CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND STUDY
The Internet is described as global connections of computers of various sizes, capacity and functionality. These networks are often referred to as “information superhighway”, where computers are interconnected with the sole purpose of providing resources, services, and information across the globe, thus reducing the entire universe into a “global village”. According to Manda (2005), the Internet is regarded as the largest global connections of computer network, making it the network of networks. The Internet is also known to be an important and major source of information and a medium through which communication, dissemination, and storage of information is facilitated. Similarly, it is perceived as a very powerful mechanism for effective communication having the largest single source of information on a global scale (Maheswarappa & Ebnazar, 2003). Historically, the Internet first came into being in the United State of America in 1969 with the launching of a national computer network known as Advanced Research Project Agency Network (ARPANET). Today, the vast network that interconnects millions of computers worldwide provides availability and accessibility to a variety of resources and services Internet resources (e-resources) are information carrying resources which are made available and accessible to users through the use of computer and similar devices in a networked environment, they include e-books, e-journal, and online databases. Internet services refer to all the Internet facilities that assist in communication and collaboration, they include e-mail, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Bulletin board, Discussion group, chart rooms Newsgroup, Telnet, and Usenet
Internet resources and services are capable of providing Nigerian educational sector, the enabling environment to overcome the barriers of communication and collaboration and also provide teachers,students, individuals and their organization the advantage of presenting their research findings and ideas, in which according to (Worldometers, 2015) Nigeria with a population of 184,608,768 people is number one country in Africa and number eight in the world with 65,675,984 Internet users (Internet World Stats, 2015). Ogunjobi and Fagbami (2012) confirmed that the Internet resources and services enable: teachers to update their knowledge, prepare up-to-date lecture notes for their students, download free e-books and e-journals, use e-mail for communication and collaboration with colleagues. Through the use of the Internet resources and services, teachers keep abreast with research and development in their fields of study, bringing them fame, recognition improving their institutional ranking and ensure regular promotions to higher academic positions. Onwubiko (2012) observes that the updated Internet resources and services provides essential ingredients for enhancing both the teaching and learning efforts of academics and indeed their level of intellectual development in the global village of knowledge management, from this inference drown, it will be equally understood that the use of the Internet resources and services will help to improve the quality of academic research as well increase lecturers’ level of intellectualism. Bankole and Oludayo (2012) maintain that schools globally made a lot of investment on the provision of Internet access because it saves time in the production and utilization of knowledge. It also promotes multi-disciplinary research, fosters cooperation, and facilitates information sharing and exchange of ideas among teachers and students from various institutions, nations or regions. Imhonopi and Urim (2012) observe that academics from tertiary institutions in developed nations depended on Internet resources and services for teaching and research activities, which makes their research output visible and accessible globally. This is contrary to what is obtainable in developing or undeveloped nation like Nigeria. The need to use updated Internet resources and services towards getting current and relevant information for the purpose of academic activities of teaching, learning, research, publication communication, and collaboration activities can be seen from the efforts and initiatives put in place by the Nigerian government through the National Universities Commission (NUC), in the creation of Nigerian Universities Network (NuNet) and subsequently the National Virtual Library Project (NVLP) is a step towards the proper utilization of the Internet resources and services by University lecturers for the enhancement of academic activities. Ani (2012) observes that the National Virtual Library Project (NVLP) was established to enhance access to the use of Internet resources and services in the Universities across the country. According to Isah (2010) despite, numerous efforts put in place by the federal government of Nigeria, tertiary institutions are yet to seize this opportunity. This may be largely due to inadequate facilities, lack of maintenance and lack of awareness or required skills to make use of the limited facilities.
Teachers and students are expected to make proper use of the Internet resources for their academic activities because of the vast and up to date information that can be obtained from them, they are also expected to make proper use of Internet services so that they will have effective communication with their colleagues and other researchers around the globe. Observation has shown that academic staff in some schools in Nigeria are not making proper use of the Internet resources and services in the conduct of their academic activities instead they use the resources and services for non-academic purposes, such as chatting and sharing pictures, hence the need to carry out this study
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The emergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) particularly the Internet has brought about a remarkable shift from the use of print to electronic resources of recent, with this trend, information whether scholarly or otherwise is produced electronically or digitally. The Internet resources and services are very important in the conduct of academic activities by teachers because of their awareness and access toward Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning process.
Ogunjobi and Fagbami (2012) confirm that Internet resources and services enable teachers to update their knowledge, prepare up-to-date lecture notes, communication and collaboration with colleagues. However, observation by the researchers have shown that teachers of academic institutions in Nigeria are likely not aware and have access on the Internet resources and services for effective academic activities of teaching, learning, research, communication, collaboration, and publication, rather they use the resources and services for other activities. It is in this vain the study was conducted to investigate the impact of updated internet resources in logical needs of the educational sector
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
In line with the statement of research problems the objectives of the study is the impact of updated internet resources in the logical needs of the educational sector. Other objectives are :
1) To determine the level of awareness of the use Internet resources by the academic staff or teachers of academic institutions in educational sector
2) To determine the level of awareness of the Internet services by the academic staff /teachers in academic institutions in educational sector.
3) To examine of impact of the use of updated internet resources in on the academic achievement of students in academic institutions
4) Determine the extent of utilization of the Internet resources for academic teaching and learning by the academic staff/teachers of academic institutions in Nigeria.
5) To recommend ways for the effective use of updated internet resources for teaching and learning in educational sector
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions shall guide this study and in the course of this research, we shall attempt to find answers to the following questions
1) What is the level of awareness of the use of Internet resources by the academic staff or teachers of academic institutions in educational sector?
2) what is the level of awareness of the Internet services by the academic staff /teachers in academic institutions in educational sector?
3) What is the impact of the use of updated internet resources on the academic achievement of students in academic institutions ?
4) What is the extent of utilization of the Internet resources for academic teaching and learning by the academic staff/teachers of academic institutions in Nigeria?
5) What are the ways for the effective use of updated internet resources for teaching and learning in educational sector?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY
In line with the statement of research problems and the objectives of this thesis, the following hypothesis will be tested:
Hypothesis:
HO: There is no significant impact of the use of updated internet resources on the academic achievement of students in academic institutions
H1: There is a significant impact of the use of updated internet resources on the academic achievement of students in academic institutions
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This study would enable the researcher to pass their experience on the subject matter to, government ministries(educational sector), NGOS, schools (students) to serve as a medium for further research.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study would cover the impact of updated internet resources in the logical needs of the educational sector
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The researcher was faced with the following constraints in carrying out this study:
Time: The time within the researcher is too short to carry on the detail study on this topic.
Resources: Another constraint of the researcher is financial resources to carry on the detail study of this topic.Data: Another limitation to this study will be lack of data to make valid study on the research problem
1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
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