use made of ICT in the primary

and secondary schools. There is some use of externally produced

software in both sectors and secondary teachers tend to use a boarder

range of generic packages such as spreadsheets and DTP than do

primary teachers. There is very little use of internet and WWW or e-


                                82
mail by either primary or secondary teachers, despite the fact that the

majority of secondary schools have access to the internet. Resources

such as video conferencing and network computer conferencing are

rarely used. The study further revealed that primary teachers use ICT

primarily to support classroom practice; secondary teachers use it as

much or more for professional development and use personal use in

the classroom. Teachers are using ICT throughout the curriculum but

and attitude varies in secondary schools between subject areas.

Mathematics and science teachers use ICT relatively little while,

amongst non-computing teachers, ICT is used most by teachers of

business and management subjects.


2.21 COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING AND EDUCATION


CAI is about breaking down of information and skills into small pieces.

It is one of the newest instructional innovations for the learning

environment from the points of view of taught, it is fast becoming a

valuable educational resources. CAI is a general term used to

describe virtually any learning activity that is promoted by a computer

or in which a computer is involved (Beach, 1983; Hudsan 1984; Barter

and Yeata 1985) Hardly and Bostrum, for example have investigated a

number of important factors relating to the use of CAI in secondary

schools. Johnson (1985) has described similar studies relating to the

teaching of language development. CAI is schools within the UK has

been positively influenced by the       government microelectronics

                               83
education programme (Gilbert, 1982). CAI satisfied many of the

theoretical requirement for a good learning environment advanced by

leading psychological theorists such as B. F Skinne (1968). It involves

the individual actively in the learning process, which supposedly

facilitates learning (Mckenzle, Elton and Lewis, 1978). The research

finding indicated support for CAI as an effective tool in improving

learning while reducing the amount of time required for learning to

occur. The use of CAI was found to favorably affect students attitudes

towards the use of the computer in general.


However, computer assisted learning is very similar to the experiential

mode of learning. In experiential learning, seldom takes place by role

because students immerse themselves in a situation in which they are

forced to perform. But with CAI, several experimentation are collected

on the course software package to understand the concepts and

techniques. (as in physics and chemistry). Before using the software,

students will be asked to do a simple problem by hand without the aid

of a software. Then use the software to see in what format the

software provides the solution. Larger and problematic topics which

are hard to be handled by hand can be solved by CAI. In using CAI, it

involves tell me and I will forget, show me and I might remember. But

involve me and I will understand.




                               84
2.22 COMPUTER ASSISTED TEACHING AND EDUCATION


In recent years, computer assisted instruction and computer assisted

teaching techniques has proved to be quite successful, whether in the

classroom or for individual learning. Various computer programs help

students learn writing, maths, science, English and those in the form of

games help motivate students while keeping them interested in what

they are doing.


Teaching using computers at secondary school level has many virtues,

it is patient, positive, does not forget and can keep reach of each

student‟s progress. Information that help to teach or encourages

instruction can be presented on computers in the form of text or in a

multimedia formats, which includes photographs, videos, animation,

speech and music. The guided drill is a computer program that poses

questions to students, return feedback and select additional questions

based on the students responses. Recent guided drill system

incorporate the principles of education in addition to subject matter

knowledge into the program.


Using multimedia in education results in the increasing productivity

and retention rates because people remember 20% of what they see,

40% of what they see and hear and about 75% of what they see, hear

and do simultaneously.




                               85
Computers also can help student visualize objects that are difficult or

impossible to view for example, computers can be used to display

human anatomy, molecular structures or complex geometrical objects.

Exploration and manipulation of simulated environments can be

accomplished computer assisted teaching technique ranging from

virtual laboratory experiments that may be too difficult, expensive or

dangerous to perform in a school environment             to complex virtual

worlds likes those used in airplane flight simulators.


Computer assisted teaching technique tools, such as word processors,

spreadsheet, and databases, collect, organize, analyze and transmit

information. They also facilitate communication among students,

between students and instructors and beyond the classroom to distant

students, instructors and experts.


Computer assisted teaching techniques system can be categorized

based on who control the progression of the lesson. Early systems

were linear presentations of information and guided drill and control

was directed by the author of the software.


2.23 STUDENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS ICT


      ATTITUDE FORMATION


Much psychological research have been undertaken in the area of

attitude and attitude formation. Common findings in the research

shows that attitude and beliefs are linked, attitude and behavior are

                                86
linked and attitudes are essentially likes and dislikes. Ben (1970)

maintains that our affinities for and aversions to situations, objects,

persons, groups or any other identifiable aspect of our environment,

have roots in our emotions, behavior and social influences upon us.


However, attitude connotes a subjective or mental state of preparation

for action. Attitude finds their roots in our beliefs and they influence our

behavior. They represent the way in which we view the world and

organize our relationships. Attitudes are literally mental postures and

guide for conduct to which each new experiences is referred before a

response is made. Droba (1933) described attitude as a mental

disposition of the human individual to act for or against a definite

object. Krueger and Reckless (1931) defined attitude as a residuum of

experience which conditions and controls further activity. More

research indicates that attitude represents a summary of evaluation of

a psychological object and is described both internally and externally

is dimensions      such as good-bad, likeable-dislikeable, harmful-

beneficial, pleasant-unpleasant (Ajzen and Fishbeins, 2000; Eagly

chaiken 1993).


If students who are approaching an interaction with elements of an

online learning program such as an animation may have already

based their attitude towards the experience on past interactions such

as formal learning situations which incorporate information and

communication technology (ICT) as well as the abundance of such

                                 87
technologies available on a daily basis through media in general. Their

attitude may also be influenced by their perceptions of the

relationships   between    conflicting   dimensions   of   the   visual

representation before them.


Krech, critchfield and livson (1958), describe attitudes as being

comprised of three main components: the cognitive, the affective and

the behavioral. The cognitive component categories the individual‟s

ideas and beliefs regarding an event or object. This cognitive category

must also become associated with pleasant or unpleasant event. This

results in the category becoming charged with meaning and a

behavioral pattern develops. Behavioral pattern may be developed in

the sample towards interaction with technology. The behavioral

component is comprised of beliefs regarding the correct behavior

towards member of a particular category. Over a period of time and

following a series of experiences students develop either favorable or

unfavorable     feelings associated with certain interactions. These

feeling may form the basis of their attitudes towards their own self

conceptualization of the use of ICT as a means of enhancing learning.


According to Markman and Brendl (2000), Human being experience a

positive reaction or attitude towards objects that assist in the

attainment of their personal goals, and negative reactions and

attitudes towards objects that in some way hinder the attainment of

desirable outcomes.

                               88
Student attitude towards ICT emerge through the interaction with

animation utilized for learning. The idea that attitude function to

evaluate psychological objects would appear to imply that individuals

hold only one attitude towards a given object at any one time. Recent

research indicates that this is simplistic and that when attitude change,

the new attitude may override but not completely replace the one

attitude. Wilson et al (2000) suggests that a model of dual attitudes is

a more realistic conceptualization in that people can hold two different

attitudes towards an object at any given time. Wilson et al (2000)

posits that while an individual is capable of interaction with two

different attitudes at once, one can be viewed as implicit while the

other operates more manifestly as explicit in expression. The implicit is

automatically activated when the individual is presented with an

attitude object while the explicit is more likely to require cognitive

effort. Wilson et al (2000) found that implicit attitudes exerted more

influence than explicit attitudes over involuntary non-verbal behavior

signaling discomfort such as excessive blinking, avoidance of eye

contact and spatial distance. During life, expression lead to formation

of many different beliefs about objects, action and events. Some

attitudes may be stable over time, other may exhibit frequent shift.


According to Fishbein and Ajzen (1975), a person‟s attitude towards

an object is primarily determined by no more than five to seen beliefs

that are salient at any given time. But, it appears to be impossible to

                                89
obtain a precise measure of the beliefs that determine an individual‟s

attitudes, since the number of salient beliefs may vary from person to

person. Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) postulated that attitudes are

inextricably linked to and based upon beliefs and evaluate responses

associated with those beliefs. Ajzen and Fishbein (2000) went further

to infer that evaluative responses meaning arises spontaneously and

inevitably as we form beliefs about an object. Each belief associates

the object with a certain attribute which is embedded in context,

culture and memory. According to Havgtevedt (1997) and Miniard and

Barone (1997), beliefs are only one possible influence on attitudes.

Zajonc (1980) had already indicated in earlier research that attitudes

may also be controlled by affective processes. Verplanken et al.

(1998) supported zagonic‟s work who suggests that evaluative

response times were less for those participants being asked how they

attitude object. Verplanken‟s study indicated that the affective aspect

underlying attitudes are more easily accessible in memory and it may

be that these aspects play a larger role in the formation of attitudes

than previously thought.


2.24 STUDENT ATTITUDES AND MULTIMEDIA IN EDUACTION


The theory of planned behavior suggests that when students engage

and interact with a particular program or software element is

influenced by attitudes towards using ICT. However, in the present

stage of ICT-based educational developments, multimedia approaches

                               90
have become an important component of the educational process.

Passing and Levin (2000) provided an in-depth analysis of multimedia

packaged and stated that when using multimedia approaches in

learning, the student does not only study the subject matter, but also

study or deal with the synthetically programmed environment. The

ease of use and the uniformity of the multimedia interface have

significant implications for both leaders and students, since they

provide a platform for higher level of motivation, concentration, and

understanding of the content being studied.


Multimedia is a judicious mix of various mass media such as print,

audio and video or it may mean the development of computer based

hardware and software packages produced on a mass scale and yet

allow individualized use of learning. Fenrich (1997) defined multimedia

as the existing combination of computer hardware and software that

allows you to integrate video, animation, audio, graphics and test

resources to develop effective presentations on an affordable desktop

computer. Philips (1997) say multimedia is characterized by the

presence of text, pictures, sound, animation and video; some or all of

which are organized into some coherent program.


The term multimedia describes a number of diverse technologies that

allow visual and audio media to be combined in new ways for the

purpose of communication, education, entertainment and advertising.

However Neo and Neo (2001) described multimedia as the

                               91
combination of various digital media types (images, sound, video, text)

they complete an integrated multi-sensory interactive application to

present the information to an audience. According to Agnew,

Kellerman and Meyer (1996) multimedia means an individual or a

small group using a computer to interact with information that is

represented in several media, by repeatedly selecting what to see and

hear next. However, using multimedia in education results in the

increasing productivity and retention rates.


In an exclusive interview with some student at sevenoaks senior

college on the use of ICT for learning indicated that with ICT, the

students could access WebCT for course information, WebCT

provides the students with the means to access the course outlines,

objectives, information about assessment and notes for each subject

(IDS4:2001).


Students are able to access the lesson notes and contents ( in cases

where schools have personal site containing a tailored course profile

with direct links to the subjects that apply to them). Students indicated

their enthusiasm about the advantages that ICT (WebCT) provides.

For many subjects, students felt that ICT offered them flexibility,

allowing them to work at their own pace (albeit to a deadline). The

objectives were made clear and the content to be covered was explicit.

Student felt that, if they missed a class, they were in a position to catch

up more easily than a traditional classroom and there was also the

                                 92
option to move ahead if they wished to do so. Some students felt that

ICT reduced the amount of paperwork that needed to be carried from

lesson to lesson, and therefore the likelihood of loosing papers and

notes was also reduced. ICT can be used by a number of students to

communicate with teachers and to email assignment.


Some online courses have been developed, some of which includes

English (related to the analysis of television drama), physics (related to

nuclear physics) using a constructivist frame work (Feynman, 1963;

Kuhn, 1962; Vygotsky, 1962) to support students construction of

knowledge rather than the transmission of knowledge. This tend to

build connections between prior knowledge to form more integrated

understanding,    support   inquiry   activities   and   emphasise    the

collaborative construction of knowledge.


Chemistry software prepared by ETH (Eidgenossiche Technische

Hochschule Zurich/Switzerland) are available through the internet.

This software includes experiments on the subject concepts, which

can be viewed on real player.


2.25 MANAGING STUDENT’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS SCIENCE


Many factors could contribute to student‟s attitude towards studying

science. Slee (1964) indicated that students‟ attitude and interest

could play substantial role among pupils studying science. Several

studies (including Simpson, 1978, Wilson, 1983, Soyibo, 1985) report

                                93
that students‟ positive attitudes to science correlate highly with their

science achievement. Again, Balogun (1975) reported that, in general,

the attitudes of Nigerian students towards the basic sciences tend to

decrease in the order, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.

Defiana (1995) found that using integrated science environment

activities improved high school students‟ attitudes towards and

awareness about the environment. Abimbade (1983) reported that

students exposed to a programmed instruction recorded higher and

more favourable attitude toward mathematics. Aiyelaage (1998) also

reported a more positive attitude of students after exposing them to

self learning strategy. Similar results were obtained by Udousoro

(2000) after using computer and text assisted programmed instruction

and Popoola (2002) after exposing students to a self learning device.


Halladyna and Shanghnessy (1982) have concluded that a number of

factors have been identified as related to students‟ attitude to science.

Such factors includes; teaching method, teacher‟s attitude, influence of

parents, gender, age, cognitive styles of pupils, career interest,

societal view of science and achievement. Studies have revealed the

influence of methods of instruction on students‟ attitude towards

science. Kempa and Dube(1974) worked on the influence of science

instruction; the result was that attitude becomes more positive after

instruction. Long (1981) also concluded that diagnostic-prescriptive

treatment promotes positive attitude. From National Survey (Weiss,

                                94
1987) student attitudes towards school seem to deline as the students

progress through school. Further studies have shown that students

maintain a poor attitude towards school, with that attitude declining

from junior to senior school (Harms, Bybee, and Cages, 1979; Hofstein

and Welch, 1984).


2.26 STUDENTS ATTITUDE TOWARDS MATHEMATICS


Without mathematics there cannot be any meaningful progress in

science and technology. Mathematics plays the backbone role in

science and technology. It is also the foundation upon which science

are built. The pivot around which all science subjects revolves.


However, students attitude towards mathematic can be obtained

through their statements, their performance and general behaviors

towards the subject. Hassan, (1982) discovered in his study that

factors of poor academics performance reside in students, teachers

and home. He said lack of student‟s commitment to and motivation for

the work as reflected by high truancy rate, lack of concentration during

lessons, inability to study well, neglect of assignment and pleasure

seeking attitudes contributes substantially to poor performance and

negative attitude to mathematics. Samson (1987) was of the opinion

that lack of teaching aids, shortage of qualified teachers and poor

teaching method have contributed to students negative attitude to

mathematics. James (1990) carried out a study on the attitude of


                                95
students towards mathematics says students develop hatred due to

       some scientific termindogy, which are in Latin words. He further said

       ineffective method of teaching mathematics; unqualified mathematics

       teachers in schools have influenced student‟s attitude.


       2.27 STUDENTS ATTITUDES TOWARDS CHEMISTRY


       Chemistry is one of the three main branches of pure science. It has

       contributed immersely towards providing our basic need and improving

       the quality of life. One of the objectives of teaching chemistry in our

       secondary as identified by Baja, Taibo, onmu, and obikwere (1999) is

       to provide student with basic knowledge in chemical concepts,

       principles, and adequate foundation for a post secondary course.


       A number of factors are responsible for poor performance of students

       in chemistry. Some of which include


 i.    Inappropriate methology of science delivery.

ii.    Lack of sufficient chemistry equipment and facilities (Jasper, 2006).

iii.   Mathematics concepts involved in chemistry and abstract nature of the

       subject (Nwokoro, 1992).

iv.    Lack of dedication and resourcefulness on the part of science teachers

       (Ogunsola, 1998). Lack of suitable learning environment, student‟s

       attitude towards chemistry, allocation of limited time, the emphasis

       during instruction on solving numerical problems, the confusing nature

       of acid base terminologies, lack of agreement about what should be

                                       96
included in the chemistry curriculum, and emotional state of student

during test and examination (Olatatunde, 2000; Sheppard, 2006).

2.27 BENEFIT OF ICT TO TEACHERS


There is considerable evidence of the impact of ICT on teachers and

teaching. Ruthven, Hennessy and Deaney (2004) eliciting situated

expertise in ICT integrated science teaching identified, documented

and analyzed exemplary cases of a range of teaching practices which

integrate the use of ICT to support the earning of science. This

enabled them to understand how practitioners adapt their expertise

when new technologies are introduced into school settings.


    With ICT, teachers can design lessons around carefully

      controlled situations intended to focus attention on target issues,

      structured according to their assessments of the capacities of

      students to manipulate variables and interpret models or results

      appropriately.

    Teachers use ICT to increase the ease, speed and accuracy

      with which routine tasks could be carried out, helping to focus

      attention on the key ideas, and allowing varied examples and

      possibilities to be considered.

    Teachers ensured that students appreciated ICT mediated

      processes and products, sometimes through probing them to

      analogues „done by hand‟.



                                97
 Teachers exploit the immediate feedback, ready modification

      and dynamic visual presentation afforded by ICT in order to

      make concepts more salient and accessible to students.

    An overwhelming majority of teachers in Europe (90%) use ICT

      to prepare their lessons (Empirica, 2006).

    Teachers use ICT to plan lessons more efficiently and more

      effectively due to a more collaborative approach and the sharing

      of curriculum plans with colleagues and mangers (Higgins,

      2005; Harrison, 2002).

    Effective exploitation of information management systems lead

      to increased and formalized cooperative planning between

      teachers and this has a positive impact on teaching practices

      (Underwood, 2006). However, there is not a positive picture of

      the use of learning management system or visual learning

      environments. They are still under exploited and used

      predominantly for administration purposes (Kessel, 2005;

      Underwood, 2005; Ramboll management, 2006).

    Issuing teachers with their own laptop computer increases

      positive attitudes towards their work (Becta, 2003).

2.28 IMPACT ON LEARNERS


Case studies examined in a study, indicate that relatively few teachers

in the sample offered direct evidence of ICT‟s impact at attainment,

preferring instead to concentrate on it‟s positive effects on behavior,

                               98
motivation, communication and education authorities on the impact of

  the use of interactive white boards in literacy and primary science

  lessons in primary schools found that teachers and pupils were

  positive about this technology, with reports of increased motivation of

  learners. The evaluation show that multimedia and interactive content

  on interactive whiteboards is engaging and motivating and that

  students pay more attention during lessons. Thanks to the stimulating

  nature of the presentation.


 Structured approaches to internet research develop students search

  and research skills which are transferable across the curriculum

  (Becta, 2006).

 Interactive whiteboards make a difference to aspect of classroom

  interaction (Higgins, 2005).

 ICT enhances a more student centered learning approach. ICT allows

  for greater differentiation with programmes tailored to individual

  „students‟ needs. In other words, ICT provides teachers with the

  opportunity to provide various learning tasks within the same

  classroom for the benefit of the individual students. According to the e-

  learning Nordic 2006 study, students work more in cohesion with their

  own learning preferences, resulting in a favorable impact on both

  academically strong and weak students. Students with special needs

  or behavioral difficulties gain in different ways from the use of ICT; ICT




                                  99
supports their motivation and concentration and teachers become

  more aware of students needs and problems.

 The use of ICT and ICT competences had increases in many schools

  together with student‟s motivation, joy of learning and reading skills.

  Norwegian Pilot project reported that students assume greater

  responsibility for their own learning when they use ICT, working more

  independently and effectively.

 With ICT, students receive more tasks and greater insights into

  teacher‟s aims, and are able to work at their own tempo with tasks

  appropriate for their level of study. Through the use of ICT, (Diverse

  learning situations) equip students with range of skills and work

  techniques which make them develop confidence in their own capacity

  to learn, that eventually enables them to perform better in their

  subjects.


  2.29ATTITUDES TOWARDS BIOLOGY AND SCIENCES


        This term attitude towards biology and learning other sciences is

  used to refer to a general and enduring positive or negative feeling

  about science (Koballa and Crawley, 1985). However studies report

  that some students have negative stereotypes of science and scientist;

  they view us as “nerds” or “mad scientists” (Gardner et al, 1989).

  Others describe us as hard, old, frightening and colorless (Brush,

  1979). This beliefs lead to a negative attitude towards science.



                                   100
Uno (1988) reported that students feel biology is not critical to

their lives and as such develop a negative attitude towards the subject.

Savadea      (1976)    said    media     sometimes   presents   scientific

achievements as foreboding, and the media is possibly to blame for

the negative attitudes of students towards science. The grades

students receive also affect their feelings about their feelings about

their ability to understand scientific content and their attitudes toward

science. Low grades decrease students self-esteem and promote

academic retrogress while high grades increase students esteem and

promote academic progress (Gottfried, et al. 1993).


