Assessment of the Availability and Functionality of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Facilities for Teaching Agricultural Education in Colleges of Education in North-East Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the availability and functionality of information and communication technologies (ICT) for teaching agricultural education in colleges of education in North-East Nigeria. The research design used for the study is survey research design. Three research questions guided the study. The area of the study was North-East Nigeria. The population for the study was 216. Census was adopted because the size of the target population is defined, accessible and manageable. The instruments used for data collection is a checklist. The reliability coefficients of the sub – sections of the instrument were computed using Cronbach Alpha method. An reliability index of 0.87 was obtained. The research questions posed were answered using average and percentages. Findings of the study revealed availability of ICT facilities for Agricultural Education Programme, few ICT facilities are adequate and functional for Agricultural Education Programme, among others. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that management of colleges of education should endeavor to provide enough functional ICT facilities proportional to the number of students for effective teaching and learning of Agricultural Education, Lecturers should undertake training in the use of ICT facilities for effective instructional delivery, an enlightenment campaign should be carried out to sensitize Agricultural Education Lecturers to develop positive attitude towards the use of ICT facilities in teaching Agricultural Education among others.