Strategies for Improving Acquisition and Integration of ICT Skills for E-learning by Agricultural Education Lecturers and Students in Colleges of Education in North East Nigeria

Abstract

This study found out strategies for improving the acquisition and integration of ICT skills by Agricultural Education lecturers and students for e-learning in Colleges of Education in the North Eastern Nigeria. Related literature was reviewed to provide an in depth knowledge on the major variables of the study. A survey research design was adopted for the study. A population of 2443 Agricultural Education Students and 85 Agricultural Education Lecturers in Colleges of Education in the North Eastern Nigeria. Due to manageable size of Agricultural Education Lecturers the entire population was used for the study, while stratified random sampling technique was used to draw the sample from the population of Agricultural Education Students. Total sample was 324, structured questionnaire containing 16 items was used for data collection, 409 copies of questionnaires were returned. Grand mean was used to answer the research question and 3.50 was the cut off point for acceptance. Z-test was used to test null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The null hypothesis was accepted. The findings of study revealed the strategies that were found to improve the acquisition of ICT skills for teaching and learning of Agricultural Education in Colleges of Education, the strategies include: Establishment of ICT centres in Colleges can enhance acquisition of ICT skillsand Participation in certified computer programmes, conferences and workshops_. This research recommended among others, tha_t the College of Education Authorities should assist teachers and students to have access to technologies and opportunities to acquire the needed skills through sponsorship of their attendance to workshops and conferences.