       Attitudes is a key ingredient in how students confront

educational challenges. However, thoughts on why students attitudes

towards biology and other sciences in general is negative is

dependent on a host of factors such as the students past experiences,

sense of competence need to acquire knowledge, motivation, goals,

home backgrounds, school and classroom environments, biases of

peer groups and student‟s perception of rewards associated with

learning. Science anxiety, the fear          of science learning and

apprehension towards scientists and scientists and science related

activities. (Gottfried, et al. 1993).


       Student‟s attitudes towards science decrease with age as

reviewed by (Ramsden, 1998, Osborne, Simon and Collins, 2003)

boys to how more positive attitudes towards science than girls

                                   101
(Simpson and Oliver, 1985, Schibeci and Riley; Obrien and porter,

1994; Francis and Greer, 1999) and more negatives attitudes

associated with the physical sciences rather than biological sciences

(Spall, Stanisstreet, Dickson and Boyes, 2004).


      Attitude towards physic is more negative as age of student

increases (Spall et al, 2004). However, Gardner (1975) reported that

curriculum and teacher‟s also affects attitude of students.




                               102
CHAPTER THREE


                 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY


3.1   INTRODUCTION


In this chapter, the following topics are described. They include: The

research design, population of the study, sampling and sampling

technique, instrumentation, validity of the instrument, reliability of the

instrument; method of data collection, methods of data analysis.


3.2   RESEARCH DESIGN


The study employed descriptive survey method. The method was used

to allow for a vivid description of the impact, continuing professional

development of teachers in information and communication technology

is having on the attitude of secondary school science students to

learning science. However, this method was used to gather data from

a relatively large number of cases at a particular time. (Schreiner and

Sjeberg,S, 2004).


3.3   POPULATION OF THE STUDY


The population of the science students is seven hundred and seventy

two (772) which were drawn from four schools used for the study. New

Horizon college has one hundred and forty three(143) science

students while El-Amin International schools has one hundred and

sixty two (162) science students, Himma International college has a

                                103
record of one hundred and ninety seven (197) science students, lastly

Hill Top model school has 270 science students. Out of this population

five hundred and sixty seven (567) were males and two hundred and

five were females.




                              104
3.4   SAMPLING AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE


The sample size of this study comprised two hundred and forty (240)

senior secondary school science students randomly drawn from four

selected co- educational schools in MInna metropolis, Niger State. 60

science students from each of the selected schools but 20 science

students from each arm. New Horizon College, Himma Int‟l College,

El-Amin Int‟l schools and Hill-Top Model schools were the selected

schools used for this research, where the sample was drawn. The

choice of 60 respondents for each school was purposive in order to

permit the choice of equal number of male and female subject which

are relevant for this study. The researcher in this situation deserves

the   right   to   this   application    as   reported   by Schreinar   and

(Sjeberg,2004).


3.5   INSTRUMENTATION


      The modified questionnaire was designed by the researcher

titled “Impact of continuing professional development of teachers in

information and communication technology on the attitude of

secondary school science students (QICPDTICTASSSS) and was

used for data collection. The questionnaire (instrument) consists of two

sections.      Section     A   request    the   respondent‟s   demographic

information like the name of school, age, class sex. Section B consists

of forty (40) questions of likert type response format in which the


                                  105
respondents were to choose. For positive statements, response s were

   assigned 5, 4, 3, 2, as the scores for choosing strongly agree with

   (SA),     agree(A),     undecided(U),     disagree(D)   and    strongly

   disagree(S.D)respectively, while negative statements were scored in

   the reverse order. 20 of the items favored a positive attitude while 20

   others favored negative attitude.


           In exploring attitudinal construct for the questionnaire, items

   were drawn relating to concepts which are important components of

   the attitudinal measures considered in this research. They include

   attitude towards;


1. Utilization of computers.

2. Likes and dislikes of science subjects.

3. Attitude towards teaching and learning of science subjects.

4. Application of method.

5. Curricular development.

6. Attitude towards handling equipments for practical.

7. Achievement.

8. Interest of students.

9. Career in science.

10.        Motivation for studying




                                     106
PILOT STUDY


   The instrument was pilot tested in the following schools


1. Ahmadu Bahago Senior Secondary School A.

2. Ahmadu Bahago Senior Secondary School B.

These schools where not part of the four schools selected for this studies.

20 students from each of the schools were randomly selected for the pilot

test. The pilot test was carried out in order to establish the reliability of the

instrument. After the test, items that were not responded to or were

seemingly redundant were discarded.


VALIDITY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE


For the purpose of the pilot test, forty-six items were submitted for

validation. Three experts constitutes the supervisory committee. One

supervisor from department of science education, FUT minna, the second

person is my project supervisor and lastly an expert from ICT department

of Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State. After serious

scrutiny, suggestions and modification. Six items were discarded. Forty

items were certified to have content validity.


RELIABILITY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE


   The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained after a pilot study.

Forty items were administered to 20 students (10 from each school) of

SSS Classes of Ahmadu Bahago Senior Secondary School (ABSSS) A


                                     107
and B selected for the pilot study. The instrument was administered to the

students at a sitting. 40 questions were collected and scored. After two

weeks, forty items were re-administered to same 20 students (10

students from each section) at ABSSS A and B. This is known as test and

re-test method. The result obtained was calculated using the Pearson

product moment correlation coefficient. The Pearson product moment

correlation coefficient is 0.89 at 0.05 level of significance. This indicated

that the instrument is reliable.


3.6 PROCEDURE FOR DATA COLLECTION


   The questionnaire was administered to 240 science students (two

hundred and forty students) in four different schools in Minna, Niger state.

Namely; New Horizon College (NHC), El-Amin international school (EL-

AIS), Himma international college (HIC) and Hill-Top Model School

(HTMS) minna. Copies of the questionnaires were administered by

researcher, the Heads of Department, sciences and the computer teacher

of these schools visited and assisted in the distribution of the

questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered to the respondents

through a face to face contact. The purpose of the exercise was

explained to the respondents in each school and maximum co-operation

was sought in completing the questionnaires. After completion, they were

collected immediately from the respondents. 10 questionnaires were not

returned by the respondent (questionnaire mortality).



                                   108
3.7 DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE.


    After the data were collected, the responses were scored to enable the

researcher reduce the information into statistical form. The data was

analyzed using frequency distribution, simple percentage method which

analysis of variance (Anova), Statistic and Scheffe Test, using the Statistical

Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. The following formula was

used to calculate the percentages of both the total agree and total disagree

respectively in respect of research question one which is a qualitative

research question.


                     % agree/disagree=        Total agree/disagree X 100


                                            Grand Total          1




                                      109
CHAPTER FOUR

                       DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS


4.1 INTRODUCTION


         In this chapter, the analysis of the data and the results obtained were

presented. The data was obtained from the scores of the questionnaire

completed by the students (respondents) who constituted the sample for the

study.


4.1 Answering research question one:
The research question states that: What is the attitude of secondary school

students on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in

information and communication technology to learning science.




                                       110
111
Table 4.1 Shows that 43.38% of 230 students had positive attitude on the

impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and

communication technology to learning science while 39.06% had negative

attitude. This represents a total of 3,926 responses of the total students who

agreed on the professional development of teachers‟ impact on ICT to their

attitude and 3,535 who disagreed on its impact on their attitude respectively.


4.2 HYPOTHESIS ONE (HO1)


Hypothesis 1 (HOOne) states that: There is no significant difference between

SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3 students attitude on the impact of continuing

professional development of teachers in information and communication

technology to learning science.


Table 4.2a Anova analysis on the differences between SSS1, SSS2 and

SSS3 on the impact of continuing professional development of

teachers in ICT on the attitude of students learning science.


Source          of Sum       of df       Mean       Fcal    Fcrit   Sign.

Variance           squares               Square                     level

Between groups     6473.517       2      3236.759   8.382* 3.07     0.0001



Within groups      87655.565      227    386.148



Total              94129.083      229




                                        112
Table 4.2a shows the ANOVA analysis on the differences between SSS1,

SSS2 and SSS3 on the impact of continuing professional development of

teachers in ICT on the attitude of students to learning science. From the

table, there is significant difference in their responses (Fcal=8.382>Fcrit

3.07; df 2,227; p<0.05). Therefore HO1 is rejected. Hence there is significant

difference on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT on the attitude of

students to learning science.


      Since Anova shows that there is significant difference in the responses

in the three groups, hence there is need to carry out post hoc test to find out

where the differences lies. Hence the Scheffes Post hoc test will be used for

this purpose.




                                      113
Table 4.2b shows the result of the Scheffes Post hoc test


   (I) (J)       Mean               Sign Level   Remark

                 Difference (I-J)

SSS1         Vs -7.4605             0.068        Not significant

SSS2

SSS1         Vs -12.9367*           0.000        Significant

SSS3

SSS1         Vs -5.4762             0.224        Not significant

SSS3




 From the table, there is no significance difference in the mean response

between SSS1 and SSS2, similarly there is no significant difference in the

mean response between SSS2 and SSS3. However, there is significant

difference in the mean responses between SSS1 and SSS3, this indicate

that the differences in the responses lies between SSS1 and SSS3 on the

impact of CPD of teachers in ICT on the attitude of students learning

science.


4.3 HYPOTHESIS TWO (HO2)


       There is no significant difference between students age groups (13-15

years and 16-18 years) attitude on the impact of continuing professional

development of teachers in information and communication technology to

learning science.



                                       114
Table 4.3 Anova analysis on the difference between students age

groups (13-15 years and 16-18 years) attitude on the impact of CPD of

teachers in ICT to learning science.


Source           of Sum          of df      Mean       Fcal      Fcrit   Sign.

Variance               Squares              square                       level

Between groups         4687.337     1       4687.337   12.091*   3.92    0.001



Within groups          88389.311    228     387.672



Total                  93076.648    229

*significant at 0.05


Table 4.3 shows the Anova analysis on the responses of age groups (13-

15years and 16-18 years) attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to

learning science. From the table, there is significant difference in the mean

responses of the two age groups (13-15 years and 16-18 years). (Fcal

12.091>Fcrit 3.92; df 1, 228; p<0.05). therefore HO2 is rejected. Hence there

is significant difference between the age groups on the impact of CPD of

teachers in ICT on the attitude of students learning science.


4.4 HYPOTHESIS 3 (HO3)


Hypothesis 3 states that there is no significant difference between male and

female students attitude on the impact of continuing professional



                                          115
development of teachers in information and communication technology to

learning science.


Table 4.4, Anova analysis on the responses of male and female

(gender) students attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to

learning science.


Source of Sum           of df          Mean      Fcal     Fcrit     Sign.

Variance      Squares                  square                       level

Between       48.852       1           48.852    0.116*   3.92      0.733

groups

Within        95700.035    228         419.737

groups

Total         95748.887    229




*significant at 0.05


Table 4.4 shows the Anova analysis on the difference between male and

female students attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning

science. From the table, there is no significant difference in the mean

responses of the gender. (Fcal 0.116<Fcrit; df 1,228; p<0.05). Therefore HO3

is not rejected. That is, there is no significant difference between the

responses of male and female students attitude on the impact of CPD of

teachers in ICT to learning science.



                                        116
4.5 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS


The major aim of the study is to find out the impact of continuing professional

development of teachers in information and communication technology on

the attitude of students learning science. Three null hypothesis were

formulated and Anova and Scheffe post hoc test were used to analyse the

responses obtained from the respondents.

The discussion of the result is presented according to the research questions

and hypothesis below;

Research Question

What is the attitude of secondary school students on the impact of continuing

professional development of teachers in information and communication

technology to learning science.

The result in table 4.1 indicates that majority of the students agreed that

continuing professional development of teachers in information and

communication technology has impact on the learning achievement of

students in science. This schools that using computer to teach science

subjects had positive impact on the attitude of the students. This research

outcome is corroborated by Udousoro (2000), who reported a more positive

attitude of students after exposing them to computer and text assisted

programmed instruction, Popoola (2002) a positive attitude of students after

exposing the students to a self learning devices, Abimbade (1983) who

recorded higher and more favourable attitude towards mathematics and




                                      117
Aiyelaagbe (1998) who also reported a more positive attitude of students

after exposing them to self learning strategy.

Table 4.2b show that there is significant difference in the impact of

continuing professional development of teachers in information and

communication of teachers. But a more clarification is given in table 4.2b to

show where the difference lies. From the Scheff‟s post hoc test carried out,

there is significant difference between SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3 students on

the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information

and communication technology to learning science. However the hypothesis

of no differences was rejected, at 0.05 level of significance. This means that

the higher the student‟s class level the more positive attitude they possess.

Hypothesis 2 (HO2)

Table 4.3 shows that there is significant difference between the two groups

(13-15 and 16-18 years) on the impact of continuing professional

development of teachers in information and communication technology on

the learning attitude of science students. This study result is in support of the

findings of National Assesment of Educational Progress (NAEP), (1987) that

it is imperative that students develop, at an early age, favourable attitudes

towards science, and that this favourable orientation be maintained

(Anderman and Machr, 1994; AAAS, 1989) and Ramsden,1998; Osborne,

simon, & Collins, 2003 who reviewed that students attitude generally

decrease with age.




                                      118
Table 4.4 shows that there is no significant difference in the responses of the

male and female students attitude on the impact of continuing professional

development teachers in information and communication technology on the

attitude of students learning science. This may be as a result of the computer

used for the teaching and learning of science. The use of simulation visual

modes aided the students.

This is supported by Barrination and Hendricks (1988) who found no gender

differences in their recent study on attitudes toward science with gifted and

average students. This study result is against the previous reports by

scientists that males demonstrated significantly more positive attitudes

towards science than females (Simpson and Oliver, 1985)

4.6    SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


      1. Secondary school students in minna metropolis, Niger State have

         positive attitude to the impact of CPD of Teachers in ICT to learning

         science.


      2. There is significant difference between SSS1, SSS2, and SSS3

         student‟s attitude on the impact of CPD of Teachers in ICT to

         learning science. This means that the higher the students class level,

         the more positive attitude the possess.


      3. There is significant differences between the age groups of students

         on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT on the attitude of students to




                                      119
learning science. This means the higher the students advanced in

   age the more positive attitude they possess.


4. There is no significant difference between male and female students

   attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science.

   This means gender does not influence the positive attitude students

   possess on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science.




                                120
CHAPTER FIVE


       SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0   INTRODUCTION


      This chapter discusses the summary of findings of the study,

conclusion and recommendations in the light of the findings of the study.


5.1   SUMMARY


From the analysis, it is seen that the CPD of the teachers in the ICT had

positive impact on the attitude of student to learning science. This is as a

result of the use of simulation, animation, visual learning modes, charts,

pictures and clips of scientific concept and processes which might otherwise

not be possible. The use of these ICT infrastructures had broadened the

students‟ horizons thereby making science learning easier for the students.

However, from the results obtained in this study, gender disparity has been

eliminated as both the male and female science students showed positive

attitude to learning science.


The higher the students age (16 – 18 years) and the higher the students

class level, the more positive they are to learning science. It is thus

recommended that employers of teachers should embrace CPD practices

and lifelong learning that will enable science teachers to keep abreast with

ICT development for continual acquisition of new knowledge, new skills and

its application


                                     121
5.2   IMPLICATION OF THE STUDY


      The implication of the study is that there is positive impact of

continuing professional development of teacher in ICT on the attitude of

students learning science. Using ICT for teaching and learning science

makes science lesson more exciting, motivating, interactive and fun.

However, the drudgery of learning certain activities by hand example

drawing graphs, charts etc is eliminated thereby improving the students

problem-solving skills. It increases the teachers and students proficiency in

computer usage and this may in turn make the students to work privately and

take autonomy of their scientific investigation thereby making them to take

control of their learning. The use of simulation to show experiments that

would not otherwise be possible and visual modes of presentation of some

scientific concepts and processes enhances the students understanding of

science. As a result of this, students now see science as an authentic,

relevant and interesting subject to learn. This will increase the students

understanding thence improve the students performance achievement.


      It the performance of the students have improved greatly, this will

encourage other students who are technophobia or have phobia in science

to embrace this subjects with every enthusiasm. Thereby meeting the goal of

National policy on Education (NPE) which states that the ratio of science to

art students in our tertiary institution should be 60:40 will be achieved.




                                       122
Another implication of this study is the gender disparity is eliminated.

Previous research showed that male are more inclined to learning science

than the female counter-part. With this study, exposing the males and

females to some instruction have proved a more positive result. This will

make the Nation to have more female Engineers, Doctors and Miners in the

nearest future.


5.3   CONCLUSIONS


      From the findings of this study the following conclusions were drawn.


   1. Continuing professional development of teachers in information and

      communication technology has positive effect on the attitude of

      students learning science.

   2. The male and female student‟s attitude towards science leaving is the

      same as a result of the impact of the continuous training of teachers in

      ICT.

   3. Student of ages 16-18yrs develop more interest in science learning

      than the order students, as a result of the impact of CPD of teachers in

      ICT.

   4. Irrespective of gender, students have positive attitude on the impact of

      CPD of teachers in ICT.




                                     123
5.4   RECOMMENDATIONS


  1. Teacher training and professional development oriented policies

      should support ICT related teaching models.

  2. Employers of teachers and science teachers themselves should take

      advantage of the several on-going in-service training on ICT by

      participating with enthusiasm and partnering with organizers to expand

      the tenure of such training or workshops, for the purpose of long term

      benefits for teachers.

  3. From this study, it is shown that most of the respondents were drawn

      from private schools. This indicates that proprietors of these schools

      are really putting up effort in providing ICT equipment in their schools.

      It won‟t be out of place, if the ministries of education and local

      government education authorities provide computers and other ICT

      infrastructure in all the government owned schools so as to encourage

      teachers and students to use them effectively in the teaching and

      learning science.

  4. Emphasis must be placed on pedagogy behind the use of ICTs for

      teaching and learning science.

  5. Science teachers should embrace the continuing professional

      development practices and lifelong learning that enables teachers to

      keep in touch with ICT development, new knowledge and research in

      teaching and learning of science.




                                       124
6. The sample used in the study was drawn from a state out of the 36

  states of Nigeria. In light of this, future research should try and build on

  the limitations of this study by expanding f its scope to cover more

  states.

7. Effort should as well be made to compare ICT availability and use

  among science teachers in private and government own secondary

  schools in the country.




                                   125
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                                      129
130
APPENDIX ‘A’

 QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE IMPACT OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL
         DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS IN INFORMATION AND
  COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE ATTITUDE SECONDARY
            SCHOOL SCIENCE STUDENTS (QCPDICTTASSSS)

Dear respondents,

          I am conducting a survey in to the impact of continuing
professional (CPD) of teachers in information and communication technology
(ICT) on the attitude of secondary school science students.

      Your views or opinions are vital as they will enable the researcher to
analyze your likes and dislikes, interests and motivations on the impact of
CPD of teachers in ICT. All information given will be treated with all
confidentiality. Please try to answer all the questions as best as you can.

                    SECTION A: DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

   1. Name of School
   2. Class level
   3. Age
   4. Your sex:     Male…………………….. Female………………………..



                                 SECTION B

      Please indicate your choice by ticking the appropriate column. For
example, if you strongly disagree with the statements, put a tick in the
column under SD. Similar, tick under SA for strongly agree, A for agree, D
for disagree and N for Neutral. You can only tick one column for any number.




                                      131
S/N                            ITEMS                 SA A   N   D   SD
1   Continuing professional development (CPD) of
     teachers in ICT have raised standard of
     science learning in secondary schools.
     CPD of teachers in ICT have not raised the
2
     standard of science learning in secondary
     schools.
3
     CPD of teachers in ICT makes science
     teaching and learning more enjoyable.
4
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not make
     teaching and learning science enjoyable.
5
     CPD of teachers in ICT makes science lesson
     more attractive.
6
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not make science
     lesson more attractive.
7
     CPD of teachers in ICT makes science lesson
     more difficult.
8
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not make science
     lesson too difficult.
9
     CPD of teachers in ICT have impaired
     student‟s attitude towards learning science.
10
     CPD of teachers in ICT have motivated the
     students to learn science.
11
     CPD of teachers in ICT have not motivated the
     students to learn science.
12
     CPD of teachers in ICT makes students to
     work privately and take autonomy in their
13   scientific investigation.
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not make
     students to work privately and take autonomy
     in their scientific investigation.

