FACTORS AFFECTING THE USE OF ICT IN TEACHING AND LEARNING OF GENETICS

ABSTRACT

It has been discovered that University of Benin have noticed some factors affecting the use of ICT in teaching and learning of genetics over the years. This study therefore was to examine the ICT proficiency of University of Benin undergraduate students studying genetics, how frequent students use ICT resources for Assignment, Classwork and School work, factors that affect the usage of ICT in teaching and learning of genetics in University of Benin, areas of genetics that are most challenging for University of Benin lecturers and students to teach and learn and What kinds of challenges do genetics lecturers and students face at the University of Benin, It employed descriptive survey research design. Six research questions formulated to guided the study. This study was carried out in Edo State, Nigeria. Two hundred undergraduate students were drawn from four department of university of Benin from the targeted population of the Study which consist of Plant Biology and xii Biotechnology (100), Animal and Environmental Biology (76), Curriculum and Instructional Technology (196) and Biochemistry (168) using simple random sampling technique. The internal consistency of the instrument was determined to be 0.78 using the Cronbach Alpha Model at 0.05 level of Significance. Data collected were analyzed using mean and simple percentage. The result revealed positive and significant factors affecting the use of ict in teaching and learning Genetics. The results also show that inconsistent power supply in the classroom is the main obstacle impeding the successful integration of ICT in teaching and learning in Nigeria Universities. Lack of ICT skills among instructors and students; inconsistent power supply in the hostel; high cost of ICT facilities such as smart boards, printers, desktop computers, and scanners; poor or nonexistent internet connection; inadequate lighting for some ICT instruments. In the contemporary globalized world, students at higher learning in Edo State Nigeria may not be able to meet up with their peers and compete globally without adequate ICT skills. In Nigerian universities, teaching and learning must xiii effectively include information and communication technology. The researchers therefore recommended that Nigerian government should give priority attention to ICT integration in education by assisting the state government in funding ICT in institutions to ensure that every department is networked and also that Wealthy individuals, non-governmental organizations, community based organizations, and other agencies should collaborate with the state government in staff training on ICT to facilitate ICT full integration in teaching and learning. Staff training and development through seminars, conferences and workshops could help improve ICT literacy among Staff of institutions.