GLOBALIZATION, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs) AND OPEN/DISTANCE LEARNING IN NIGERIA: Trends, Issues and Solution

Authors : Akande Joshua OLUSOLA, Sofowora Olaniyi ALABA

Pages : 66-77

View : 38 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2011-09-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The main thrust of this paper is to discuss the development of open and distance education in Nigeria and the major manifestations of the use of information and communication technologies insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ICTs); in education in open and distance learning. This study further discusses the importance and use of ICTs in open and distance learning in making education accessible to a larger population of students. From that vantage point this paper reviews the phenomenon of ICTs in open and distance learning in developing countries such as Nigeria. The paper identifies a number of issues that impede the effective optimization of ICTs in open and distance learning in developing countries. Prominent among the issues highlighted are poverty, intermittent supply of electricity and language barrier. The paper argues that these problems are to be tackled if the objective of enhancing the potentials of ICTs in open and distance learning in developing countries were to be achieved. On that note the current paper makes some humble suggestions on how to curtail the problems. The study employed descriptive method. An intact class of students that registered for the Bachelor of Education distance learning programme of the Faculty of Education of the Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife formed the samples used for the study. This was done to collect information on the factors affecting usage of ICT. The result shows that lack of skills rank highest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(46.1%);, following this is non availability of ICT at home insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(18.8%);, costs insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(11.3%); and non familiarity with ICT insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(10.6%);.
Keywords : Cyber space, Virtual reality, World Wide Web, Open and Distance Education, Changing economy, Internet, Information and Communication Technology