                                          132
14
     CPD of teachers in ICT makes science
     students gain control of their learning.
15
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not make science
     students gain control of their learning.
16
     CPD of teachers in ICT builds both the science
     teachers and students proficiency in computer
17
     usage.
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not build both the
     proficiency of the teachers and students in
18
     computer usage.
     CPD of teachers in ICT helps the science
     students to eliminate the drudgery of doing
19
     certain learning activities by hand e.g drawing
     graphs etc.
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not helps the
20   science students to eliminate the drudgery of
     doing certain learning activities by hand.
21   CPD of teachers in ICT helps to improve
     student‟s attitude towards learning science
22   subjects.
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not help to
23   improve student‟s attitude towards learning
     science subjects.
24   CPD of teachers in ICT helps to improve the
     science student‟s problem-solving skills.
     CPD of teachers in ICT have not improved the
25
     student‟s problem-solving skills.
     CPD of teachers in ICT enable science
     teachers to use simulation to show
26   experiments that would not otherwise be

                                      133
possible.
     CPD of teachers in ICT makes it difficult to use
     simulation to show experiments that would not
27
     otherwise be possible.
     CPD of teachers in ICT enables science
     teachers to use visual modes of presentation to
28
     aid student‟s understanding of scientific
     concepts and processes.
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not make
29
     teachers to use visual modes of presentation to
     aid student‟s understanding of scientific
     concepts and processes.
30
     CPD of teachers in ICT have made it easier for
     students to choose science courses such as
31
     medicine, engineering courses etc in the
     universities.
32
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not make it
     possible for students to choose careers in
33
     science subjects in the universities.
     CPD of teachers in ICT have not impaired
34
     student‟s attitude towards learning science.
     CPD of teachers in ICT have encouraged and
35
     improved student‟s performances in science
     subjects.
     CPD of teachers in ICT have not encouraged
36
     and improved student‟s performance in science
     subjects.
37
     CPD of teachers in ICT have increased the
     morale and achievements of students, studying
38
     science subjects.
     CPD of teachers in ICT have not increased the

                                     134
morale and achievements of students studying
     science subjects.
39   CPD of teachers in ICT makes it possible and
     easier for the science teacher to control the
40   class during lessons and practical.
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not make it
     possible and easier for the science teacher to
     control the class.
     CPD of teachers in ICT makes science more
     authentic, relevant and interesting for the
     science students.
     CPD of teachers in ICT fails to make science
     more authentic, relevant and interesting for the
     science students.
     CPD of teachers in ICT enable the teachers to
     be clear on how to use ICT to support science
     lesson objectives.
     CPD of teachers in ICT does not enable the
     teachers to be clear on how to use ICT to
     support science lesson objectives.




                                      135

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Impact of continuing professional development (cpd) of teachers in information and communication technology to learning science

