ABSTRACT
This study was carried out on the effectiveness of online agricultural education and e-learning platform in university of Benin. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consists of all undergraduate students enrolled in agricultural programmes at the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, with a population of 113 students comprising 100 to 400level students. The sample size for this study was one hundred and thirteen (113) students enrolled in agricultural programmes at the University of Benin. The entire population was used because of the few students enrolled in agricultural programmes at Vocational and Technical Education Department
The research instrument that was used for the study was a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire comprises two sections. Section A was concerned with the background information of the respondents. Section B was concerned with a series of questions that was used for the sake of this study. The researcher used four point rating: strongly agree (SA), agree (A), disagree (D), strongly disagree (SD). The instrument was made up of twenty (22) items constructed to draw answers from the different respondents.
The validity of the instrument was determined by the researcher’s supervisor and two other experts; the instrument was scrutinized, and feedbacks were amalgamated into the instrument. To determine the reliability of the instrument, test retest method of reliability was adopted. The instrument was administered to twenty (22) respondents who were not part of the study and were retrieved after two-week interval, and then re-administered again, their opinions were inputted and correlated using Cronbach alpha statistics. The instrument yielded an alpha value of 0.89. The data collected was analyzed using mean (𝒙̅), standard deviation (SD). The researcher distributed the questionnaire personally and waited to collect it. The purpose of this is to ensure the instrument receives a prompt response from the respondents and to prevent the possibility of data loss. This was done within the interval of two weeks
The study highlighted positive perceptions of Moodle, Microsoft Teams, and UNIBEN e-learning portal's effectiveness in delivering online education. Effective utilization of certain platforms like the UNIBEN e-learning portal was acknowledged, along with challenges in resource access and interactive learning. Challenges such as limited technical skills and internet access were identified, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. Given the challenges identified, it is imperative to provide robust technical support and resources to both students and instructors. Addressing the lack of technical skills and digital literacy is crucial. Implementing workshops, tutorials, and online resources can help improve users' proficiency in navigating e-learning platforms effectively.
