Background of the Study
New media is an umbrella-term which includes different technologies. In the opinion of some specialists are considerate as new media both blogs, podcast, video games, virtual worlds, Wiki encyclopedia, and other mobile devices, interactive televisions, and even the web-sites and e-mail. Others consider that blogs and virtual worlds must be included in the category of social media because they are encouraging appearance of virtual communities and social networks. In spite of the differences, some research workers identified two common characteristics for majority of definitions. These are: - spreading the information to a number of receivers which is theoretical infinite, in customized ways, depending on specification for endorsed categories; - tenure of un equal control about information both of transmitters and receivers. Other definitions are even more vaguely, considering that new media are represented by all the texts, sounds, images and graphic forms transformed by the computer
There is growing concern about the potential effect of Internet use on students. Studies on Internet use and reading variables among students are not commonplace. The rapid growth of the Internet over the years has emerged as the foremost source of disseminating information quickly to a large audience, transcending the limitation of time and space. Basically, one could logically argue that the Internet offers two main benefits: Communication and Information. Information disseminated via the Internet has implications for how it is used in education. Since students are among the popular users of information from the Internet, the development of the Internet would be meaningless if it is not used appropriately in tertiary institutions. However, in spite of the benefits of the Internet for education and learning, there is a growing concern as to whether the increasing number of hours spent by students who surf the Internet, limits the amount of time and effort devoted to the actual reading and studying of the materials obtained from or outside the Internet. Communication is today more sophisticated and efficient with the advancement of technological support in the world. Pierce (1972) opines that communication is not the only essence of being human but also a vital property of life: Meanwhile, Fleming (2014) defines Communication as the act of conveying information for the purpose of creating a shared understanding. The word communication‖ comes from the Latin word communis, meaning to share ,and it includes verbal, non-verbal and electronic means of human interaction. Humans convey information through a variety of methods: speaking, telephones, email, blogs, Television, art, hand gestures, facial expressions, body language and even social contexts. Communication can occur instantaneously in closed, intimate settings or over great periods of time in large public forums, like the Internet. However, all forms of communication require the same basic elements: a speaker or sender of information, a message, and an audience or recipient. The sender and recipient must also share a common language or means of understanding each other for communication to be successful. This has further helped the human society in solving its numerous problems, especially that of mutual co-existence. Technological advances in communication shape the society and make its members more interdependent. Therefore, when a society identifies its problems and an attempt is made to look for solutions, development is gradually being achieved. The online domain for research and academic purpose has transformed the way students study today. The availability of such opportunities like online journals, blogs, data bases and web sites or portal for use by modern day students has greatly impacted on their research and study capabilities and kept them in pace with modern trends. It is assumed that the number of people, especially students connected to the Internet is increasing at an astonishing rate. Despite the undoubted benefits offered by the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), there are notable barriers and effects of their use on the knowledge acquisition culture in developing countries. This current trend in information acquisition is a subjugation of cultures of developing nations by the popular culture‘ (i.e. the Western communication philosophy that every information from them is superior, thus the rest of the world must absorb them hook sinker and line). There is no doubt therefore, that Information Communication Technologies are largely responsible for the transmission of new ideas, practices, philosophies and beliefs
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
In trying to discover the influence of the new media and the way it is pervading every aspect of our lives, it is important to note its effect on education and its influence on information acquisition. The Internet and the social media have dramatically changed both teaching and learning. In fact, most students‘(an incredible 93 percent) first instinct, when confronted with a research problem, turn to Google or Bing to get information rather than going to the library (either print or electronic library), and despite the efforts made to discourage its excessive and inappropriate use, Wikipedia tends to make browsing for information very easy. However, it is not only students that are turning to the web, but also researchers and scholars, one can logically conclude that the Internet has had a strong influence on the how, where, and what students are studying. The standard of education is falling drastically and part of the fall is attributed to lack of books and up-to-date information in our Nigerian libraries (most especially libraries in higher institutions). Now, with the advent of ICT, there is a rapid revolution and breakthrough in learning but this does not come without its attendant problem of computer literacy, access to Internet facilities, conducive learning environment, access to computers etc. Even with online learning being as widespread as it is, it is believed that not all students seize the opportunity to acquire knowledge. Though, one in three academic scholars considers the Internet to be inferior to face-to-face instruction or teaching. However as the Internet revolution rapidly unfolds, time will tell whether the Internet education or the information retrieved from the Internet can compete with traditional learning models. It is pretty obvious that the Internet has had a huge impact on education, but just how has the Internet changed education most especially in information acquisition? Even though most undergraduate students can pride themselves as being computer literate, the fact remains that some are yet to know how the Internet works. Irrespective of their status, the need for them to exploit the Internet for one purpose or the other cannot be underemphasized. Against this backdrop, the researcher intends to establish the extent to which students use the Internet to acquire information, the specific purposes students use the Internet, its influence on them, and what the information gotten from the Internet are used for.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The specific objectives are:
(i) To determine how often students use the Internet.
(ii) To reveal why students use the Internet.
(iii) To establish the relationship between students use of the Internet as a tool of new media for information acquisition and their academic performance.
(iv)To suggest ways in which the negative use of the Internet as a tool of new media if any, can be mitigated as the Internet has become an information superhighway.
1.4 HYPOTHESIS
Ho: Internet As A Tool Of New Media Has no Significant Influence On Information Acquisition Among Undergraduates
H1: Internet As A Tool Of New Media Has a Significant Influence On Information Acquisition Among Undergraduates
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