  • 1. TITLE PAGE ATTITUDE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE IMPACT OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) OF TEACHERS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO LEARNING SCIENCE BY ABDULLAHI AMINAT NOU 060241125 MINNA STUDY CENTER BEING ORIGINAL PROJECT SUBMITTED TO SCHOOL OF EDUCATION NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, LAGOS, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF EDUCATION IN SCIENCE EDUCATION JUNE 2010 1
  • 2. CERTIFICATION This thesis by Aminat Abdullahi has met the requirements for the award of master of Education degree in science education of the National Open University of Nigeria, and is approved for its contribution to knowledge. …………………………. …………………………….. ………………. DR. D.I WUSHISHI SIGNATURE DATE (Supervisor) …………………………. …………………………….. ………………. DR. FRANCIS GANA SIGNATURE DATE (Centre Manager) …………………………. …………………………….. ………………. (External Examiner) SIGNATURE DATE …………………………. …………………………….. ………………. (HOD Science Education) SIGNATURE DATE 2
  • 3. DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to Mrs. Habibat Onu Suleiman for her financial, moral, continual and unrelenting support. My Kids Fadilah, Safiya and Mustapha. The memory of my late mother Hauwa and Husband Bello Abdullahi. May Allah grant their souls al-jannatul firdaus. 3
  • 4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All praise and appreciation goes to Allah (S.W.T) who bestowed his protection, guidance and mercies on me, who also granted me patience, wisdom and knowledge in completing the thesis and studies in spite of all odds. This work has been successful through the immerse guidance, experience and expert supervision of Dr. D.I Wushishi of the department of Science education, Federal University of technology, for his assistance all through the processes of questionnaire designing and data analysis. During this processes, he had offered invaluable suggestions and criticisms, invaluable role of proof reading the thesis and providing necessary guidance, correction and very useful suggestions which saw the thesis through to completion. My profound gratitude goes to my ever supporting sister Hajaratu and her Husband, Moh‟d Suleiman for their overwhelming moral support. I will also say „thank You‟ to my dear Husband Mal Salihu Isah Lemu for his moral support which has rekindled my life. I am also indebted to Aisha Suleiman for her patience and assistance accorded to me during the process of data analysis. My indebtedness also goes to Aisha Mohammed a Colleague, a friend and confidant for her understanding throughout the period of my studies. My sincere gratitude goes to all the principals, H.O.D science and computer teachers and students of the schools visited for this study. „Thank you‟ to Fatima L. Yakubu C.B.N Abuja for her financial and moral support 4
  • 5. accorded to me. I am most grateful to all my family members for the moral support given to me throughout the period of my studies. I am also grateful to all my colleagues and members of staff of ETF/CERC. Most especially Sala Emmanuel Yisa head of computer unit ETF for his patience, endurance and unrelenting assistance and guidance given to me in the laboratory when sourcing for data and Abdulkadir K. Ibrahim for being there for me anytime I needed his assistance. My appreciation also goes to Mr. Suleiman Agboola Head of ICT ERC Minna for his necessary correction and pain taken to see to the successful completion of the analysis. I am also indebted and grateful to my typist Emmanuel Chinedu Okonkwo of Federal University of Technology Minna. I will not fail to acknowledge my late brother Dr. Suleiman Danjuma Suleiman for his inspiration and encouragement to embark on this course may Allah grant him al-jannatul firdaus. My special gratitude goes to the entire members of staff of National Open University of Nigeria minna study centre for their encouragement most especially Mrs. S.A. Alao, the centre‟s manger Dr. Francis Gana and Ndagi. Alhamdullilah. 5
  • 6. ABSTRACT This research is on the attitude of secondary school students on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology to learning science. Four schools were used for this study namely El-Amin International College, New Horizon College, Himma International College and Hill-Top Model School. Descriptive survey method using a questionnaire tagged “QICPDTICTASSSS” was used for data collection. It was validated by three experts and by pilot tested using test retest method. The reliability was calculated using the pearson product moment correlation coefficient and coefficient of relation (rxx) 0.89 was obtained. The results were calculated using simple distribution table, Anova and Scheffe‟s Test using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. The results obtained showed significant differences in the attitude of students to the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology to learning of science. It was recommended that teacher training and professional development oriented policies should be made by government to support ICT related teaching models. 6
  • 7. CHAPTER ONE 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY Technology has changed the way people live, work and learns. The use of technology in education is one of the main challenges for education policy makers (Zalzadeh, 2006). Traditional methods of education are no longer able to meet the needs of today‟s learner. New technologies provide opportunities, including the ability to tailor learning to the individual (Aminpoor, 2007). In view of the above statement, there is need for continuing education of teachers to meet these global challenges of technology to make teaching and learning more meaningful. However, professional development have attracted increasing attention in recent years (Anna Craft,2000) faced with rapid change, demand for high standards calls for improving quality of teachers and the need to update and improve their skills through professional development. Recently, there are pressures at national and school levels of professionalism in information and communication technology. These arise from the demand for increased quality and the need to implement the national curriculum. The interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is hardly surprising given the worldwide impact ICT is having on many aspect of modern life especially in the field of education. Harnessing the power of ICT to support education is a major challenge, for not only is the technology 7
  • 8. itself changing very rapidly, but education systems are culturally bound. Fullan (1991) highlighted the possibilities of bringing about changes in education through a deliberate process. In many parts of the world, several initiatives appear to have had little impact, despite significant investment in the expectation that it will improve the quality of teaching and learning thereby having positive effect on the student attitude. It is now widely accepted that effective use of ICT cannot be merely introducing teachers to the technology. Harland and Kinder (1997) suggests the need for professional development initiative to bring about planned change. The rapid development of ICT and having easy access to information through the e-mail and internet is one that is inextricably linked with modern education. As ICT is a resource to learning, science is primarily about methods of doing science and not ICT but students should learn how to develop scientific skills and learn about its role, function, application, preservation and processing using the ICT. The science teacher is not an ICT specialist and is not expected to teach ICT as his specialism. However, like every other teacher, they are required to support student‟s use of ICT within their subject. The more confident and competent the science teacher is with the ICT, the more likely he will be able to incorporate the latest, most up-to-date and accurate resource s of ICT into his teaching. Godfrey (2001) states that to become confident, critical and creative user of ICT, 8
  • 9. Teachers must have access to professional development programs that enables them to have multiple skills, both in the use of technology and in task design (p.16). Therefore teachers need not only the ICT skills but also the models of the best practice and knowledge to support learning. They need to understand the rationale for integrating ICT into learning environments and interpreting curriculum documents to make decisions about designing, delivering, managing and evaluating instruction. Jegede (2004) p.66 says, continuing professional development must be created to re-skill the potential teacher, re-motivate the interested teacher, retain the dedicated teacher and retain the practicing teacher. It is a known fact that computer which is the major tool used in ICT especially in the classroom depends on the attitude towards computers {Lawton and Gerschner, 1982). Several studies states that teachers attitude, knowledge and skills in using computers are major factors affecting their initial acceptance of computer technology and their future behavior regarding computer usage (violato, mariniz and Hunter, 1989; koohang, 1989). Office of technology assessment of the united states congress (OTA) states that a number of teachers with access to computers purposely avoid integrating technology into their instruction because of their lack of training, while Bulkeley commented that few teachers publicly criticize computer for fear of appearing technologically backwards, but many ignore the machines 9
  • 10. after one or more frustrating experiences. These fast growing use of new technologies in schools means that modes of professional learning are opening for the teachers to equip themselves with all the knowledge and technical no-how {application} needed to carry out this operation. The use of these computers without providing teachers with professional development time to learn equipment operations and application will eventually make the teacher to be scape goat. Several studies have been carried out on the assessment of attitude of students towards computer and it was found that students who received computer training were found to have a better understanding in the computer assisted teaching than the students who have not received any computer training. However, Johnson and Rising (1972) reported that computer programming helps students to learn how to solve problems systematically, carefully and in details, and helps to transfer acquired skills to other similar situation. They further explained that computer helps students to develop positive attitude, desirable interest and appreciation. Hoyle, (1983) said, the introduction of ICT into the educational system has been hailed as a major catalyst of the long dreamed about educational revolution, especially as ICT is designed to serve as a major vehicle for improving the efficiency of the educational process ( Jones and Knezek, 1993). Offir-et-al. (1994) described the historical development of ICT use in the educational process and indicated that 10
  • 11. since the introduction of ICT, the traditional open courseware continuum succinctly and accurately depicts the progress made in the use of ICT for learning and instruction. The traditional open continuum provides an insight as to how ICT approaches evolved and developed as educational media since the early 1960s. Offir et al (1993) reported that in the early days of ICT use in the school classroom, traditional computer assisted instruction (CAI) based on rigid and „closed‟ drill and practice, was the dominant ICT approach. When poignant questions were raised regarding the relative advantages and effectiveness of drill and practice over more traditional and instruction approaches, more flexible and open learning and instruction program were developed and introduced into educational system. The use of spreadsheet (Dreyfus et al, 1997) contributes to the enhancement of learner independence and creativity, and provides students with sophisticated graphical assistance that promotes the understanding of complicated subject matter. According to (Appelberg, 1997) database provides students with the opportunity of enriching their knowledge and comprehension of subject matter by facilitating the ability to conduct comprehensive searches for sources hitherto available only in libraries and museums. However, the introduction of the use of spreadsheets and databases in the educational process contributed to the promotion of improved learning and instruction and increased effectiveness in the educational process. 11
  • 12. Simulations which is sophisticated, progressive and improved form of ICT are equally used as learning instruction. (Offir and katz, 1994),said, through simulations teachers are able to provide their students with realistic models of subject matter as experienced in real life situations thereby facilitating students understanding and mastery. Thus, simulations enhances ICT mediated learning by providing an added dimension that closes the gap between theoretical subject matter and the application of knowledge to real life situations. However, the steady evolution of ICT (radio, television, interactive video, electronic mail, World Wide Web) has considerably influenced the development of learning (Jones and Knezek, 1995). Passing and Levin (2000) provided an in-depth analysis of multimedia packages and stated that when using multimedia approaches in learning the student does not only study the subject matter but also learn how to deal with the synthetically programmed environment. The ease of use and the uniformity of the multimedia interface have significant implications for both teacher and student, since they provide a platform for a higher level of motivation, concentration and understanding of the content being studied. Multimedia of educational packages attempt to provide a clear consistent and attractive ICT platform, which contributes towards the ability of teachers and students to reach excellence through user friendly instruction and learning approaches. 12
  • 13. ICT use in education can be described as a major breakthrough for teaching, learning and instruction. In a series of studies, a number of researchers (Chandra et al, 1988; Karz and Offir, 1991; Offir and Karz, 1990) as well as numerous others, testified to the existence of psychological attitudes held by elementary and secondary school teachers towards the use of ICT as an instructional approach. Research studies have established that psychological attitudes such as independence, creativity, tough-mindedness, sociability, risk taking, stimulus and sensation seeking are key attitudes connected with effective ICT use. Similar situations have been found with elementary and secondary school (Dunn and Ridgway, 1991; Katz, 1993; Katz, 1995; Karz and Offir, 1990). Students who held attitudes such as positive self-image, positive social-image, independence in learning process, self-confidence in the learning, satisfaction with learning internal locus of control, level of control of learning, creativity and motivation for study were significantly more positive towards the use of ICT than students who are not typified by the same traits.The use of technology (ICT) to teach students in the classroom challenges the students in learning to think, interact and solve problems, learn how to learn with the aid of technology. Using ICT equally challenges the students to use higher level thinking skills and become active seekers rather than passive receivers of information.Using ICT enhances 13
  • 14. student‟s collaborative construction of meaning via different perspective on shared experiences (Chan, Burtis and Bereiter, 1997). ICT enables students to utilize modeling and visualization as powerful means of bridging between experience and abstraction (Gordin and Pea, 1995). Dertouzes and Gates (1998) reported that in developed countries, computers and telecommunications are on the verge of reshaping the mission, objectives, content and processes of schooling. This is the part of a larger change in those nations from loosely, coupled, mature industrial economies to a profoundly interconnected, knowledge based global market (Thurow, 1999). Since one of the educational goal is to prepare students for work and citizenship the introduction of ICT in schools (primary and secondary) are attempting to change their policies, practices and curriculum to meet the challenge of making student ready for a future quite different than the immediate past. Furthermore, culminating ICT as a teaching aid encourages users to rely not only upon stored knowledge, but also on uniquely human reasoning and problem solving skills. Anita Cox remarks that this form of technology will become more widespread and visible in response to education‟s increasing need to prepare students for work in the information age. These challenges will in turn make the 14
  • 15. students to realize the importance of life long learning and become motivated participants in the world and the workplace of the future. Computer assisted Instruction (CAI) programs are being used in schools as a supplement to traditional instruction. CAI is a spectrum of computer technologies that assist the teaching and learning process. Example of CAI applications include guided drills and practice exercises, computer visualization of complex objects and computer facilitated communication between students and teachers. Several programs are used for courses (chemistry, physics, geography, mathematics etc). These programs simulate the setting of laboratory apparatus and also guides the students through the steps required to complete the procedure (De la cuetara and Lamba, 1995). Some programs are equally used to increase the students understanding of specific topics. Such as Animal pathfinders that illustrates specific application of scientific method (Matray and Proulx, 1995). Computer assisted instruction (CAI) enhances the learning rate of students. The students learn faster with CAI than the conventional instruction. Capper and Copple (1985) stated that CAI users sometimes learn as much as 40% faster than those receiving the teacher directed instruction. Using ICT in the teaching and learning indicates that self esteem is enhanced and improves behavior. It equally assists in exploring new opportunities for improving classroom 15
  • 16. practice. It makes lessons more stimulating, enjoyable, interactive and gives room for appropriate selection of technologies. Students have a positive attitude to learning as they retain their learning better [Bialo and Sivin 1990;Maverech and Rich 1985; Robertson,et al.1987,Rupe 1986]. Evarest .C. (2004) stated the following impact that ICT has on the students 1. With online teaching /learning, students can work independently with customized instruction and at his/her own place. 2. It increases the student‟s independence and motivation for self directed study. 3. It increases the student‟s commitment to the learning risk. 4. It assists in exploring new opportunities for improving class room practice. Other potential benefits of ICT (using CAI) includes: 1. It also makes students to have more of internal locus of control or sense of self efficiency.(Capper and Copper 1985,kinnaman 1990 and Lovie1985). 2. Students have better attendance. Capper and copper, rupees 1986 and 1990 ISTE. 3. Students have higher rate of motivation or time on task (Bialo and Sivin, 1990; Capper and Copper 1985). 16
  • 17. 4. Students exhibit higher rate of cooperation or collaboration and presocial behavior (Dickson, 1986,Maverech, Stern and Levita, 1987; and Rupe, 1986). Having seen the relevance of ICT in education, there is need for continuing development of teachers to meet this enormous task of technology. However, it has argued for creating a collaborative professional learning environment for successful school improvement and the first order of business for those seeking to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning (Eastwood and Louis, 1992:215).The department for education and employment (DfEE, 2001) in their professional strategy suggests that effective professional learning should be focused on classroom practice, collaborative learning together, learning from the best and learning from what works. By so doing, an ultimate change in practice will be achieved. Education of teachers both at pre-service and in-service through professional learning is recognized as being the major catalyst for change (Finger, Russell, Jamieson-Procter and Russell, 2006). Teacher on continuous training of ICT will build more confidence, competence and develop appropriate skills in handling curriculum. The Research on teacher‟s education has consistently stressed the need to regularly provide opportunities for teachers to improve their knowledge of the subject matter they teach and the teaching skills they learned in the pre-service courses they attended. Recent 17
  • 18. research conducted by Tee Kay educational consultancy services done on behalf of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), NCCE, National Teachers Institute (NTI), Teachers Registration Council (TRC) and world Bank revealed that their exist wide or major gaps in the present NCE and degree curricular in the following areas; computer education, small scale research technique, health and environmental studies, resource management, skills for teaching multigrade classes, National curriculum modules and sexuality education. These gaps have urgent implication for pre-service training. For those already trained needs to be followed up with in-service continuing professional development programme to correct the deficiencies and broaden their horizon. Fitzallen and Brown (2006) carried out a research on the factors that impact on successful teacher implementation of professional learning while incorporating the Schulman‟s essential teacher knowledge (1982 a,b) which Identifies three interconnecting categories. a. Teacher knowledge (including knowledge of; content and curriculum, teacher characteristic, ICT content, application of ICT in context). b. Teacher dispositions (confidence, previous success, engagement in reflection. c. External factors (background, professional learning, time and access). until these interlinking contents are considered the full promise of digital content may not be realized. Professional learning is insufficient 18
  • 19. in itself for the adoption of ICT into teaching and professional practice, teacher belief, confidence and expertise (Jamieson- proctor and Finger, 2006; Phelps, Graham and Kerr, 2004; Albion, 1999). Having access to appropriate equipment and infrastructure have been identified to be an added advantage (Norris and Soloway, 2000). With the present pace of dispensational development, ICT is said to be a vital tool which teachers, students and lecturers must equip themselves with, if they must move with the trend of global awareness to enhance their teaching skills and improve their learning abilities. Just as computer has played vital roles in many aspect of life such as transportation, communication, national defense, material production and scientific research, it has also become the fastest reliable way of communication between teachers and students in our education today. Using computers as an aided instruction is the best way and the fastest object of instruction in today‟s world. Computers also serve as a medium of teaching and learning methods to students thereby bringing the close understanding between the two. Madu (2002) reported that there is an increasing awareness of the potentials for the use of ICT in education and the information technologies are tools used to produce, store, process, disseminate; and exchange information. The need for continuing professional development (CPD) has the following advantages 19
  • 20. 1. To improve the job performance skills of the whole staff or group of staffs 2. To improve the job performance skills of an individual teacher. 3. To extend the experience of an individual teacher for career development or promotion. 4. To develop the professional knowledge and understanding of an individual teacher. 5. To enable teachers to anticipate and prepare for change (Anna Crafts, 2000). 6. CPD may enable practitioners to widen their understanding of society, especially information and communication technology (Bland ford, 2000). A lot of these training have been offered to Nigerian teachers through workshops, seminars and conferences in ICT appreciation and programming. This raises the need to assess the impact of CPD of teachers on ICT Minna metropolis. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Education is generally acknowledged as one of the crucial allies of the development process. Therefore educational policy makers and social planners, in recognition of it‟s potentials for leveraging existing social stratifications have placed a huge premium on the development of the education sector. This is reflected in the emphatic resonance in the National Policy on education (NPE, 2004) that „no nation can rise 20
  • 21. above the quality of its education systems‟. Based on this evident truth, the national policy formulators recommend, as a priority, the training of those responsible for faciliting the education of Nigerians in the development planning process. On this, the National policy on education unequivocally focuses attention to all aspects of education planning, because of its teachers. This view was crystallized by lassa (2000) and the roles that they play in the educative process to (basic) education, particularly in third world countries. However, the challenge of teacher training appears to be the most daunting challenge facing the education system in general. Researchers have observed that out of all the educational problems that beset the African continent today, none is as persistent or compelling as the one relating to the training of competent teachers who directly and indirectly is bound to influence the quality and quantity of services provided by other teachers and professors, as poor teachers tend to produce their own kind (Fafunwa 1967; Afe, 1999) in Afe 2000). As new technologies transform classroom and laboratories, academics will have to learn, change or improve their teaching styles and every body will need some necessary ICT skills regardless of their interest or their employment. Tools that incorporate ICT will undertake many specialist tasks, learning to perform these task and using the tools will be part of education. 21
  • 22. In Nigeria, teachers have been trained in several for a in ICT teaching and learning especially in programmes organized by UNESCO and UNICEF and government also occasionally organizes ICT training for teachers of primary and secondary schools. As a result of these, this study attempts to investigate the impact of continuing professional development of teachers on the attitude of secondary school students to learning science. It will also investigate the difference between senior secondary school (SSS)1, SSS 2 and SSS 3 students attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science. It will also do the same on variables such as age groups and male and female students. 1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The main purpose of the study is to find out the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology (computers) on secondary school student‟s attitude to learning science. Specifically, this research is designed to Investigate the difference between the impact of continuing professional development of teachers on student‟s attitude to learning science in relation to variables such as class level, age of students and gender of students. 22
  • 23. 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. What is the attitude of secondary school students on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication Technology to learning science? 2. What are the differences between SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3 student‟s attitude on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication Technology to learning science? 3. Are there differences between student‟s age groups (13-15years and 16-18years) attitude on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication Technology to learning science? 4. What would be the difference between male and female student‟s attitude on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication Technology to learning science? 1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS Ho.1 There is no significant difference between SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3 student‟s attitude on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication Technology to learning science. 23
  • 24. Ho.2 There is no significant difference between students age groups(13-15years and 16-18years) attitude on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication Technology to learning science Ho.3 There is no significant difference between male and female student‟s attitude on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication Technology to learning science. 1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study would benefit the Federal ministry of Education, National Teachers institute (NTI), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Nigeria University commission (NUC), proprietors of private schools, principals, teachers, lecturers, students and users of information and communication technology facilities to designed appropriate curricular materials for teaching and learning of science by the use of ICT. This study will be a guide to curriculum developers of science to develop and integrate ICT in to learning and interpreting curriculum documents to make decisions about designing, delivering, managing and evaluating instruction. Through continuing professional development, teachers will also benefit in getting new and better ways 24
  • 25. of improving their methods and techniques of teaching. Students will not only learn how to use computers, but effectively use it through the internet to learn outside the class and beyond the given syllabus. They will be able to access the web ICT for course information, such as course outline, objectives, information about assessment and note for the subject. This study will serve as a yardstick for Federal Government, National Teachers Institute (NTI), National Board for Technical education (NBTE), and Universal Basic Education (UBE) to evaluate the achievement of the set national educational objectives. 1.7 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY This study will cover all the students in secondary schools in Minna metropolis but specifically restricted to students from Himma, New Horizon College, El-Amin International Schools and Hill-Top Model Schools Minna. This is because the schools have computer laboratories and have teachers that went on CPD in ICT. 1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY There are limited literature about CPD of teachers in Nigeria, so it limits the scope of generalization of the findings of this study. Samples are drawn mostly from among private secondary school students in Minna Niger State, because most of the public schools have no computers and their teachers have received limited or no CPD on ICT. . 25
  • 26. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 INTRODUCTION The importance of continuing professional development (CPD) cannot be over –emphasized, especially in field as vital as education. Only by continually arming oneself with the latest research techniques and knowledge in the profession can one hope to stay effective in one‟s career. Any training programme is thus concerned with improved ways of doing things of carrying out various activities in a professional manner. The contribution of the ICT can be very useful tool for the development of skills on it provides effective training programme which can be attributed to its capacity for stimulation, model-building and interactive adaptation. This usage applies not only to subjects like sciences but also to various aspects of professional courses like engineering and teacher training. The concept of life long education is associated with a learning society, in the contemporary society; the end of formal education does not mean the end of one‟s learning. The University of Wisconsin –Madison in 1907 was the first academic institution in the united state to offer an identifiable continuing education program (schugurensky, Daniel (1907). In 1969, Empire state college, a unit of the state university of New York, was also the 26
  • 27. first institution in the united state to exclusively focus on providing higher education to adult learners. While in 1976, the University of Florida created its own division of continuing Education and most courses were offered on evenings or weekends to accommodate the schedule of working student‟s .Hopkins, Ainscow and west, 1994; southworth 1994; Sammons, Hillman and mortimore, 1995; Green, 1999) reported that learning is a worth while process and not a static or bounded process, however learning of education professionals throughout ones career is essential. These researchers, commentators and policy makers equally explained that teacher‟s development to raising of pupils standards of achievement is a central policy. Generally, continuing professional development is acknowledged to be centrally important in maintaining and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in schools (craft 2000, Harland and Kinder 1997, Harri 2002). The International research literature has consistently shown that professional development is an essential component of successful school level change and development (day, 1999b, Hargreaves 1994).It has confirmed that where teachers are able to access new ideas and to share experiences more readily, there are greater potentials for schools and classroom improvement .Improving schools, invest in the development of staff and create opportunities for teachers to collaborate and to share best practice. Evidence also suggests that attention to teacher learning can impact directly upon 27
