Proficiency in the Usage of Information Communication Technology Tools and Academic Performance of Students in Colleges of Education in Kwara State

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a vital role of students' academic performance in Colleges of Education. However, academic performance of students in the colleges of education in Kwara State has been declining over the years. This study therefore investigates proficiency in ICT tools (projector, public address system, interactive white board) and academic performance of students in colleges of education in Kwara State. Three research questions and four research hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted descriptive research design. Two set of instruments were used for this study. Crumbach alpha was used to ascertain the reliability of the instrument with reliability coefficient of 0.83 The population of this study comprised all the 488 academic staff in the three government owned colleges of Education in Kwara State Proportional sampling technique was used to select 151 out of 207 academic staff from Kwara State college of Education, Ilorin, 106 out of 128 from Kwara State college of Education Technical, Lafiagi, and 107 out of 143 from Kwara State College of Education, Oro respectively. This gave a sample size of 364. The research questions raised for the study were answered using percentage while the research hypotheses formulated were tested using Pearson product moment correlation statistic at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study include that ICT tools in colleges of education in Kwara State are often utilized; that level of students' academic performance in colleges of education in Kwara state is high; that there is significant relationship between utilization of ICT (projector, public address system, interactive white boards) and students' academic performance in colleges of education in Kwara State. it was concluded that ICT is a necessity for any college of education to achieve its goals among which is high students' academic performance. The study therefore recommends that adequate training should be organized regularly to aid their technical know-how of the tools and that Projector needs constant electricity supply in order to be used effectiveness. More projectors can be bought in order to meet the demand.