THE EXTENT OF COMPUTER LITERACY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS

Abstract

Due to the necessity of everybody to become computer literate in our society, have made us to carry out this project work little Extent of computer literacy among secondary school science Teachers in Enugu north Local Government Area four research questions guided the student. The study has simple survey research design and area of the study is. All secondary school science teachers in Enugu North Local Government Area simple random sampling were used. The sample of the study is made up of 14 schools random selected from 15 schools. The main instrument for data collection was questionnaire. The instrument was structured according to great extent, extent, little extent and no extent. In our study we find out that secondary school science teachers are still lacking behind in the area of computer.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of study

This project is to find the extent of computer literacy among secondary school science teacher in Enugu north local government area.

Audio in GOOGLE (2010) defined the world “extent” as the distance or area volume over which something extents. Another text by NDINECHI (2001) explains (extent” as a length or range of particular thing. In opinion of Ezeudo (2003) the term “extent” is a degree of a particular something. In present researchers “view” the world “extent” could be defined as how far or the degree of computer literacy among secondary school science teachers.

According to ILOANUSI (2008) the term “computer” is an electronic device that is capable of accepting, storing and processing data with great speed an of according to give out information as output. Another text by NWOSU (2001) defined “computer” a device or machine that accept data, process data, stores data and produce result. AMAKA N. (2007) sees the world “computer” as a device or machine that under program control performs asthmatic and logical operation without human Intervention. The present researchers believe that “computer” is a very fast electronic processing machine that has strong capabilities, which can perform either in numbers and symbols. Information can be stored and retained, the common feature in all the definition is that the computer is machine that receive input treats and releases them required to note some.

It is also necessary to note some important of computer as enumerated by

OKOLO (2007) He said that computer has assumed unimaginable dimensions, it is used as a guild to the learner through a course of institution at videos displaying unit in such a manner that will facilitate the understanding of the subject matter. It helps to speed up the students learning process. He further commented on computer having other applications in education in area like W.A.E.C. N.E.C.O. J.A.M.B so on. They make use of computer in marking multiple-choice examination papers.

From the contribution of JOHN ILOANUSI (2008) computer are useful for storing information about crimes, criminals and suspects. He said it could be very useful in crime detection and prevention. Such system can be interfaced with photograph capturing and finger print system. OKORIE (2008) in his own opinion said that the use of computer makes data into a very small storage space. Information storage and retrieval are speeded up and computer records an easily be up-dated as the need arises. In these researchers point of “view” the impacts of computer in virtually every sphere of human endeavor are enormous, from the interaction we had with P.H.B. Bank manager (2010), we found out that computers plays a vital role in bank for keeping all the data and information of customers and equally used for operation of automatic teller machine (A.T.M). These researchers also had a chat with the doctor of railway crossing hospital (2010), we further found out that computer plays a tremendous role in health care delving, doctors used computer for diagnosis, perform surgical procedures and keep up with rapid changes in medicine. In fact the importance of computer in our society cannot be over-emphasized.

OZO-CHINAILFE (2005) sees the phrase “computer literacy” as knowledge about computer software and hardware knowing what they are what they can do and what they cannot do, how they are put to work and how their uses can affect the society and your profession. In the opinion of WIKIPEDIA (2010) “computer literacy” is knowledge and ability to use computer and technology efficiently. AJAJA (2010) explains “computer literacy” as an understanding of the concept terminology and operation that relate to general computer use. Another text by ANEKA (2005) defined “computer literacy” as comfort levels someone has with using computer programs and other application that are associate with computers. These researchers believe that computer literacy individual is a person that has basic knowledge in all aspect of computer: such as area of computer application, how to use Microsoft world, how to use Microsoft excel, how to use Microsoft access, how to use Microsoft power point, how to create E-mail address using Internet.

According to oxford dictionary 6th edition (2005) the phrase “secondary school” is for young people between the ages of 11, 16 and 18. In the opinion of California (2009) “secondary school” is a school that is intermediate in level between elementary school and collage and that usually offer general technical. From Encarta dictionary 7th edition (2004) “secondary school” is a school for students who have completed their education, usually attended by children in grades 7 to 12. In the contribution of the researchers “secondary school” is a school where people who have obtained first school leaving certificate and common entrance attend to attain more education. It is also the third step in educational process “secondary school” is classified into three namely private, adults and public secondary schools. The present research is basically o public schools in Enugu north local government area. We further found out that in Nigeria a secondary school consists of two levels this research in how ever interested in senior secondary schools to find out the extent of computer literacy among science teacher in Enugu north local government area.

SHEEHAN (2005) defined the phrase “science teacher” as somebody or a person who teaches science. According to WIKIPEDIA (2004) “science teacher” are those teacher that teach science subject with full knowledge of experiments. Oxford dictionary 6th edition (2005) sees “science teacher” as teachers who have basic knowledge about the structure and behaviour of natural and physical world based on the facts they can prove it. In the opinion of these researchers “science teachers” are teachers that have basic knowledge about all the science subjects: such as mathematics, biology, computer science, chemistry, physics etc. that can be proved in standard way but trained or specialized in any of these science subjects.