  • 28. improvements in student learning and achievement. Teachers expand and develop their own teaching repertoires and are clear in their purposes, it is more likely that they will provide an increased range of learning opportunities for students (Joyce et al,1999). The research literature demonstrate that professional development can have a positive impact on curriculum, pedagogy as well as teachers sense of commitment and their relationship with students (Talbert and McLaughlin 1994). Several and resent research has reiterated that quality of professional interaction, focus on staff development and the relentless pursuit of improved teaching and learning are the characteristic of successful school improvement ( Gray 2000; Harris 2000; Maden and Hillman J. 1996; OFSTED 2000). However, it also acknowledges the importance‟s of teachers engaging in continuing career long development that will meet their own personal and professional needs. These needs will vary according to circumstances, personal and professional histories and current dispositions. Matching appropriate professional needs of the teacher and the selected activity is critically important in ensuring that there is a positive impact at the school and classroom level, where staff development improvement is paramount (DfEE,P3) and offers a number of new initiatives to achieve particular important goal. The richer mix of professional development opportunities will allow teachers to focus upon their own learning, 28
  • 29. career and promotion ambitions and to consider new responsibilities within their own school content. This will lead to an improved and enhanced sense of professionalism for teachers, plus an increased motivation to stay within the profession. 2.1 DEFINITION OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) Debates around CPD have been numerous in recent years. Much of the recent debate regarding CPD has been concerned with who and what is being develop, by whom and most importantly, in whose interest (Nofke, 1997, p.334). Wikipedia defines CPD as the skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. It encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning opportunities in practice. Analytic quality Glossary defines CPD as the study (that may accumulate to whole programmes with awards) designed to upgrade knowledge and skills of practitioners in the profession, while higher education funding council for England (HEFCE, 2003), sees CPD as a range of short and long training programmes, some of which have an option of accreditation, which foster the development of employment related knowledge, skills and understanding. Northeast Texas Network consortium (NTNC, 2007), defines professional development as courses offered to improve knowledge and skills in a specific 29
  • 30. professional area, such as professional certification programs. Usually not offered for academic credit. David Hargreaves (1998), refined his definition about the nature of CPD exploring the need for better professional knowledge which a transition towards a knowledge society requires. He argues that knowledge transmission in the past has failed partly because University-based researchers were not very successful in either knowledge creation or dissemination. He argues further that new knowledge transmission models are required which involves a radical reconceptualization of knowledge creation and its dissemination in education, and the consequent restructuring that is necessary to support it (p.1). To these new models, for Hargreaves is the knowledge creating school. This would involve schools conducting a knowledge audit, managing the processes of creating new professional knowledge, validating the knowledge creating and disseminating the created knowledge (p.2). The support and co- ordination of schools and networks of school engaged in this new form of knowledge creation and dissemination would require a rethinking of the nature and role of CPD. Welsh (2002) endorses that collaborative professional development which could bridge research, policy and power at the same time recognizing the potential for element of political conflict inherent in restructuring teacher and school development. Similarly, Barber (1996) 30
  • 31. argues that professional development should not be founded on „narrowly conceived idea about in-service education for teachers but the idea of the teacher as a life long learner who is a member of a research- based profession. It has been suggested that continual development is a relatively straight forward concept to accept. But, the term „professional‟ is much more problematic (Bolam, p.280). Bolam suggests that professional development is the process by which teachers learn, enhance and use appropriate skills and knowledge and the essence of such profession development for educators would presumably be, therefore the learning of an independent, evidence- informed and constructively critical approach to practice within a Public framework of professional values and accountability, which are also open to critical scrutiny. (Bolam, 2000, p.272). In the current climate of professional issues in teacher‟s live, relating to teacher workload, shortage and retention, it has been argued that the focus of CPD should both be more structured and more teacher-led, offering opportunities not just to minorities but to all irrespective of factors such as geographical constraints and the size of the school. Carol Adams, Chief Executive of the general Teachers council (GTC) voiced her concerns, she said her biggest worry was about how to ensure we have a proper, structured programme and avoid lots of little pilots with only short term horizons and limited impact (quoted in cordingley, 2001, p.82). 31
  • 32. CPD is seen as part of the career development of all professionals which is a shared responsibility with their employers because it serves the interest of both. Day, (1999) says, professional development consists of all natural learning experiences and those conscious and planned activities which are intended to be of direct or indirect benefit to the individual, group or school which constitute through these, to the quality of education in the classroom. It is a process by which, alone and with others, teachers review, renew and extend their commitment as change agents to the moral purposes of teaching; and by which they acquire and develop critically the knowledge, skills and emotional intelligence essential to good professional thinking, planning and practice with children young people and colleagues throughout each phase of their teaching lives (Day, 1996. b.). In February 2000, the government published its consultation document on professional development (Green paper, DfEE, 2001). The document argues that good professional development requires time to reflect and set objectives, recognition and commitment, opportunity, particularly for work based learning. The documents equally argued that professional development reflect three perspectives; Individual teacher‟s needs and aspirations, the need of the school and national strategic priorities. In a study conducted by National Foundation for educational Research CPD. Teachers perspective (2000), stated that CPD is mostly needed in the development of knowledge in the teachers own subject area; the 32
  • 33. use of ICT and the internet in the curriculum; assessment; support for pupils with special educational needs and leadership skills. Gatewood and Conrad (1997) also explained at another workshop held at implementing technology in the school curriculum that teachers‟ training is essential for computers to be effective teaching tool. They reported that training opportunities enable teachers to build skills and confidence and learn strategies to integrate computers into their curriculum. Epstein (1993), identified four critical components of training, practical experience, workshops, models and mentors and supervisory follow-up. 2.2 IMPORTANCE OF CPD CPD are undertaken by teachers beyond the point of initial training. The following are the resource for undertaking professional development. 1. To improve the job performance skills of the whole staff or group of staff. 2. To improve the job performance skills of an individual teacher. 3. To extend the experience of an individual teacher for career development or promotion. 4. To develop the professional knowledge and understanding of an individual teacher. 5. To extend the personal or general education of an individual. 33
  • 34. 6. To make staff feel value. 7. To promote job satisfaction. 8. To develop an enhanced view of job. 9. To enable teachers to anticipate and prepare for change. 10. To clarify the whole or department policy ultimately all teachers development will have as one of its aims the improvement of pupils learning. Blancd Ford (2000) emphasizes that professional development enable practitioners to widen their understanding of society in particularly of ICT. 2.3 THE CONCEPT OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The concept of CPD is often left ill-defined, being in many cases conflated with related concepts of in-service training and on the Job learning. Both are more limited to CPD, as CPD encompasses a wide variety of approaches and teaching and learning styles in a variety of setting (inside or outside of the workplace) it is distinguishable from the broader concept of learning. It is primarily related to people‟s professional identities and roles and the goals of the organization they are working for (Galloway, 2000). 34
  • 35. The concept of lifelong education is based on post formal education and it assumes learners to adults or near adults who can mange their learning on their own. In a paper presented by Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed of NTI on creating opportunities for CPD, he said teacher‟s professional development has two main phases: Initial preparation and continuing professional development. He said initial teachers training takes the form of full time residential pre-service programmes in teachers colleges or universities. The initial training may also be available to serving unqualified teachers through distance education or out of school programmes during vacations or on release from schools for extended periods of time. The pedagogical or professional components of initial teacher training programmes can be either conservative or concurrent with academic subjects. However, initial teacher training has been criticized for its inadequacy in preparing students for teaching. Learning to teach is a process that requires continuing support and resources. Continuing professional development of teachers comes from various sources and in various forms; orienting teachers to curriculum or examination changes, upgrading qualification levels, donor- funded projects, professional teachers association in developing subject teaching e.g. STAN; sometimes teachers unions, school based improvement initiatives or individual teachers working to improve their qualifications, career 35
  • 36. prospects or teaching skills. In our national situation where both qualified and unqualified teachers are employed in schools, pre- service and in-service education may go on simultaneously. Therefore, structured and unstructured approaches of professional development of teachers should be employed. 2.4 RATIONALE FOR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS The pace at which new knowledge is being generated and old knowledge is becoming outdated, demands that an individual should continue to learn throughout one‟s life. ICT can be very effective for facilitating lifelong education, both an tutor and as a tool. The teacher is increasingly becoming an important factor in the educative process. According to Sprinthall, Reiman and sprint (1999:666), there is no such thing as a teacher-proof curriculum. They pointed to the massive failure of national curriculum projects of the 1960‟s with the attendant “failed ideas, unused curriculum guide, and tarnished hopes. By implication, teacher‟s characteristics, attitudes, conception of self and intellectual and interpersonal dispositions in large measure determine both the explicit and the hidden agenda of the classroom. The formal curriculum is represented by the materials, lesson plan and objectives, but the informal agenda is the atmosphere 36
  • 37. or climate in the classroom as indicated by important teacher characteristic. The society expects great deal from their educational systems. New goals are being continuously set such as life long learning, life skills education, and competency in the use of ICT etc. As key agents in these changes, teachers face high expectations, new roles which they can get through CPD. One of the key elements of teacher quality, is the provision of adequate opportunities for personal growth and professional development. Research on teacher‟s education has consistently stressed the need to regularly provide opportunities for teachers to improve their knowledge of the subject matter they teach and the teaching skills the learned in the pre-service courses they attended. This is based on the recognition of the fact that we live in a rapidly changing world such that whatever knowledge and skills teachers acquired in their pre-service training becomes stale very fast as new challenges and realities emerge in the socio-economic and political environments. 2.5 MODEL OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Various model for teacher professional developments have emerged. Most CPD models and practices emphasize formal CPD programmes and activities. Spark, D and Loucks-Horsley, S (1989, fall) says there are five models of staff development for teachers (Journal of staff 37
  • 38. development, 10(4), 40-57). Sparks and Loucks-Horsley (1989) who are influential researchers suggests five models that are useful for accomplishing the goals of staff development. These models includes a. Individually Guided Development b. Observation and Assessment c. Involvement in a Development or improvement process. d. Training e. Inquiry In Nigeria, three commonly used models are workshop models, school-based teacher professional support and in-service training of teachers (INSET). The workshop model is the commonest form of CPD in Nigeria. It entails drawing participants out of their school to a venue where they are exposed by experts to a core of information and skills. The workshop may be short or long term. The nature of skills and processes to be acquired also vary. The school-based teacher professional support and mentoring is a recent alternative for in-service training of teachers. Pupils, teachers, supervisors and facilitators are involved collaboratively in carrying out a series of classroom/school-based activities that will help the teacher to improve. The teachers get professional support from facilitators and supervisors who serve as mentors. Activities may include direct 38
  • 39. classroom support by the facilitators and supervisors, staff meeting within the school and involving head teachers and the participating teachers, demonstration lessons by teacher educators (mentors); visit to the school by mentors etc. Erant, (1994) suggest that any framework for promoting and facilitating professional learning should take into account the following; 1. An appropriate combination of learning settings (on the Job, near the Job, home, library, course). 2. For study consultation and reflection. 3. Availability of suitable learning resources. 4. People who are prepared (i.e. both willing and able) to give appropriate support. 5. The learners own capacity to learn and take advantage of the opportunities available. In-service training of teachers (INSET) has relied upon teachers participating in courses delivered by external providers either at the school or at dedicated training centers. 39
  • 40. 2.6 EFFECTIVE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPPMENT A key factor of ensuring effective CPD is matching appropriate professional development provision to particular professional needs. This „fit‟ between the developmental needs of the teacher and the selected activity, is critically important in ensuring that there is a positive impact at the school and classroom level (Hopkins and Harris, 2001). Where staff development are poorly conceptualized, insensitive to the concern of individual participants and make little effort to relate learning experiences to workplace conditions, they make little impact upon teachers or pupils(Day,1999). There have been claims that CPD needs to be linked to both individual and organizational goals, if both individual and organization change are to be achieved (Jones and Fear, 1994). 2.7 FORMS OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Continuing professional opportunities ranges from a single workshop to a semester long academic course, to service offered by a medley of different professional development providers and varying widely with respect to philosophy, content and format of the learning experiences (Goggle). Other forms of CPD includes on the Job, in- house activities, work shadowing or secondment (Michael Fullan). Some examples of approaches to professional development includes:- 40
  • 41. 1. CASE STUDY METHOD: - The case method is a teaching approach that consists in presenting the students with a case, putting them in the role of a decision maker facing a problem (Hammond, 1976). 2. CONSULTATION: - To assist an individual or group of individuals to clarify and address immediate concerns by following a systematic problem solving process. 3. COACHING: - To enhance a person‟s competencies in a specific skill area by providing a process of observation, reflection and action. Flaherty (1999) presents coaching as a way of working with people that leaves more competent and more fulfilled, so that they are more able to contribute to their organizations. He described the product of coaching as  Long term excellent performance.  Self correction.  Self generation. 4. LESSON STUDY: - To solve practical dilemmas related to intervention or instruction through participation with other professionals in systematically examining practice. 5. MENTORING: - To promote an individual‟s awareness and refinement of his or her own professional development by providing and recommending structured opportunities for reflection and observation. 41
  • 42. 6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: - To assist individuals and their organization to improve by offering resources and information, supporting networking and change effort. 7. RELECTIVE SUPERVISION: - To support, develop and ultimately evaluate the performance of employees through a process of inquiry that encourages their understanding and articulation of their rationale for their own practices. In united State of America, many American State have professional development requirement for school teachers. Arkansas teachers must complete 60 hours of documented professional development activities annually. Teachers in Idiana are required to earn 90 continuing renewal units (CRUs) per year. In Massachusetts, teachers need 150 professional development points (PDPs) and in Georgia 10 professional learning units (PLUs) (Wikipedia). In Singapore, every teacher is required to submit himself/herself to 100 hours of re-training every year. In Scotland, every Thursday during term time, teachers have an opportunity to take part in some live on line CPD in part of the glowing Thursday programme. 2.8 CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA. From time immemorial, the training of teachers has been an issue of concern to researchers and lay members of society alike. Fafunwa (1974) argued that teacher education continues to be the key to 42
  • 43. educational development, In Nigeria and else where, for without adequately trained teaching cadre, Nigeria cannot hope to expand her educational facilities. Till-date, the pre-service training and in-service professional development of Nigerian teachers has not reflected the attention and focus of these observers of our education system. Jegede (2002) observed that the teacher training system in Nigeria has failed to adhere to the provisions of the National policy on education that the teacher education shall continue to take cognizance of changes in methodology and in curriculum and that teachers shall be regularly exposed to innovations in their professions. But, Okebukola (2002) opined that in times past the teacher as well as his/her education did enjoy some pride of place….. But teacher education in Nigeria and indeed decades had been characterized by incessant instability, not unconnected with attempts by practitioners in the field to better their lot. Afemikhe (2004) quoting taiwo (2002) added that teacher education suffered some setbacks as greater emphasis was then laid on how to teach rather than on what to teach. However, it appears obvious that teachers need CPD and substantial research seem to have confirmed this, not much importance seem to be attached to continuing professional development of teachers in Nigeria. For most teachers, training ends as soon as they graduated 43
  • 44. and no opportunities exist for updating their knowledge and skills by attending seminars, conferences, and workshops that will enhance their knowledge and skills and ultimately classroom practice (Ahmed Modibbo, 2006). 2.9 A MODEL OF ICT APPLICATION FOR TEACHERS’ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA The pace at which new knowledge is being generated and old knowledge is becoming outdated, demands that an individual should continue to learn throughout one‟s life. Information and communications technologies can be very effective for facilitating lifelong education, both as a tutor and as a tool. The concept of lifelong education is based on post formal education and it assumes learns to be adults or near adults who can manage their learning on their own. However, teacher training process in Nigeria is regarded as the foundation of quality and relevance of education at all levels of the levels of the national educational system of the initial teacher training process and the CPD of Nigerian teachers is currently besortted by number of challenges. However, ICT is having a major impact across all curriculum areas most especially in science subjects, easy worldwide communication provides instant access to vast array of data, challenging assimilation and assessment skills (Fowowe, 2006). Rapid communication plus 44
  • 45. increased access to ICTs in the home, at work and in educational establishment, learning becomes a truly lifelong activity- an activity in which the pace technological change forces constant evaluation of teaching process itself. 2.10 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY If students of today are to be prepared for the workplace of tomorrow, computers must become an integral part of the current curriculum of the school system. 2.10.1 DEFINITION OF COMPUTER A computer can be defined as an electronic device or contrivance that works under the control of stored instruction known as programs to speedily accept data, process the inputted data into meaningful information and then present its output in a well organized format predefined by the user. 2.10.2 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS Computers are grouped into various classes depending on the character they exhibit, the way they look or the way they are located. Classification of computers by type: -  Analogue Computers: Computers which does not compute directly with discrete values (digits), rather, it measures quantity 45
  • 46. in continuous flow e.g. current, temperature, voltage. Examples of such computers are diagnosis, thermometer, analog watch.  Digital Computers: These computers cannot measure quantity in continuous flow. I.e. measures discrete values such as digit (0- 9), understands binary(0 or 1) letter of alphabets(a-z). Examples are calculators, desktop, laptop, gaming computers. Hybrid Computers: These computers have the features of the analog and digital computers. It can measure quantity in continuous flow as well as those in discrete values .e.g. the system used in the electricity reading is hybrid. 2.10.3 CLASSIFICATION BY SIZE/CAPACITY a. Mainframe Computers: these computers are bulky and stored in control rooms with air-conditioning accommodation. They are the largest form of computers. Examples IBM370, ICI 900. Mainly used in research institute. b. Mini Computers: These computers are smaller in size and can perform arithmetic and logic operational functions, can process task that do not require access to large masses of stored data. Examples are Vax series, PDP-8 etc. c. Micro Computes: these are the personal computers (Pc). They are the smallest form of computers and uses micro processor as 46
  • 47. its central processing unit (CPU). Examples are the Desktop, Laptop, Notebook and palmtop. d. Super Computers: These are faster than mainframe and are designed for specialized application. E.g. monitoring and controlling space flights and weather forecasting. 2.10.4 CLASSIFICATION BY NATURE OF LOCATION Computers are also classified by the way they are located or located in other devices. In this class, are the embedded computers. Embedded Computers: Are computers that are located within other machines to make them act like computers e.g. Speedometer. 2.10.5 CLASSIFICATION BY GENERATION Computers passed through series and chains of development called computer generations. The computer generations are:- 1. First generation Computers 2. Second generation Computers 3. Third generation Computers 4. Fourth generation Computers 5. Fifth generation Computers 6. Sixth generation Computers 47
  • 48. 2.10.6 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER The characteristics is that, it is a general purpose device which take input from output devices like mouse, keyboard, bar code reader etc. Some of these characteristics include 1. Speed- Computer works at very high speed. 2. Accuracy- Can do billions of calculation in a second without error. 3. Storage- Can store data permanently. 4. Versatility- Can do various type of job at a time without error. 5. Automation- It can run itself without human interaction. It is an automatic machine because once it start on a job they carry until job is finished. 6. Diligence- Unlike human being, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness and lack of communication. 7. Reliability 8. Convenience 9. Flexibility 10. Power of Remembering 11. Larger Storage 48
  • 49. 12. No Feeling Wikipedia (2009). 2.10.7 COMPUTER SYSTEM The computer consists of vital components which are very essential for information processing. The component are divided into two main categories namely i. Hardware. ii. Software. HARDWARE includes all equipment or physical devices used in processing data and delivering information. It encompasses everything that is tangible. I.e. any part that can be seen, touched and felt. Hardware can belong to any unit such as the input unit (keyboard, mouse, scanner), output unit (monitor or console, printer, speaker), storage unit ( Hard disk, flash disk, Floppy disk, compact disk, Diskette, memory card) processing unit (Ram, Rom) and other peripheral parts such as power pack, plotter etc. SOFTWARE: - These are the invisible or intangible portions of the computer. A software is a set of instruction the computer programs that are used to command the computer. Computer software are divided into two categories i. System Software. 49
  • 50. ii. Application Software. System Software is also referred to as operating system. This software provides routines needed to allow application software‟s to interact with the hardware. I.e. it interprets user‟s programme commands. This operating system is a collection of programme modules that act as interface between the computer hardware and the user. Application Software:- These are programmes created specifically to meet the user‟s need. The ones developed by the manufacturer are called Generalized Application Software, while the one developed by the user are called user program or user-define software. Examples of Generalized Applications packages are word processing software‟s, spreadsheet software, Graphics etc. Pelgrum and law (2003) state that near the end of the 1980s, the term computer was replaced by Information Technology (IT). Information Technology according to Ayo,(2001) is the use of computer system and telecommunication equipment in information handling. He identifies three basic component of information technology. These components include a. Electronic processing using the computer. b. Transmission of information using telecommunication equipment. 50
  • 51. c. Dissemination of information in multimedia. Oketunji, (1999) quotes Marghalana M.A as being of the view that information technology encompasses the notion of application of technologies to information handling. This includes generation, storage, processing, retrieval, dissemination etc. However, Cole (1956) supplied a useful definition which was given by the Department of Trade and Industry in Britain, which states that information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numeric information by a micro-electronic based combination of computing and telecommunication. Some of the IT facilities are computers of various types, scanners, printers, servers, word processors, photocopiers etc and other devices for information acquisition and dissemination such as teleconferencing/video conferencing, Networks, tele-text, facsimile, internet, e-mail and voice mail etc. These signify a shift of focus from computer technology to the capacity to store and retrieve information. This was followed by the introduction of the term ICT (information and communication technology) around 1992, when e-mail started to become available to the general public (Pelgrum, w.J law N, 2003). Literature search revealed quite a number of studies globally on the impact of ICT on teaching, learning and other research activities. However, Itegboye (2002) describes ICT as the application of computers, telecommunication equipment to process, store, retrieve 51
  • 52. and send information of all kinds. She added that information is power and technology is the bedrock of development of any nation. Adeya, (2002) describes ICT as electronic means of capturing, processing, storing and disseminating information. According to another definition by Adeya, 2002, ICTs are embedded in networks and services that affect the local and global accumulation and flowing of public and private knowledge. But according to united Nation report (1999) say that ICT covers internet services provision, telecommunication equipment and services, information technology equipment and services, media and broadcasting, libraries and documentation centres, commercial information providers, Network-based information services and other related information and communication activities. UNESCO (2002) studies on the stages of teaching and learning using ICT facilities, the report draw out some broad stages in the way student and teacher learn about and gain confidence in the use of ICT. These stages are discovering, learning how, understanding how and when, and specializing in the use of ICT tools. It described discovering stage as a link to the emerging approach in the ICT development, which the impact of teaching, learning and research using ICT has not been quantified and the implication is that technology is still not fully explored and hence no research in the classroom is been done. Learning how to use ICT tools, in this stage where learners and teachers begin to make use of ICT tools in different disciplines and this 52
  • 53. is linked to the applying approach in the ICT development that in most development. This study therefore discovered that in most developing countries, tertiary institutions are generally at this stage, common application of ICT includes editorial work and internet. Actual research on how students learn and use ICT tools has just begun in most institutions. The third stage, understanding how and when to use ICT tools to achieve particular purposes. The ability to recognize situation where ICT will be helpful choosing the most appropriate tool for a particular task, and using these tools in combination to solve real problems. In study, an example was cited using Excel by students to plot graphs of statistical data generated from a classroom exercise. This stage is linked with infusing and transforming approaches in the ICT development. The last stage in the study is specializing in the use of ICT tools, here students study ICT as a subject to become professional as opposed to the general knowledge in the use of ICT where courses are supposed to be handled together with basic ICT tools associated with it. The above four stages are closely related and do provide a framework or a model for an ICT curriculum. Teachers expertise is finely tuned to the teaching and learning setting, what is flexing and responding to the introduction of digital technologies. They further lamented that integration of ICT with teaching and learning activities support knowledge building and consolidation and application to new contexts. Although ICT can be adapted to different needs, its 53
  • 54. exploitation is limited by forceful constraints‟. These include resourcing, technical and classroom management issues. They concluded that success relies on exploiting dynamic visual representations as a reference point in order to exchange ideas, negotiate meanings, build knowledge, and restructure problems. A supportive classroom culture is characterized by structured activities and interactions which promote teachers insights into teachers thinking and vice versa. These incorporate proactive and responsive guidance that continually assesses and accommodates learners various and shifting needs. In concrete terms, ICT enhances teaching and learning through its dynamic, interactive, flexible and engaging content. It provides real opportunities for individualized instruction. Further more, the application of ICT enhances and facilitates teachers pedagogical activities. For instance, e-learning is one most common means of using ICT to provide education to students both on and off campus by means of on-line teaching offered via web based system (Yusuf, 2005; Mutula, 2003). Abifarin, (2003) asserted that the Nigeria educational system cannot afford to ignore the potentials of ICT for its continued survival, because no other delivering model or medium can cope with demand for up-to-date information and ideas across the world. The up- to-date training facilities depend to a very large extent on the ability to harness ICT as a source of knowledge and man power development. 54
  • 55. However, according to Finger, Russell, Jamieson Proctor and Russell, 2006, p.17) says without adequate infrastructure and technical support meaningful ICT learning experiences by students might not happen at all. Similarly, training and professional development for teacher in ICT use needs to be effective. 2.10.8 ELEMENTS OF ICT Hess, Leal (2001), reported that four elements of ICT are distinguished. a. Equipment or hardware: physical devices, such as personal computers and mobile phones. b. Content/data/information/subject matter: Thing to be learned and to be learned about. c. Connectivity: communication infrastructures which enable data/content to be passed between and shared by the users of hardware devices. d. Software which control and functions and operation of the hardware and communications and allow data/content to be manipulated by users of hardware devices. Software is increasingly built into (embedded in) hardware but may also be passed between devices (just as though it is data) and then used by them to allow new or better functionality. 55
  • 56. This is of course a much simplified picture: for other purposes it is useful to distinguish many more separate categories. Educational software is any combination of content and software used for educational purposes. For each of the four categories, there is or maybe both a general and an application (education) specific subcategory, with overlaps between them of these categories, content is the most important, the rest are means of improving its effectiveness and delivering. ICT provides many different modes of and tools for information processing, including calculation, text/word processing, spreadsheets, Databases, graphics, animation, sound, communication (e-mail), dissemination, information retrieval and virtual reality. 2.10.9 USES OF COMPUTERS The use of computer and its application areas are a) E-Marketing: This can simply be defined as achieving marketing objectives through use of electronic communications technology. It involves moving elements of marketing strategies and activities to a computerized networked environment such as the internet. It is the strategic process of creating, distributing, promoting and pricing goods and services to a target market over the internet or through digital tools. b) E-Banking: Internet banking or online banking is a term used for performing transactions, payments etc over the internet through 56
  • 57. a bank‟s secure website. Example is the automated money transfer (ATM). c) Health Service: The automatic monitoring of patient records, diagnosis and therapy administration has been made easy with the use of computers. The auto Doctors, magnetic resonance scanners and computerized axial tomography are inventions brought about by the use of computers. d) E-Business: Electronic business is conducting business on the internet. It includes buying, selling, servicing customers and collaborating with business partners via internet. e) E-Entertainment/Re-creation: The internet offers host of entertainment such as games, music, sports. The presence of film industry on the internet along side with various entertainment and News websites makes the internet an avenue for catching fun. f) Education: Computers can be used in education in the following ways i. On-line Education: This term encompasses any kind of learning that is done exclusively online. At times the learning is through free self study website e.g. WEBCT. ii. Application Packages: Computer aided instruction (CAI) and computer aided learning (CAL) has tremendously 57
  • 58. reduced the work load of teachers and increased students successes. Internet resources that are used in education includes i. E-Mails (Electronic mail): This is the exchange of electronic messages and computer files between computers that are connected to the internet or other computer network. E-mail can be used by students to communicate with lecturers, teachers and colleagues. ii. Virtual Library: This is one of the best ways of getting library information via the internet. iii. World Wide Web (www): This is a hypermedia based system for browsing internet sites. It is called the web because it is made up of many sites linked together; students can travel from one site to another by clicking on hyperlinks. iv. Usenet: This is the discussion groups on the internet that talks about specific topics. A newsgroup is a repository, usually within the Usenet system where students can post educational topics for discussion. v. File Transfer: This is the transfer of files, software‟s etc between a host and remote computers. vi. Data Conferencing: This is a communication session in which two or more participants are sharing computer based data in real time. Any participants keyboard/mouse can control screens 58
  • 59. of other participants. Voice mail or voice communication can be out of band using a totally separate voice connected or in- band using a simultaneous voice and data technology. vii. Video Conferencing: It involves the using of a computer, video camera and network such as internet to conduct a live conference between two or more people (students and lecturers/teacher). Video Conferencing is an extremely useful method of communication because it saves people the time and expense of travel and can often accomplish many of the things a physical meeting can. A two person video conference is known as point to point, while more than two people involved in a session is a multipoint conference. viii. Teleconferencing/Web cast: This is the use of electronic channels to facilitate real time communication among groups of people at two or more locations. Teleconferencing is a generic term that refers to a variety of technologies and application including audio-conferencing, audio graphic, video-conferencing, data conferencing, business, television and distance learning or distance education. ix. Gopher: Gopher is a distributed document search and retrieval system. It takes a request for information and then scans the internet for it. 59
  • 60. 2.11 ICT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN UK The use of ICT in secondary school has a recent but relatively fast moving history in the school curriculum in the UK. In the early to middle 1960s, computers were rarely seen in the schools and few teachers had any formal training. With the increased availability of computers at the end of the 1970s, computer studies examinations courses became popular and were taught in specialist computer rooms (DES, 1990s). Boyd Barrett (1991) argued that the interest was restricted to male teachers of science and mathematics departments. It was with the introduction of microcomputers in the 1980s, that it became possible to introduce computers into individual classrooms to support the curriculum. However, it was the introduction of national curriculum in 1990 that established a need for computers in the school curriculum. Pupils/students were required to use computers for their lessons to communicate and handle information, design, develops, explore and explore models of real or imaginary situations and measure and control physical variables and movement (DES, 1990b). The latest National curriculum document for design and technology (D & T) highlights the compulsory nature of computer- aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM) in secondary schools as an integral part of designing and making (DFEE, QCA, 1999). Similarly, the postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) students to gain qualified teachers status (QTS) must demonstrate by the end of their courses that they 60
  • 61. have achieved all the „Standard‟ required on courses of initial teacher training (DFEE,1998). These include knowledge and understanding of, and competence with ICT in the subject to enable them to decide when the use of ICT is appropriate and effective to achieve their teaching objectives. 2.12 ICT AND SECONDARY EDUCATION Secondary education is concerned with acquiring additional knowledge, behavioral and other skills. Possession of basic knowledge, skills and attitudes will be assumed. Presentation of the intellectual content will be ICT-based and largely under the control of the pupil/student. It will involve studying subjects and skills in greater depth. The aim will be to enable each learner to maximize their individual potential in individual subjects. It will be concerned with building on those, so that learners acquire further knowledge and skills according to their aptitudes, needs and preferences. Posen and Michelle (1995). Education and training are fundamental to achieving priorities for the Nigerian economy in the twenty-first century. All Nigerians need to be “enterprising, innovative, adaptable and socially responsible participants in the information economy‟‟ and Nigeria will be at a serious disadvantage in the global knowledge economy if it fails to produce workers, professionals and managers. With the skills to work 61
  • 62. in the online environment (National Office of the Information Economy, 1999, p.11). These national views also are reflected in the Nigerian Curriculum framework. To meet this challenge, the Nigeria government has invested on information technology in schools. However, increased spending on ICT in schools does not necessarily quarantee improved teaching and learning environments and improved student‟s outcomes. [Centre for Research on information technology and organization, 1999, EDNA, 1999a; While, 1999]. Education has a poor history of successfully meeting the challengers of shifts in information technology (Trinidad, 1998). There has been far too little research into the implementation and educational benefits of technology rich school learning environments. Therefore, this research as part of the larger study is investigating on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in ICT on the secondary school students, as well as the attitudes of students to using ICT in learning food science. Preston (1998) describes some of the information technology (IT) products that would be used in the classroom of the future to include electronic whiteboards, which teachers can use to write on the board in the conventional method while integrating with the computer at the same time; delivery of lesson notes in the form of interactive presentations, which will be projected onto the whiteboard incorporating video animation and sound; and liquid crystal display LCD projectors, which 62
  • 63. will be used in a similar way to project video images and live television programmes. The white board helps students to develop cognitive skills, enables ICT use to be more integrated into classroom, allow text and images to be moved around the board and/ or changed, and finally allows work to be saved or to be printed out (Gage, 2006). Similarly, detachable LCD displays from laptop computers will be used to give presentations using an overhead projector. To achieve the effective use of these tools, scholars must learn or improve on the use of the new set of skills associated them, such as strategies to search for relevant materials skills in evaluating the quality of documents found, knowledge of such web design skill in using discussion forum and chat rooms and a basic understanding of how to send e-mail attachment(Lacey, 1999 quoted in Ojedokun and Owolabi 2003).The classroom of the future should have a mobile furniture i.e. tables with mounted wheels and rolling chairs. This mobility of furniture allows the students to see the fixed interactive white board and also makes possible to change direction of teaching and gives students more surface to work in groups. This classroom of the future promotes not only a sense of well being and produces a home-like atmosphere and its interior is technically well equipped and designed for effective teaching. Jervis and Steeg (2000) discussed the use of internet in secondary schools in British schools to support teaching and learning. 63
  • 64. 2.13 TEACHING AND LEARNING STYLES AND ICT People have preferred styles of learning. For example, some people prefer to read or listen while others like a highly visual approach. Research [Carbo, 1986; campell and Campbell, 1999] continues to show what when learners are able to use their own particular styles of learning and processing information on their motivation, initiative and result improve. People have preferred ways of absorbing, processing, and retaining information (schunk, 2000) Not synonymous with academic ability, this preference is called learning or cognitive styles. The term learning styles or cognitive style are often used interchangeable (James and Garduer, 1995). Gregore (1982a) defines learning styles as the way that people perceive, sort, absorb, process and retain information. Within and Good enough (1981) elaborated that cognitive styles are individual differences in how people process information. Similarly, James and Garduer (1995) defined learning style as “the ways individual learners react to overall learning environment” (p.19). While Dunn and Dunn (1993) added that both biological and environment characteristics contribute to a student‟s learning style. Teacher centered learning approaches often our passive reception of knowledge, whereas learner centered approaches encourage a process of active inquiry. Learners are best motivated to learn when 64
  • 65. they can take responsibility for their own learning as it is an active process. Interactive technologies encourage active learning and with the increased popularity of computers, today‟s students are learning with technology, as opposed to learning about technology. Schweizer, 1999; Nelson, 2001) show, teachers can provide powerful learning opportunities through ICT when students are responsible for their own learning and are active learners defining their learning needs; finding information on their own knowledge base and communicating their discoveries. These ICT (computers) need to be carefully designed, giving thought to the different learning styles of students and the way in which students learning. In the information age, the implication of a move from teacher- centered to learner centered education are that it is important for students to be able to analyze and synthesize enormous amount of information, thus determining what should be learned, how it will be learned and when it will be learned. The specific ICT competencies refer to the special skills a teacher trainee acquires in other to enhance the quality of the teaching and learning that takes place in the school. The special skills cannot be acquired without the general abilities, and the general abilities are not of much benefit if the teacher does not possess specific skills for applying ICTs in his teaching activities. Studies in ICT development in both developed and developing countries identify at least four broad 65
  • 66. approaches through which ICTs could be adopted for teacher training and professional development. EMERGING APPLYING INFUSING TRANSFORMING Model depicting a continuum of approaches to ICT application for teacher training and development The continuum model above indicates that the skills of teacher trainee flow from the emerging to the applying into the infusing and then culminates in the transforming processes of the educative activities which takes place in schools. The Emerging approach is the first stage of ICTs skills development in teachers, here the focus is on appreciation of technical functions, components and general uses of ICTs, especially for education and training. This approach tends to be theoretical and the practical components involves the personal use of ICT such as the use of word processing to prepare worksheets, locating information on CD-ROMs or on the internet, or communicating with friends and family via e-mail. The emphasis here is on training of teachers in a range of tools and applications, and increasing teachers‟ awareness of the opportunities for applying ICT to their teaching in the future. 66
  • 67. The next level of the continuum model emphasizes the application of ICTs to teachers‟ subject areas. In the applying approach, teachers use ICT for professional purposes, focusing on improving their subject teaching especially in science subject (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Geography etc) in order to enrich how they teach with a range of ICT applications. This approach often involves teachers in integrating ICT to teach specific subject skills and knowledge; beginning to change their methodology in the classroom; and support their training and professional development. The infusing approach involves the inclusion of ICT in all aspects of teacher‟s professional lives in such ways as to improve student learning and the management of learning processes. The approach supports active and creative teachers who are able to stimulate and manage the learning of students, integrating a range of preferred learning styles and uses of ICT in achieving their goals. The infusing approaches other subjects into project based curricula. Transforming teaching through ICTs involves teachers and other support staff in the school system regarding ICT as a natural part of everyday life of the system that they begin to look at the processes of teaching and learning science in new ways. The emphasis changes from a teacher-centric to a learner-centric system where the teachers is seen as a „guide by the side, rather than sage on the stage‟, helping students as the facilitator of their learning experiences to construct 67
  • 68. new learning paradigms out of the various offerings that the school makes available to them. This shift in emphasis in learners need also calls for new training needs on the part of the teachers, where they would be imbued with such components of knowledge that prepares them to annex the potentials of ICTs in sourcing and disseminating information to their students. 2.14 TEACHER TRAINING IN NIGERIA The initial teacher training process and the continuing professional development of Nigerian teachers is currently besotted by a number of changes. These are directly connected with the incessant modification of the planning policies several times before such policies have been appropriately implemented in its original form. These problems have been further accentuated by the parlous state of economic development, which has made „teaching‟ a less desirable profession for many youth. The NPE (1977, revised 1998, 2005) provided the objectives of teacher education in Nigeria as follows:  To provide highly motivated, conscience and efficient classroom teachers;  To encourage further the spirit of enquiry and creativity in teachers;  To help teachers commitment to the teaching profession. 68
  • 69. However, many researchers have noted that these „lofty‟ objectives have scarcely been met (Okebukola, 2002; Isyaku, 2002; Ukeje, 2002 & Afemikhe, 2004). For instance, the same policy document provided that the Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) shall be the minimum qualification of teachers in any level of education system (NPE, 1997, revised 1998, 2005; p.33), but the reality is completely at variance with this provision. According to the Situations and policy Analysis jointly published by the UNICEF and the Federal Government of Nigeria (1993) the Teachers Grade II certificate is still found among the qualification of teachers in Nigerian primary schools, in many states in Nigeria. Also, with the launching of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme in 1999, when it was found that there exists an inadequacy in the number of available teachers for the compulsory basic education scheme for Nigerian school children. The National Teachers Institute (NTI) was required to introduce the Pivotal Teachers Training Programme (PTTP) to train a cadre of teachers for qualification much lower than the NCE and the teachers Grade II Certificate to cater for the shortage in supply of primary school teacher needed to met the demands of the demands of the UBE scheme (NTI, 2004; Tahir, 2001). Amidst this obvious inadequacy of teacher in sufficient number and quality, Ukeje (2002) echoed the fact that teachers are the foundation of quality in the school; it is upon their number, their quality, their effectiveness, their efficiency, and their 69
  • 70. education, that depend the quality of the educative process and the education system. Whatever is needed in the society is always made a central part of the school curriculum, so that learners can jointly and severally proffer potent and innovative solutions to social challenges. But this can only be meaningful and successful if we have the right caliber of teachers. All existing teacher education programmes in Nigeria, Diploma in Education, Bachelor of Education, postgraduate Diploma in Technical education and the Nigeria Certificate in Education, all have three major components (Afemikhe, 2004). These are, to wit, the Foundations of education (Historical, Psychological, Sociological, Philosophical and Religious Foundations); Pedagogy courses (classroom Management, Curriculum Design & Development, Counseling, Design & Construction of Methodology, Measurement & Evaluation, Counseling, Design & Construction of Instructional Aids, etc.); and teaching Subjects under the broad categorizations-science, arts, social sciences. In addition, there is usually a teaching practice exercise whose duration varies across institutions. This is what the teacher training model looks like in a Nigerian Teaching education institution. This model is rather restrictive in the sense that it fails to take into cognizance the burgeoning possibilities of information and communication technologies in the teacher production process. Compounding the issues related to 70
  • 71. teacher training as discussed above is the changing social context of the 12st century that has placed a huge demand on teachers to become facilitators of knowledge acquisition in remote fields which do not have direct link with their primary professional training. The convergence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has turned the whole world into a global village, making it possible to foster interaction with people in remote geographical locations of the world at previously unimaginable speed. The phenomenon has also shortened the turn around period of knowledge such that „knowledge becomes obsolete almost as soon as it is required or learnt‟. The result of this development is that teachers are now challenged to be at the cutting-edge of knowledge production, modification and application. A view which has been further emphasized by the ubiquitous forces of globalization that has made it necessary to interact with diverse socio-cultural practices, sometimes at the expense of local cultural influences. More than ever before, the knowledge and capability for information and communication technologies have become a common denominator in all human interactions. However, the school system in Nigeria, at all levels, seems to have been left behind in this interactivity. The entire school curriculum require urgent overhauling and / or enrichment, to equip participants in the education system with the knowledge, skills and attitude for understanding and appreciating the content and structure 71
  • 72. of ICTs. This responsibility for this social reorientation lies heavily on the shoulders of the members of the teaching cadre. UNESCO (2002) also indicated that keeping pace with technological development and the changing competencies required of both students and their teachers requires a state-of-the-art curriculum and appropriate teacher development. Consequently, the teaching force in Nigeria would need to be imbued with the rudimentary skills for applying ICTs and products of technology in their teaching assignments to foster greater intellectual understanding. 2.15 THE CHALLENGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES Across Africa and most developing countries of the world, Nigeria inclusive there are a deluge of challenges confronting the application of ICTs in teacher training and in the educative process in general. These challenges include ICT in teacher infrastructures (in terms of facilities and competent staff); lack of information and information illiteracy in teachers and teacher trainers-technophobia; poor or nonexistent internet connectivity; inadequate learning resources including related educational tools, course curriculum and other learning materials; attitude of teacher-trainees and teacher trainers which indicates a gross lacking in independent learning skills and reluctance to take responsibility for their own learning; software license and highly prohibitive costs associated with the; maintenance and 72
  • 73. technical support as well as poor power supply in most parts the developing regions of the world, a problem that is peculiar to Nigeria in particular. Countries must be able to benefit from technological developments. To be able to do so, a cadre of professionals has to be educated with sound ICT backgrounds, independent of specific computer platforms or software environments. From the foregoing it is distressing to observe that Nigeria and many other countries in Sub- Saharan Africa fall below expectations regarding the use of ICTs in general and particularly in instructional/learning activities. The disparity in access to information and communications technology in Africa is occasioned by many diverse problems, including, low bandwidth for internet access, lack of funds to embark on full scale computerization, irregular supply of power, inadequate functional telephone lines and other infrastructural facilities needed to support the efficient and effective introduction and development of the technology. Nigeria is also short of manpower for effective utilization of software and for maintenance. Qualified programmers, engineers and technicians are equally difficult to find and when they are found, the (public) education sector cannot afford to retain them, as competition from the private sector is fierce. This lack of manpower breeds a compendium of other problems. Teachers can only pass on skills and ideas to the learners, if they are masters of their trade, and they are at the cutting-edge of knowledge and developments in their disciplines. This is, 73
  • 74. unfortunately not the case here in Nigeria, most teachers at all sectors of the education system have minimal or no ICT skills and hardly use existing opportunities to develop them. But this generation cannot survive the challenges posited by the contemporary social realities with this level of ignorance, technophobia and information paranoia of the teaching force. This development, therefore calls for a rethinking of the strategies that are adopted for teacher production in order to enhance the drive towards sustainable development. 2.16 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO USING ICT IN THE CLASSROOM According to Cox, Preston and Cox (1999), there are number of factors which have been identified which might influence and support teachers in using ICT in the classroom. In order to investigate these factors further in relation to teachers‟ ICT use, the study make use of technology acceptance model TAM developed by Davis, Bagozzi and Warshaw (1989) which was an adaptation of theory of reason action by Ajzen and Fisbein (1980) to investigate the reason why teachers use ICTs. Their model, shown in Figure 1, links the perceived usefulness and case of use with attitude towards using ICT and actual use (system use). They tested this model with 107 adult users, who had been using a managerial system for 14 weeks. They found that people‟s computer use was predicted by their intentions to use it and that perceived usefulness was also strongly linked to these intentions. 74
  • 75. Perceived usefulness External Attitude Behavioural Actual Variables Towards Intention to System use use use Perceived ease of use Figure 1 – Technology acceptance model (TAM) (Davis, Bagozzi and Washaw, 1989) External variables In TAM, the external variables represent the many influences on teachers which come from outside their sphere of control. These will include: The requirement of a national curriculum or national guidelines; the changes in society with the rapid growth in the uses of the Internet and ICT in general; school policies on using on using ICT; opinions of colleagues; responsibilities of the teacher; pressure from parents and students; the influence of the local education authority. Although these have been identified as very important by a number of research 75
  • 76. studies, in leading teachers to understand the need for change and to question their professional practice, discussed earlier, only a few could be investigated within the scope of the project. The main focus of this research is how teachers perceive ICTs contribution to teaching and learning. These factors come within Davis et al‟s perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use components. 2.17 PERCEIVED EASE OF USE From pervious studies there are a number of factors which have been identified which relate to the perceived ease of use of ICT, which in our case is for experienced practicing ICT/IT users. The Impact project (Watson, 1993) and other studies identified a wide range of skills and competencies which teachers felt they needed in order to find ICT easy to use. Some of these are given in Table 1 below. Table 1- Positive and negative factors influencing perceived ease of use Positive Factors Negative Factors Regular use and experience Difficult more technical support of ICT outside the classroom Ownership of a computer Need more technical support Confidence in using ICT Not enough time to use ICT Easy to control the classroom Is too expensive to use regularly 76
  • 77. Easy to think of new lesson Insufficient access to the resources ideas Can get help and advice from Restricts the content of the lessons colleagues Source: Cox, Preston & Cox, (1999). 2.18 PERCEIVED USEFULNESS If teachers see no need to question or change their professional practice according to TAM then they are unlikely to adopt the use of ICT. However, if they ICT to be useful to them, their teaching and their students‟ learning, then according to the empirical evidence of pervious studies (Cox, Preston and Cox, 1999) they are more likely to have a positive attitude to use of ICT in the classroom. In the review of literature a number of factors which will contribute of teachers‟ perceived usefulness of ICT were identified. Some of these factors are given in Table in 2 below. Table 2- Positive and negative factors influencing perceived usefulness Positive Factors Negative Factors Make my lessons more Makes my lessons more difficult interesting Make my lessons more Make my lessons less fun 77
  • 78. diverse Has improved the Reduces pupils‟ motivation presentation of materials for my lessons. Gives me more prestige Impairs pupils‟ learning Makes my administration Restricts the content of the lessons more efficient Gives me more confidence Is not enjoyable Makes the lessons more fun Takes up too much time 2.19 ADVANTAGES OF ICT TO SCIENCE Science is a foundation which the bulk of present technological development is built. Through its application, man ensures the longetivity of his existence through various discoveries, innovations and inventions that have improved the quality of lives of mankind. The prestige, political power and economic survival of any nation resides in its level of scientific activities. Developed nation of the world are so called based on their advancement and growth in science and technology. For Nigeria to be at par with the developed nations of the world, there is need to make science more ensure its effective teaching and learning in our schools. 78