AKUSOBA (2000) defined “computer science teacher” as those teachers that can be able to use computer very well and teach it effectively. Another text by OLUYIDE (2008) sees the phrase “computer science teacher” as those teachers that have basic knowledge of the concept, terminology and operation that relate to general computer use. From the contribution of SHEESHA (2010) “computer science teachers” are those teachers that have basic knowledge in discipline of spans theory and practical that required thinking both in abstracts terms and in concrete terms. From these researchers point of view, “computer science teachers” are those teachers that have basic knowledge and ability to use computer technology effectively.

Enugu north local government area is located at the center of Enugu town. From our present research we found out that Enugu north local government area has fourteen secondary school respectively: such as queen school Enugu, city girls secondary school, metropolis girls, urban girls secondary school and new layout secondary school. These above mentioned school located at new layout in Enugu state. Other three schools are coal camp secondary school situated at cool camp in Enugu state. Community secondary school located at iva-valley in Enugu state and comprehensive technical collage situated at Ngwo in Enugu state.

In our society today we full understand that the propensity of information technology (IT) today has show that the world is becoming digital world with all its operation being converted from manual to computerize system. Therefore, we made this research in order to find out the extent of knowledge of computer, its uses and application that computer teachers have in different secondary school in Enugu north local government area.

1.2 Statement of the problem

The world has totally become computer age and the entire globe has become a global village through the explosion of application of computer. One can easily read from the background of this study that computer and computer science. Its uses an application software have impacted tremendously on all human endeavors today –education, medicine, military, politics, agriculture, religion, business and so on. This means that for anybody or any cooperate body to function effectively and efficiently in any field of human endeavor today, computer literacy is a basic necessity more so for science teacher to properly deliver in different field of specialization in today computer age. Computer literacy is a must for all.

The questions that agitate the minds now are to what extent are science teacher versed in the knowledge of this electronic device called computer? How much of its uses and application software are know or simply put, to what extent are they computer literate? Then, these researchers set out to find out the level or degree of computer literacy possesses by science teachers of secondary school in Enugu north local government area of Enugu state, Nigeria.

1.3 Purpose of study

In broad term, this project aims at examine the extent or degree of computer literacy possessed by secondary school science teachers in Enugu north local government area. Specifically, the project work set out to ascertain :

i. The degree of knowledge of computer and its importance possessed by secondary school science teachers,

ii. The extent of skills and or applications know-how possessed by secondary school science teachers.

iii. Whether sex has affect on the degree of computer literacy possessed by secondary school science teachers.

iv. Whether subject area of specialization has any affect on the level knowledge of computer possessed by secondary school science teachers.

v. The group of secondary school science teachers: biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and geography. That has the best computer literacy or otherwise.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The project work shall benefit the following people/groups:

i, The government

ii. The parents

iii. The students

iv. The researchers.

It is important to give brief note on how the above mentioned people / group should benefit this project work.

GOVERNMENT: Shall benefit from this project work most in the sense that it will help it to know the ability of secondary science teachers for teaching computer science. It will equally give government the accurate number of science teachers that are computer literate.

PARENTS: Today a lot of things could be done with computer. Thus project will help the parents to know the necessity of computer literate in our society and can motivate them to give their children full support in acquiring the knowledge of computer. This can also made them to buy computer text and pay for where they are learning computer.

STUDENTS: In our educational institutions today the work of computer cannot be overemphasized. Having know the importance of computer from this project work, it will give them courage and strength to study computer with full interest. The students will equally use this work to develop their own work in writing their own project.

THE RESEARCHERS: Will benefit much from this work. It will give them knowledge about project work, research method and how to go about it. There is so much ideas and pieces of information the researchers will gain from this project that will equip them even to write book/ novel on their own. They will know the number of secondary school

and their location in Enugu north local government area. The researchers will know the number of science teachers that are computer literate in Enugu north local government area.

1.5 Scope of the study

The scope of the study is to find the extent of computer literacy possessed by secondary school science teachers in Enugu north local government area. This study is limited fourteen secondary schools located at the center of Enugu town. Computer Literacy is knowledge and ability to use computer and technology effectively secondary school is a school for young people between the ages of 11, 16 or 18

1.6 Research questions

The following questions were formulated to guide the study.

i. To what extent do secondary school science teachers have knowledge of computer and it’s importance?

ii. To what extent do secondary school science teachers have skills and computer application?

iii. To what extent does sex have effect on the degree of computer literacy among secondary school science teachers?

iv. To what extent do subject area of specialization has an effect on the level of knowledge of computer among secondary school science teachers?

V. To what extent do group of subject area of science teacher (biology, chemistry etc) are most computer literacy on the least computer literacy?