  • 79. Modem science curricular stresses students‟ involvement in science activities and teachers use of pedagogy that moves always from teacher dominated to student centered. Also, this age is witnessing the use of ICT in teaching/learning process. Computers are important to ICT. For a developing countries like Nigeria, computers have become deeply involved in many areas of human life than any other dominant technology literacy in our educational system has been considered imperative (Abimbade, 1997; Akudolu,2002; Oludipe,2004). Abimbade, (1997) was of the view that the use of computer as instructional tools permit self-pacing by learners provide remedial instruction for those who need it, and support learner‟s exploration of all aspects of knowledge that is of interest. Badmos, (2004) benefits that ICT enable learners to absorb more information with a short time limit. Infact, there is a widespread belief that ICT can empower teachers and learners, transforming teaching and learning process from being highly teacher dominated to students centered and this information will result in increased learning gains for students, creating and allowing for opportunities for learners to develop their creativity, problem-solving abilities, informational reasoning skills, communication skills and other high thinking skills. (Trucano, 2005). 2.20 STUDIES ON TEACHERS USES OF ICTS Previous studies into teacher use of ICTs have identified staff development as one of the contributing factors in using ICT effectively 79
  • 80. in the classroom. McCartney (2004) gave a report on an investigation into effective staff development in ICT for teachers. A sample of Scottish primary school teachers have been surveyed to investigate the impact of different models of staff development in ICT on the teachers and to explore the knowledge and skills gained by teachers from staff development: technical; academic /content-related; pedagogy. The results indicate the need for a much greater emphasis to be placed on the pedagogy of ICT. This should be of interest to all involved in teacher education and the continuing professional development of teachers. Mosley et al. (1999 in UNESCO 2004), in a study of primary school teachers known to be achieving either average or above average gains on measures of relative attainment by pupils, that focused on pedagogy using ICT. Observation showed that the successful teachers were those who used examples and counter examples and involve students in explaining and modeling in the class. Teachers who favored ICT were likely to have well –develop ICT skills and to see ICT as an important tool for learning and instruction. They were also likely to value collaborative working, enquiry and decision making by students. Teacher‟s pedagogical approaches are in turn affected by a number of key factors. First, they are affected by knowledge of their own subject. There is a clear distinction between teachers who choose ICT resources to fit within a particular topic who choose resources merely to present pupil‟s work in a new way, without 80
  • 81. any direct application to the topic. The evidence shows that when teachers use their knowledge both the subject and also how the student understand with their use of ICT have more direct effect on students‟ attainments. Cox et al., (1999) report findings of small project funded by the Teachers Training Agency and Oracle through the MirandaNet project, set up to investigate the factors which have contributed to the continuing use of ICT by experience ICT and ICT teachers in their teaching. Evidence has been collected through a literature search, teacher‟s questionnaires, teachers‟ reports and interviews. The factors which have found to be most important to these teachers in their teaching were; making the lesson more interesting, easier and more fun to them and their pupils, more diverse, more motivating for the pupil and more enjoyable. Additionally, more personal factors were improving presentation of materials, Allowing greater access to computers for personal use, giving more power to the teachers in the school, giving the teacher more prestige, making the teacher‟s administration more efficient and providing professional support through the internet. Gray and Souter (2004) in a study of secondary science teachers use of ICT conducted in America focuses on the data from one aspect of the use of ICT in secondary subject areas, and the perception of teachers in these areas. A comparison of science teachers‟ perception is made with teacher from other disciplines. Although the responses of biology teachers could be 81
  • 82. analyzed the number s in the study were quite small overall so a general view is taken across the three science disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Examination of the data indicated that, relative to other subject teachers, science teachers came out positively with regards to use and confidence in ICT. However, in absolute terms and although the availability of computing facilities were reportedly quite high, actual level of use was quite low. In addition, where level of use was higher, it was with regard to a rather narrow range of applications, particularly word-processing. In addition, little was reported in the way of pupil use of ICT in science, teachers‟ classes. Although there appeared to be an ICT radically changing the way in which teaching took place, nor changing the teacher-student relationship. Science teachers were reasonably confident in their use of ICT but felt that they needed much more in the way of support and professional development to maximize their use of ICT in the classroom. The Gordon University Aberdeen (2004) in a study conducted in Scotland on teachers ICT skills and knowledge need reported that the use of ICT is relatively low and is focused on a fairly narrow range of ICT. Word processing is the predominant use made of ICT in the primary and secondary schools. There is some use of externally produced software in both sectors and secondary teachers tend to use a boarder range of generic packages such as spreadsheets and DTP than do primary teachers. There is very little use of internet and WWW or e- 82
  • 83. mail by either primary or secondary teachers, despite the fact that the majority of secondary schools have access to the internet. Resources such as video conferencing and network computer conferencing are rarely used. The study further revealed that primary teachers use ICT primarily to support classroom practice; secondary teachers use it as much or more for professional development and use personal use in the classroom. Teachers are using ICT throughout the curriculum but and attitude varies in secondary schools between subject areas. Mathematics and science teachers use ICT relatively little while, amongst non-computing teachers, ICT is used most by teachers of business and management subjects. 2.21 COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING AND EDUCATION CAI is about breaking down of information and skills into small pieces. It is one of the newest instructional innovations for the learning environment from the points of view of taught, it is fast becoming a valuable educational resources. CAI is a general term used to describe virtually any learning activity that is promoted by a computer or in which a computer is involved (Beach, 1983; Hudsan 1984; Barter and Yeata 1985) Hardly and Bostrum, for example have investigated a number of important factors relating to the use of CAI in secondary schools. Johnson (1985) has described similar studies relating to the teaching of language development. CAI is schools within the UK has been positively influenced by the government microelectronics 83
  • 84. education programme (Gilbert, 1982). CAI satisfied many of the theoretical requirement for a good learning environment advanced by leading psychological theorists such as B. F Skinne (1968). It involves the individual actively in the learning process, which supposedly facilitates learning (Mckenzle, Elton and Lewis, 1978). The research finding indicated support for CAI as an effective tool in improving learning while reducing the amount of time required for learning to occur. The use of CAI was found to favorably affect students attitudes towards the use of the computer in general. However, computer assisted learning is very similar to the experiential mode of learning. In experiential learning, seldom takes place by role because students immerse themselves in a situation in which they are forced to perform. But with CAI, several experimentation are collected on the course software package to understand the concepts and techniques. (as in physics and chemistry). Before using the software, students will be asked to do a simple problem by hand without the aid of a software. Then use the software to see in what format the software provides the solution. Larger and problematic topics which are hard to be handled by hand can be solved by CAI. In using CAI, it involves tell me and I will forget, show me and I might remember. But involve me and I will understand. 84
  • 85. 2.22 COMPUTER ASSISTED TEACHING AND EDUCATION In recent years, computer assisted instruction and computer assisted teaching techniques has proved to be quite successful, whether in the classroom or for individual learning. Various computer programs help students learn writing, maths, science, English and those in the form of games help motivate students while keeping them interested in what they are doing. Teaching using computers at secondary school level has many virtues, it is patient, positive, does not forget and can keep reach of each student‟s progress. Information that help to teach or encourages instruction can be presented on computers in the form of text or in a multimedia formats, which includes photographs, videos, animation, speech and music. The guided drill is a computer program that poses questions to students, return feedback and select additional questions based on the students responses. Recent guided drill system incorporate the principles of education in addition to subject matter knowledge into the program. Using multimedia in education results in the increasing productivity and retention rates because people remember 20% of what they see, 40% of what they see and hear and about 75% of what they see, hear and do simultaneously. 85
  • 86. Computers also can help student visualize objects that are difficult or impossible to view for example, computers can be used to display human anatomy, molecular structures or complex geometrical objects. Exploration and manipulation of simulated environments can be accomplished computer assisted teaching technique ranging from virtual laboratory experiments that may be too difficult, expensive or dangerous to perform in a school environment to complex virtual worlds likes those used in airplane flight simulators. Computer assisted teaching technique tools, such as word processors, spreadsheet, and databases, collect, organize, analyze and transmit information. They also facilitate communication among students, between students and instructors and beyond the classroom to distant students, instructors and experts. Computer assisted teaching techniques system can be categorized based on who control the progression of the lesson. Early systems were linear presentations of information and guided drill and control was directed by the author of the software. 2.23 STUDENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS ICT ATTITUDE FORMATION Much psychological research have been undertaken in the area of attitude and attitude formation. Common findings in the research shows that attitude and beliefs are linked, attitude and behavior are 86
  • 87. linked and attitudes are essentially likes and dislikes. Ben (1970) maintains that our affinities for and aversions to situations, objects, persons, groups or any other identifiable aspect of our environment, have roots in our emotions, behavior and social influences upon us. However, attitude connotes a subjective or mental state of preparation for action. Attitude finds their roots in our beliefs and they influence our behavior. They represent the way in which we view the world and organize our relationships. Attitudes are literally mental postures and guide for conduct to which each new experiences is referred before a response is made. Droba (1933) described attitude as a mental disposition of the human individual to act for or against a definite object. Krueger and Reckless (1931) defined attitude as a residuum of experience which conditions and controls further activity. More research indicates that attitude represents a summary of evaluation of a psychological object and is described both internally and externally is dimensions such as good-bad, likeable-dislikeable, harmful- beneficial, pleasant-unpleasant (Ajzen and Fishbeins, 2000; Eagly chaiken 1993). If students who are approaching an interaction with elements of an online learning program such as an animation may have already based their attitude towards the experience on past interactions such as formal learning situations which incorporate information and communication technology (ICT) as well as the abundance of such 87
  • 88. technologies available on a daily basis through media in general. Their attitude may also be influenced by their perceptions of the relationships between conflicting dimensions of the visual representation before them. Krech, critchfield and livson (1958), describe attitudes as being comprised of three main components: the cognitive, the affective and the behavioral. The cognitive component categories the individual‟s ideas and beliefs regarding an event or object. This cognitive category must also become associated with pleasant or unpleasant event. This results in the category becoming charged with meaning and a behavioral pattern develops. Behavioral pattern may be developed in the sample towards interaction with technology. The behavioral component is comprised of beliefs regarding the correct behavior towards member of a particular category. Over a period of time and following a series of experiences students develop either favorable or unfavorable feelings associated with certain interactions. These feeling may form the basis of their attitudes towards their own self conceptualization of the use of ICT as a means of enhancing learning. According to Markman and Brendl (2000), Human being experience a positive reaction or attitude towards objects that assist in the attainment of their personal goals, and negative reactions and attitudes towards objects that in some way hinder the attainment of desirable outcomes. 88
  • 89. Student attitude towards ICT emerge through the interaction with animation utilized for learning. The idea that attitude function to evaluate psychological objects would appear to imply that individuals hold only one attitude towards a given object at any one time. Recent research indicates that this is simplistic and that when attitude change, the new attitude may override but not completely replace the one attitude. Wilson et al (2000) suggests that a model of dual attitudes is a more realistic conceptualization in that people can hold two different attitudes towards an object at any given time. Wilson et al (2000) posits that while an individual is capable of interaction with two different attitudes at once, one can be viewed as implicit while the other operates more manifestly as explicit in expression. The implicit is automatically activated when the individual is presented with an attitude object while the explicit is more likely to require cognitive effort. Wilson et al (2000) found that implicit attitudes exerted more influence than explicit attitudes over involuntary non-verbal behavior signaling discomfort such as excessive blinking, avoidance of eye contact and spatial distance. During life, expression lead to formation of many different beliefs about objects, action and events. Some attitudes may be stable over time, other may exhibit frequent shift. According to Fishbein and Ajzen (1975), a person‟s attitude towards an object is primarily determined by no more than five to seen beliefs that are salient at any given time. But, it appears to be impossible to 89
  • 90. obtain a precise measure of the beliefs that determine an individual‟s attitudes, since the number of salient beliefs may vary from person to person. Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) postulated that attitudes are inextricably linked to and based upon beliefs and evaluate responses associated with those beliefs. Ajzen and Fishbein (2000) went further to infer that evaluative responses meaning arises spontaneously and inevitably as we form beliefs about an object. Each belief associates the object with a certain attribute which is embedded in context, culture and memory. According to Havgtevedt (1997) and Miniard and Barone (1997), beliefs are only one possible influence on attitudes. Zajonc (1980) had already indicated in earlier research that attitudes may also be controlled by affective processes. Verplanken et al. (1998) supported zagonic‟s work who suggests that evaluative response times were less for those participants being asked how they attitude object. Verplanken‟s study indicated that the affective aspect underlying attitudes are more easily accessible in memory and it may be that these aspects play a larger role in the formation of attitudes than previously thought. 2.24 STUDENT ATTITUDES AND MULTIMEDIA IN EDUACTION The theory of planned behavior suggests that when students engage and interact with a particular program or software element is influenced by attitudes towards using ICT. However, in the present stage of ICT-based educational developments, multimedia approaches 90
  • 91. have become an important component of the educational process. Passing and Levin (2000) provided an in-depth analysis of multimedia packaged and stated that when using multimedia approaches in learning, the student does not only study the subject matter, but also study or deal with the synthetically programmed environment. The ease of use and the uniformity of the multimedia interface have significant implications for both leaders and students, since they provide a platform for higher level of motivation, concentration, and understanding of the content being studied. Multimedia is a judicious mix of various mass media such as print, audio and video or it may mean the development of computer based hardware and software packages produced on a mass scale and yet allow individualized use of learning. Fenrich (1997) defined multimedia as the existing combination of computer hardware and software that allows you to integrate video, animation, audio, graphics and test resources to develop effective presentations on an affordable desktop computer. Philips (1997) say multimedia is characterized by the presence of text, pictures, sound, animation and video; some or all of which are organized into some coherent program. The term multimedia describes a number of diverse technologies that allow visual and audio media to be combined in new ways for the purpose of communication, education, entertainment and advertising. However Neo and Neo (2001) described multimedia as the 91
  • 92. combination of various digital media types (images, sound, video, text) they complete an integrated multi-sensory interactive application to present the information to an audience. According to Agnew, Kellerman and Meyer (1996) multimedia means an individual or a small group using a computer to interact with information that is represented in several media, by repeatedly selecting what to see and hear next. However, using multimedia in education results in the increasing productivity and retention rates. In an exclusive interview with some student at sevenoaks senior college on the use of ICT for learning indicated that with ICT, the students could access WebCT for course information, WebCT provides the students with the means to access the course outlines, objectives, information about assessment and notes for each subject (IDS4:2001). Students are able to access the lesson notes and contents ( in cases where schools have personal site containing a tailored course profile with direct links to the subjects that apply to them). Students indicated their enthusiasm about the advantages that ICT (WebCT) provides. For many subjects, students felt that ICT offered them flexibility, allowing them to work at their own pace (albeit to a deadline). The objectives were made clear and the content to be covered was explicit. Student felt that, if they missed a class, they were in a position to catch up more easily than a traditional classroom and there was also the 92
  • 93. option to move ahead if they wished to do so. Some students felt that ICT reduced the amount of paperwork that needed to be carried from lesson to lesson, and therefore the likelihood of loosing papers and notes was also reduced. ICT can be used by a number of students to communicate with teachers and to email assignment. Some online courses have been developed, some of which includes English (related to the analysis of television drama), physics (related to nuclear physics) using a constructivist frame work (Feynman, 1963; Kuhn, 1962; Vygotsky, 1962) to support students construction of knowledge rather than the transmission of knowledge. This tend to build connections between prior knowledge to form more integrated understanding, support inquiry activities and emphasise the collaborative construction of knowledge. Chemistry software prepared by ETH (Eidgenossiche Technische Hochschule Zurich/Switzerland) are available through the internet. This software includes experiments on the subject concepts, which can be viewed on real player. 2.25 MANAGING STUDENT’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS SCIENCE Many factors could contribute to student‟s attitude towards studying science. Slee (1964) indicated that students‟ attitude and interest could play substantial role among pupils studying science. Several studies (including Simpson, 1978, Wilson, 1983, Soyibo, 1985) report 93
  • 94. that students‟ positive attitudes to science correlate highly with their science achievement. Again, Balogun (1975) reported that, in general, the attitudes of Nigerian students towards the basic sciences tend to decrease in the order, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. Defiana (1995) found that using integrated science environment activities improved high school students‟ attitudes towards and awareness about the environment. Abimbade (1983) reported that students exposed to a programmed instruction recorded higher and more favourable attitude toward mathematics. Aiyelaage (1998) also reported a more positive attitude of students after exposing them to self learning strategy. Similar results were obtained by Udousoro (2000) after using computer and text assisted programmed instruction and Popoola (2002) after exposing students to a self learning device. Halladyna and Shanghnessy (1982) have concluded that a number of factors have been identified as related to students‟ attitude to science. Such factors includes; teaching method, teacher‟s attitude, influence of parents, gender, age, cognitive styles of pupils, career interest, societal view of science and achievement. Studies have revealed the influence of methods of instruction on students‟ attitude towards science. Kempa and Dube(1974) worked on the influence of science instruction; the result was that attitude becomes more positive after instruction. Long (1981) also concluded that diagnostic-prescriptive treatment promotes positive attitude. From National Survey (Weiss, 94
  • 95. 1987) student attitudes towards school seem to deline as the students progress through school. Further studies have shown that students maintain a poor attitude towards school, with that attitude declining from junior to senior school (Harms, Bybee, and Cages, 1979; Hofstein and Welch, 1984). 2.26 STUDENTS ATTITUDE TOWARDS MATHEMATICS Without mathematics there cannot be any meaningful progress in science and technology. Mathematics plays the backbone role in science and technology. It is also the foundation upon which science are built. The pivot around which all science subjects revolves. However, students attitude towards mathematic can be obtained through their statements, their performance and general behaviors towards the subject. Hassan, (1982) discovered in his study that factors of poor academics performance reside in students, teachers and home. He said lack of student‟s commitment to and motivation for the work as reflected by high truancy rate, lack of concentration during lessons, inability to study well, neglect of assignment and pleasure seeking attitudes contributes substantially to poor performance and negative attitude to mathematics. Samson (1987) was of the opinion that lack of teaching aids, shortage of qualified teachers and poor teaching method have contributed to students negative attitude to mathematics. James (1990) carried out a study on the attitude of 95
  • 96. students towards mathematics says students develop hatred due to some scientific termindogy, which are in Latin words. He further said ineffective method of teaching mathematics; unqualified mathematics teachers in schools have influenced student‟s attitude. 2.27 STUDENTS ATTITUDES TOWARDS CHEMISTRY Chemistry is one of the three main branches of pure science. It has contributed immersely towards providing our basic need and improving the quality of life. One of the objectives of teaching chemistry in our secondary as identified by Baja, Taibo, onmu, and obikwere (1999) is to provide student with basic knowledge in chemical concepts, principles, and adequate foundation for a post secondary course. A number of factors are responsible for poor performance of students in chemistry. Some of which include i. Inappropriate methology of science delivery. ii. Lack of sufficient chemistry equipment and facilities (Jasper, 2006). iii. Mathematics concepts involved in chemistry and abstract nature of the subject (Nwokoro, 1992). iv. Lack of dedication and resourcefulness on the part of science teachers (Ogunsola, 1998). Lack of suitable learning environment, student‟s attitude towards chemistry, allocation of limited time, the emphasis during instruction on solving numerical problems, the confusing nature of acid base terminologies, lack of agreement about what should be 96
  • 97. included in the chemistry curriculum, and emotional state of student during test and examination (Olatatunde, 2000; Sheppard, 2006). 2.27 BENEFIT OF ICT TO TEACHERS There is considerable evidence of the impact of ICT on teachers and teaching. Ruthven, Hennessy and Deaney (2004) eliciting situated expertise in ICT integrated science teaching identified, documented and analyzed exemplary cases of a range of teaching practices which integrate the use of ICT to support the earning of science. This enabled them to understand how practitioners adapt their expertise when new technologies are introduced into school settings.  With ICT, teachers can design lessons around carefully controlled situations intended to focus attention on target issues, structured according to their assessments of the capacities of students to manipulate variables and interpret models or results appropriately.  Teachers use ICT to increase the ease, speed and accuracy with which routine tasks could be carried out, helping to focus attention on the key ideas, and allowing varied examples and possibilities to be considered.  Teachers ensured that students appreciated ICT mediated processes and products, sometimes through probing them to analogues „done by hand‟. 97
  • 98.  Teachers exploit the immediate feedback, ready modification and dynamic visual presentation afforded by ICT in order to make concepts more salient and accessible to students.  An overwhelming majority of teachers in Europe (90%) use ICT to prepare their lessons (Empirica, 2006).  Teachers use ICT to plan lessons more efficiently and more effectively due to a more collaborative approach and the sharing of curriculum plans with colleagues and mangers (Higgins, 2005; Harrison, 2002).  Effective exploitation of information management systems lead to increased and formalized cooperative planning between teachers and this has a positive impact on teaching practices (Underwood, 2006). However, there is not a positive picture of the use of learning management system or visual learning environments. They are still under exploited and used predominantly for administration purposes (Kessel, 2005; Underwood, 2005; Ramboll management, 2006).  Issuing teachers with their own laptop computer increases positive attitudes towards their work (Becta, 2003). 2.28 IMPACT ON LEARNERS Case studies examined in a study, indicate that relatively few teachers in the sample offered direct evidence of ICT‟s impact at attainment, preferring instead to concentrate on it‟s positive effects on behavior, 98
  • 99. motivation, communication and education authorities on the impact of the use of interactive white boards in literacy and primary science lessons in primary schools found that teachers and pupils were positive about this technology, with reports of increased motivation of learners. The evaluation show that multimedia and interactive content on interactive whiteboards is engaging and motivating and that students pay more attention during lessons. Thanks to the stimulating nature of the presentation.  Structured approaches to internet research develop students search and research skills which are transferable across the curriculum (Becta, 2006).  Interactive whiteboards make a difference to aspect of classroom interaction (Higgins, 2005).  ICT enhances a more student centered learning approach. ICT allows for greater differentiation with programmes tailored to individual „students‟ needs. In other words, ICT provides teachers with the opportunity to provide various learning tasks within the same classroom for the benefit of the individual students. According to the e- learning Nordic 2006 study, students work more in cohesion with their own learning preferences, resulting in a favorable impact on both academically strong and weak students. Students with special needs or behavioral difficulties gain in different ways from the use of ICT; ICT 99
  • 100. supports their motivation and concentration and teachers become more aware of students needs and problems.  The use of ICT and ICT competences had increases in many schools together with student‟s motivation, joy of learning and reading skills. Norwegian Pilot project reported that students assume greater responsibility for their own learning when they use ICT, working more independently and effectively.  With ICT, students receive more tasks and greater insights into teacher‟s aims, and are able to work at their own tempo with tasks appropriate for their level of study. Through the use of ICT, (Diverse learning situations) equip students with range of skills and work techniques which make them develop confidence in their own capacity to learn, that eventually enables them to perform better in their subjects. 2.29ATTITUDES TOWARDS BIOLOGY AND SCIENCES This term attitude towards biology and learning other sciences is used to refer to a general and enduring positive or negative feeling about science (Koballa and Crawley, 1985). However studies report that some students have negative stereotypes of science and scientist; they view us as “nerds” or “mad scientists” (Gardner et al, 1989). Others describe us as hard, old, frightening and colorless (Brush, 1979). This beliefs lead to a negative attitude towards science. 100
  • 101. Uno (1988) reported that students feel biology is not critical to their lives and as such develop a negative attitude towards the subject. Savadea (1976) said media sometimes presents scientific achievements as foreboding, and the media is possibly to blame for the negative attitudes of students towards science. The grades students receive also affect their feelings about their feelings about their ability to understand scientific content and their attitudes toward science. Low grades decrease students self-esteem and promote academic retrogress while high grades increase students esteem and promote academic progress (Gottfried, et al. 1993). Attitudes is a key ingredient in how students confront educational challenges. However, thoughts on why students attitudes towards biology and other sciences in general is negative is dependent on a host of factors such as the students past experiences, sense of competence need to acquire knowledge, motivation, goals, home backgrounds, school and classroom environments, biases of peer groups and student‟s perception of rewards associated with learning. Science anxiety, the fear of science learning and apprehension towards scientists and scientists and science related activities. (Gottfried, et al. 1993). Student‟s attitudes towards science decrease with age as reviewed by (Ramsden, 1998, Osborne, Simon and Collins, 2003) boys to how more positive attitudes towards science than girls 101
  • 102. (Simpson and Oliver, 1985, Schibeci and Riley; Obrien and porter, 1994; Francis and Greer, 1999) and more negatives attitudes associated with the physical sciences rather than biological sciences (Spall, Stanisstreet, Dickson and Boyes, 2004). Attitude towards physic is more negative as age of student increases (Spall et al, 2004). However, Gardner (1975) reported that curriculum and teacher‟s also affects attitude of students. 102
  • 103. CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 INTRODUCTION In this chapter, the following topics are described. They include: The research design, population of the study, sampling and sampling technique, instrumentation, validity of the instrument, reliability of the instrument; method of data collection, methods of data analysis. 3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN The study employed descriptive survey method. The method was used to allow for a vivid description of the impact, continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology is having on the attitude of secondary school science students to learning science. However, this method was used to gather data from a relatively large number of cases at a particular time. (Schreiner and Sjeberg,S, 2004). 3.3 POPULATION OF THE STUDY The population of the science students is seven hundred and seventy two (772) which were drawn from four schools used for the study. New Horizon college has one hundred and forty three(143) science students while El-Amin International schools has one hundred and sixty two (162) science students, Himma International college has a 103
  • 104. record of one hundred and ninety seven (197) science students, lastly Hill Top model school has 270 science students. Out of this population five hundred and sixty seven (567) were males and two hundred and five were females. 104
  • 105. 3.4 SAMPLING AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE The sample size of this study comprised two hundred and forty (240) senior secondary school science students randomly drawn from four selected co- educational schools in MInna metropolis, Niger State. 60 science students from each of the selected schools but 20 science students from each arm. New Horizon College, Himma Int‟l College, El-Amin Int‟l schools and Hill-Top Model schools were the selected schools used for this research, where the sample was drawn. The choice of 60 respondents for each school was purposive in order to permit the choice of equal number of male and female subject which are relevant for this study. The researcher in this situation deserves the right to this application as reported by Schreinar and (Sjeberg,2004). 3.5 INSTRUMENTATION The modified questionnaire was designed by the researcher titled “Impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology on the attitude of secondary school science students (QICPDTICTASSSS) and was used for data collection. The questionnaire (instrument) consists of two sections. Section A request the respondent‟s demographic information like the name of school, age, class sex. Section B consists of forty (40) questions of likert type response format in which the 105
  • 106. respondents were to choose. For positive statements, response s were assigned 5, 4, 3, 2, as the scores for choosing strongly agree with (SA), agree(A), undecided(U), disagree(D) and strongly disagree(S.D)respectively, while negative statements were scored in the reverse order. 20 of the items favored a positive attitude while 20 others favored negative attitude. In exploring attitudinal construct for the questionnaire, items were drawn relating to concepts which are important components of the attitudinal measures considered in this research. They include attitude towards; 1. Utilization of computers. 2. Likes and dislikes of science subjects. 3. Attitude towards teaching and learning of science subjects. 4. Application of method. 5. Curricular development. 6. Attitude towards handling equipments for practical. 7. Achievement. 8. Interest of students. 9. Career in science. 10. Motivation for studying 106
  • 107. PILOT STUDY The instrument was pilot tested in the following schools 1. Ahmadu Bahago Senior Secondary School A. 2. Ahmadu Bahago Senior Secondary School B. These schools where not part of the four schools selected for this studies. 20 students from each of the schools were randomly selected for the pilot test. The pilot test was carried out in order to establish the reliability of the instrument. After the test, items that were not responded to or were seemingly redundant were discarded. VALIDITY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE For the purpose of the pilot test, forty-six items were submitted for validation. Three experts constitutes the supervisory committee. One supervisor from department of science education, FUT minna, the second person is my project supervisor and lastly an expert from ICT department of Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State. After serious scrutiny, suggestions and modification. Six items were discarded. Forty items were certified to have content validity. RELIABILITY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained after a pilot study. Forty items were administered to 20 students (10 from each school) of SSS Classes of Ahmadu Bahago Senior Secondary School (ABSSS) A 107
  • 108. and B selected for the pilot study. The instrument was administered to the students at a sitting. 40 questions were collected and scored. After two weeks, forty items were re-administered to same 20 students (10 students from each section) at ABSSS A and B. This is known as test and re-test method. The result obtained was calculated using the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient. The Pearson product moment correlation coefficient is 0.89 at 0.05 level of significance. This indicated that the instrument is reliable. 3.6 PROCEDURE FOR DATA COLLECTION The questionnaire was administered to 240 science students (two hundred and forty students) in four different schools in Minna, Niger state. Namely; New Horizon College (NHC), El-Amin international school (EL- AIS), Himma international college (HIC) and Hill-Top Model School (HTMS) minna. Copies of the questionnaires were administered by researcher, the Heads of Department, sciences and the computer teacher of these schools visited and assisted in the distribution of the questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered to the respondents through a face to face contact. The purpose of the exercise was explained to the respondents in each school and maximum co-operation was sought in completing the questionnaires. After completion, they were collected immediately from the respondents. 10 questionnaires were not returned by the respondent (questionnaire mortality). 108
  • 109. 3.7 DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE. After the data were collected, the responses were scored to enable the researcher reduce the information into statistical form. The data was analyzed using frequency distribution, simple percentage method which analysis of variance (Anova), Statistic and Scheffe Test, using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. The following formula was used to calculate the percentages of both the total agree and total disagree respectively in respect of research question one which is a qualitative research question. % agree/disagree= Total agree/disagree X 100 Grand Total 1 109
  • 110. CHAPTER FOUR DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS 4.1 INTRODUCTION In this chapter, the analysis of the data and the results obtained were presented. The data was obtained from the scores of the questionnaire completed by the students (respondents) who constituted the sample for the study. 4.1 Answering research question one: The research question states that: What is the attitude of secondary school students on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology to learning science. 110
  • 111. 111
  • 112. Table 4.1 Shows that 43.38% of 230 students had positive attitude on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology to learning science while 39.06% had negative attitude. This represents a total of 3,926 responses of the total students who agreed on the professional development of teachers‟ impact on ICT to their attitude and 3,535 who disagreed on its impact on their attitude respectively. 4.2 HYPOTHESIS ONE (HO1) Hypothesis 1 (HOOne) states that: There is no significant difference between SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3 students attitude on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology to learning science. Table 4.2a Anova analysis on the differences between SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3 on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in ICT on the attitude of students learning science. Source of Sum of df Mean Fcal Fcrit Sign. Variance squares Square level Between groups 6473.517 2 3236.759 8.382* 3.07 0.0001 Within groups 87655.565 227 386.148 Total 94129.083 229 112
  • 113. Table 4.2a shows the ANOVA analysis on the differences between SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3 on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in ICT on the attitude of students to learning science. From the table, there is significant difference in their responses (Fcal=8.382>Fcrit 3.07; df 2,227; p<0.05). Therefore HO1 is rejected. Hence there is significant difference on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT on the attitude of students to learning science. Since Anova shows that there is significant difference in the responses in the three groups, hence there is need to carry out post hoc test to find out where the differences lies. Hence the Scheffes Post hoc test will be used for this purpose. 113
  • 114. Table 4.2b shows the result of the Scheffes Post hoc test (I) (J) Mean Sign Level Remark Difference (I-J) SSS1 Vs -7.4605 0.068 Not significant SSS2 SSS1 Vs -12.9367* 0.000 Significant SSS3 SSS1 Vs -5.4762 0.224 Not significant SSS3 From the table, there is no significance difference in the mean response between SSS1 and SSS2, similarly there is no significant difference in the mean response between SSS2 and SSS3. However, there is significant difference in the mean responses between SSS1 and SSS3, this indicate that the differences in the responses lies between SSS1 and SSS3 on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT on the attitude of students learning science. 4.3 HYPOTHESIS TWO (HO2) There is no significant difference between students age groups (13-15 years and 16-18 years) attitude on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology to learning science. 114
  • 115. Table 4.3 Anova analysis on the difference between students age groups (13-15 years and 16-18 years) attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science. Source of Sum of df Mean Fcal Fcrit Sign. Variance Squares square level Between groups 4687.337 1 4687.337 12.091* 3.92 0.001 Within groups 88389.311 228 387.672 Total 93076.648 229 *significant at 0.05 Table 4.3 shows the Anova analysis on the responses of age groups (13- 15years and 16-18 years) attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science. From the table, there is significant difference in the mean responses of the two age groups (13-15 years and 16-18 years). (Fcal 12.091>Fcrit 3.92; df 1, 228; p<0.05). therefore HO2 is rejected. Hence there is significant difference between the age groups on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT on the attitude of students learning science. 4.4 HYPOTHESIS 3 (HO3) Hypothesis 3 states that there is no significant difference between male and female students attitude on the impact of continuing professional 115
  • 116. development of teachers in information and communication technology to learning science. Table 4.4, Anova analysis on the responses of male and female (gender) students attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science. Source of Sum of df Mean Fcal Fcrit Sign. Variance Squares square level Between 48.852 1 48.852 0.116* 3.92 0.733 groups Within 95700.035 228 419.737 groups Total 95748.887 229 *significant at 0.05 Table 4.4 shows the Anova analysis on the difference between male and female students attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science. From the table, there is no significant difference in the mean responses of the gender. (Fcal 0.116<Fcrit; df 1,228; p<0.05). Therefore HO3 is not rejected. That is, there is no significant difference between the responses of male and female students attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science. 116
  • 117. 4.5 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS The major aim of the study is to find out the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology on the attitude of students learning science. Three null hypothesis were formulated and Anova and Scheffe post hoc test were used to analyse the responses obtained from the respondents. The discussion of the result is presented according to the research questions and hypothesis below; Research Question What is the attitude of secondary school students on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology to learning science. The result in table 4.1 indicates that majority of the students agreed that continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology has impact on the learning achievement of students in science. This schools that using computer to teach science subjects had positive impact on the attitude of the students. This research outcome is corroborated by Udousoro (2000), who reported a more positive attitude of students after exposing them to computer and text assisted programmed instruction, Popoola (2002) a positive attitude of students after exposing the students to a self learning devices, Abimbade (1983) who recorded higher and more favourable attitude towards mathematics and 117
  • 118. Aiyelaagbe (1998) who also reported a more positive attitude of students after exposing them to self learning strategy. Table 4.2b show that there is significant difference in the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication of teachers. But a more clarification is given in table 4.2b to show where the difference lies. From the Scheff‟s post hoc test carried out, there is significant difference between SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3 students on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology to learning science. However the hypothesis of no differences was rejected, at 0.05 level of significance. This means that the higher the student‟s class level the more positive attitude they possess. Hypothesis 2 (HO2) Table 4.3 shows that there is significant difference between the two groups (13-15 and 16-18 years) on the impact of continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology on the learning attitude of science students. This study result is in support of the findings of National Assesment of Educational Progress (NAEP), (1987) that it is imperative that students develop, at an early age, favourable attitudes towards science, and that this favourable orientation be maintained (Anderman and Machr, 1994; AAAS, 1989) and Ramsden,1998; Osborne, simon, & Collins, 2003 who reviewed that students attitude generally decrease with age. 118
  • 119. Table 4.4 shows that there is no significant difference in the responses of the male and female students attitude on the impact of continuing professional development teachers in information and communication technology on the attitude of students learning science. This may be as a result of the computer used for the teaching and learning of science. The use of simulation visual modes aided the students. This is supported by Barrination and Hendricks (1988) who found no gender differences in their recent study on attitudes toward science with gifted and average students. This study result is against the previous reports by scientists that males demonstrated significantly more positive attitudes towards science than females (Simpson and Oliver, 1985) 4.6 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 1. Secondary school students in minna metropolis, Niger State have positive attitude to the impact of CPD of Teachers in ICT to learning science. 2. There is significant difference between SSS1, SSS2, and SSS3 student‟s attitude on the impact of CPD of Teachers in ICT to learning science. This means that the higher the students class level, the more positive attitude the possess. 3. There is significant differences between the age groups of students on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT on the attitude of students to 119
  • 120. learning science. This means the higher the students advanced in age the more positive attitude they possess. 4. There is no significant difference between male and female students attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science. This means gender does not influence the positive attitude students possess on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT to learning science. 120
  • 121. CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.0 INTRODUCTION This chapter discusses the summary of findings of the study, conclusion and recommendations in the light of the findings of the study. 5.1 SUMMARY From the analysis, it is seen that the CPD of the teachers in the ICT had positive impact on the attitude of student to learning science. This is as a result of the use of simulation, animation, visual learning modes, charts, pictures and clips of scientific concept and processes which might otherwise not be possible. The use of these ICT infrastructures had broadened the students‟ horizons thereby making science learning easier for the students. However, from the results obtained in this study, gender disparity has been eliminated as both the male and female science students showed positive attitude to learning science. The higher the students age (16 – 18 years) and the higher the students class level, the more positive they are to learning science. It is thus recommended that employers of teachers should embrace CPD practices and lifelong learning that will enable science teachers to keep abreast with ICT development for continual acquisition of new knowledge, new skills and its application 121
  • 122. 5.2 IMPLICATION OF THE STUDY The implication of the study is that there is positive impact of continuing professional development of teacher in ICT on the attitude of students learning science. Using ICT for teaching and learning science makes science lesson more exciting, motivating, interactive and fun. However, the drudgery of learning certain activities by hand example drawing graphs, charts etc is eliminated thereby improving the students problem-solving skills. It increases the teachers and students proficiency in computer usage and this may in turn make the students to work privately and take autonomy of their scientific investigation thereby making them to take control of their learning. The use of simulation to show experiments that would not otherwise be possible and visual modes of presentation of some scientific concepts and processes enhances the students understanding of science. As a result of this, students now see science as an authentic, relevant and interesting subject to learn. This will increase the students understanding thence improve the students performance achievement. It the performance of the students have improved greatly, this will encourage other students who are technophobia or have phobia in science to embrace this subjects with every enthusiasm. Thereby meeting the goal of National policy on Education (NPE) which states that the ratio of science to art students in our tertiary institution should be 60:40 will be achieved. 122
  • 123. Another implication of this study is the gender disparity is eliminated. Previous research showed that male are more inclined to learning science than the female counter-part. With this study, exposing the males and females to some instruction have proved a more positive result. This will make the Nation to have more female Engineers, Doctors and Miners in the nearest future. 5.3 CONCLUSIONS From the findings of this study the following conclusions were drawn. 1. Continuing professional development of teachers in information and communication technology has positive effect on the attitude of students learning science. 2. The male and female student‟s attitude towards science leaving is the same as a result of the impact of the continuous training of teachers in ICT. 3. Student of ages 16-18yrs develop more interest in science learning than the order students, as a result of the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT. 4. Irrespective of gender, students have positive attitude on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT. 123
  • 124. 5.4 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Teacher training and professional development oriented policies should support ICT related teaching models. 2. Employers of teachers and science teachers themselves should take advantage of the several on-going in-service training on ICT by participating with enthusiasm and partnering with organizers to expand the tenure of such training or workshops, for the purpose of long term benefits for teachers. 3. From this study, it is shown that most of the respondents were drawn from private schools. This indicates that proprietors of these schools are really putting up effort in providing ICT equipment in their schools. It won‟t be out of place, if the ministries of education and local government education authorities provide computers and other ICT infrastructure in all the government owned schools so as to encourage teachers and students to use them effectively in the teaching and learning science. 4. Emphasis must be placed on pedagogy behind the use of ICTs for teaching and learning science. 5. Science teachers should embrace the continuing professional development practices and lifelong learning that enables teachers to keep in touch with ICT development, new knowledge and research in teaching and learning of science. 124
  • 125. 6. The sample used in the study was drawn from a state out of the 36 states of Nigeria. In light of this, future research should try and build on the limitations of this study by expanding f its scope to cover more states. 7. Effort should as well be made to compare ICT availability and use among science teachers in private and government own secondary schools in the country. 125
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  • 127. Cox, M.J., preston, C., and Cox,K. (1999) What motivates Teachers to use ICT? Paper presentated at the British Educational Research Association conference Brighton. September. Davis, F.D, Bagozzi, R.P and Warshaw, P.R. (1989) User acceptance of Computer Technology: a comparison of two theoretical models. Management science. 35(8) 982-1,003. Day, C. (1999), Developing Teachers: the challenges of lifelong learning: London palmer press. Fisbein, M & Ajzen, I (1975), Belief Attitude & Behaviour. An Introduction to Theory and Research, Addison Wesley, Phillipines. Fowowe, S.S. (2006). Information technology: A veritable tools for sustaining the universal Basic education programme in Africa. Paper presented at the African Conference on Achieveing Universal Basic/Primary Education in Africa in 2015. University of Bostwana. Available at http//www.checkpoint-e-learning.com/article/3935.html (Accessed on 12 may, 2009). FIDDA, D.U. 2004, The age of Computer and its application. Padmo Printing Enterprise FIDDA, D.U (2005), Computer and Society. Padmo Printing Enterprise Gyongyver molnar, New ICT tools in Education- Classroom of the future. Project at the University of Szeged. Goodall,J-Day,C., lindsay,G., muiys, D., Harris, A., (2005), Evaluating the Impact of Continuing Professional Development, Research Report No 659, Department of Education and skills, University of Warwick. Gardner, A.L., C.L. Mason, and M.L. Matyas. 1989. Equity, Excellence, and Just plain Good Teaching. Harland, J. and Kinder, K. (1997) British Journal of in-service education, vol 23, No 1. Hustler, D. MCNamara O, Jarvis J., Londra m & Campell A., (2005), Teachers Perception of Continuing Professional Development, 127
  • 128. Research report No 429, Institute of education, Manchester metropolitan University. Harms. N., Bybee R., & Yager, R.E (1979). Science and society: A review of NAEP data with implication for policies & research interpretative summary. Denver, Co: National Assessment of Education progress (NAEP). Jacowski, Tony. (2009): The importance of continuing Education. Available at http//ezinearticles.com/? Accessed 10/9/2009. khourey, B, C; & Simonis, D,G (2004): Journal of science Teacher Education 15(3), pp 175-195. Accessed 10/9/2009. Long, J.C. (1981): The effect of a diagnostic- prescriptive teaching strategy on students learning outcomes in mathematics. Unpublished Ph.D thesis, University of Ibadan. Mohammed, A.M (2006) Creating opportunities for continuing professional development of Teachers: The National Teachers institute experience, lead paper presented at the 1st National Conference of the faculty of education, University of Abuja. Moh‟d, I., (2008), The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Teaching and Research Activities (A Case study of FUT Minna. An Un-published Undergraduate Project Work) The American biology Teacher 51(2): 72-77. National Assessment of Educational Progress. (1987) science objectives: 1985-86 assessment. Princeton NJ: Educational Testing service. Olakulehin, F.K. (2007): Information and communication technologies in Teacher Training and professional Development in Nigeria. Turkish online Journal of Distance education- TOJDE. ISSN 1302-6488, Volume: 8 Number: 1 article: 11. Onyekalu, S.N. (2008), The Impact of ICT on Research and Teaching An Un-published undergraduate Project Work. Passig, D & Levin, H (2000) Gender differences of favoured multimedia learning interfaces. Journal of computer assisted learning 16, 64-71 128
  • 129. Popoola, A.A (2002) Effect of Heuristic problem solving and programmed instructional strategies on senior secondary school students outcomes in mathematics in Ekiti State, Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, University of Ibadan. Russell, J, and S. Hollander. 1975. A biology attitude scale. The American Biology Teacher 37(5): 270-273 Roberts, T.G., dyer J.E., (2004), influence of learning styles on students attitudes/Achievement when an illustrated web lecture is used in online learning environment. Journal of Agriculture education. Available at http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu/jae/pdf/vol46/46-02-01.pdf Sparks, D & Loucks- Horsley, S. (1989), Five models of staff development for teachers: Journal of staff Development, 10(4), 40-57. Accessed 12/1/2010. The Robert Gordon University Aberdeen (2004). Teachers ICT skills and knowledge needs final report on SOEID section three Available at http://www.rguedu.org Trinidad, S, Macnish, J., Aldridge, J & Fraser, B., (1974) Integrating ICT into the learning Environment at sevenoaks senior college: How Teachers and students use Technology in Teaching and learning. Paper ALDO1027. Journal of research and computing. UNESCO, (2004). ICT pedagogy. UNESCO office. Katz Y.J (2002), Attitudes affecting college student‟s preferences for distance learning journal of computer assisted learning 18, 2-9. Wikipedia (2007).: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? Accessed 10/9/2009. Wikipedia (2007).: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/continuing-education Accessed 10/9/2009. Wikipedia (2007): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/professional-development Accessed 10/9/2009. Zajonc, R.B. (1980). Feeling and Thinking Preferences need no Inferences. American Psychologist, 35 157-175 129
  • 130. 130
  • 131. APPENDIX ‘A’ QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE IMPACT OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE ATTITUDE SECONDARY SCHOOL SCIENCE STUDENTS (QCPDICTTASSSS) Dear respondents, I am conducting a survey in to the impact of continuing professional (CPD) of teachers in information and communication technology (ICT) on the attitude of secondary school science students. Your views or opinions are vital as they will enable the researcher to analyze your likes and dislikes, interests and motivations on the impact of CPD of teachers in ICT. All information given will be treated with all confidentiality. Please try to answer all the questions as best as you can. SECTION A: DEMOGRAPHIC DATA 1. Name of School 2. Class level 3. Age 4. Your sex: Male…………………….. Female……………………….. SECTION B Please indicate your choice by ticking the appropriate column. For example, if you strongly disagree with the statements, put a tick in the column under SD. Similar, tick under SA for strongly agree, A for agree, D for disagree and N for Neutral. You can only tick one column for any number. 131
  • 132. S/N ITEMS SA A N D SD 1 Continuing professional development (CPD) of teachers in ICT have raised standard of science learning in secondary schools. CPD of teachers in ICT have not raised the 2 standard of science learning in secondary schools. 3 CPD of teachers in ICT makes science teaching and learning more enjoyable. 4 CPD of teachers in ICT does not make teaching and learning science enjoyable. 5 CPD of teachers in ICT makes science lesson more attractive. 6 CPD of teachers in ICT does not make science lesson more attractive. 7 CPD of teachers in ICT makes science lesson more difficult. 8 CPD of teachers in ICT does not make science lesson too difficult. 9 CPD of teachers in ICT have impaired student‟s attitude towards learning science. 10 CPD of teachers in ICT have motivated the students to learn science. 11 CPD of teachers in ICT have not motivated the students to learn science. 12 CPD of teachers in ICT makes students to work privately and take autonomy in their 13 scientific investigation. CPD of teachers in ICT does not make students to work privately and take autonomy in their scientific investigation. 132
  • 133. 14 CPD of teachers in ICT makes science students gain control of their learning. 15 CPD of teachers in ICT does not make science students gain control of their learning. 16 CPD of teachers in ICT builds both the science teachers and students proficiency in computer 17 usage. CPD of teachers in ICT does not build both the proficiency of the teachers and students in 18 computer usage. CPD of teachers in ICT helps the science students to eliminate the drudgery of doing 19 certain learning activities by hand e.g drawing graphs etc. CPD of teachers in ICT does not helps the 20 science students to eliminate the drudgery of doing certain learning activities by hand. 21 CPD of teachers in ICT helps to improve student‟s attitude towards learning science 22 subjects. CPD of teachers in ICT does not help to 23 improve student‟s attitude towards learning science subjects. 24 CPD of teachers in ICT helps to improve the science student‟s problem-solving skills. CPD of teachers in ICT have not improved the 25 student‟s problem-solving skills. CPD of teachers in ICT enable science teachers to use simulation to show 26 experiments that would not otherwise be 133
  • 134. possible. CPD of teachers in ICT makes it difficult to use simulation to show experiments that would not 27 otherwise be possible. CPD of teachers in ICT enables science teachers to use visual modes of presentation to 28 aid student‟s understanding of scientific concepts and processes. CPD of teachers in ICT does not make 29 teachers to use visual modes of presentation to aid student‟s understanding of scientific concepts and processes. 30 CPD of teachers in ICT have made it easier for students to choose science courses such as 31 medicine, engineering courses etc in the universities. 32 CPD of teachers in ICT does not make it possible for students to choose careers in 33 science subjects in the universities. CPD of teachers in ICT have not impaired 34 student‟s attitude towards learning science. CPD of teachers in ICT have encouraged and 35 improved student‟s performances in science subjects. CPD of teachers in ICT have not encouraged 36 and improved student‟s performance in science subjects. 37 CPD of teachers in ICT have increased the morale and achievements of students, studying 38 science subjects. CPD of teachers in ICT have not increased the 134
  • 135. morale and achievements of students studying science subjects. 39 CPD of teachers in ICT makes it possible and easier for the science teacher to control the 40 class during lessons and practical. CPD of teachers in ICT does not make it possible and easier for the science teacher to control the class. CPD of teachers in ICT makes science more authentic, relevant and interesting for the science students. CPD of teachers in ICT fails to make science more authentic, relevant and interesting for the science students. CPD of teachers in ICT enable the teachers to be clear on how to use ICT to support science lesson objectives. CPD of teachers in ICT does not enable the teachers to be clear on how to use ICT to support science lesson objectives. 135