Perception of Students on Computer Utilization and Academic Performance in the North-Central Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria

Published Online April 2015 in MECS DOI: 10.5815/ijmecs.2015.04.06

The introduction and development of western education in Nigeria by the missionaries and the colonial administration cannot be treated in isolation from traditional form of education. The traditional education was a way by which the learners acquired knowledge without well-predefined formats of instructions delivery. This form of education could take place under a tree, car garage; and was basic form of education before the western education was introduced. The learners in Nigeria used various media and objects such as drums, flutes, gongs etc; for communication and the classrooms’ discussion was not left out. Objects such as stones and sticks were used to count numbers. The use of writing and invention of printing materials transformed the type and context of recorded history communication in a tremendous progression. Through the utilization of books, newspapers, magazines and radio; instructions were given to students at different levels of education. The western education is now supported and enhanced with the application of computer in teaching and learning process.

According to [13], the fast progress of technology and its wide integration in education has been changed in recent years. The advancement in technology has facilitated in the development of many Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools that necessary and useful in education explained [2]. According to [15], the knowledge of ICT usage improves human capacity in every fields of human endeavor such as educational programmes and activities. In the last two decades, the higher institutions have invested heavily in ICT tools by procuring facilities such as projectors, installation of internet facilities and importantly the purchase of computers for teaching and learning processes. In [14], the advantages of using technology in education include: making learner more interested, decreases learning time and provide opportunities to learn in non-traditional methods.

The significance of computers cannot be overemphasized in education. Computers have been generally accepted as modern instruments that enable the teachers/lecturers to select the teaching methods that will increase students’ (learners’) interest in learning. Computer is an electromechanical device designed to sequentially accept, process and store data on the basis of set of instructions to produce useful information. The students’ academic performance can be referred to as the competencies, skills acquired and attitudes learned through the education experience.

The direct link between computer as resource utilization and students’ academic performance was in the heart of an extensive literature during the last two decades. Several studies have tried to explain the roles the added values of those technologies in classrooms and on students’ performances. Since the internet revolution, there is a shift in the literature that focuses more on the impact of online activities; use internet; use of educative online platforms; digital devices such as phones, calculators etc in education. According to [5], these new technologies are central to contemporary society and therefore referred to this era as information technology age. Reference [12] pointed out that the education community is not left out in the consequences of computer utilization on academic performance of students. He highlighted the benefits of computers in teaching and learning activities as follow:

• i.    Increase students’ motivation towards learning

• ii.    Encourage use of peer coaching and peer review (group discussion)

• iii.    Improve teachers’ and students’ quality of work

• iv.    Develop communication and vocational skills

• v.    Improve poor handwriting and languages skills through word processing

• vi.    Facilitate teachers practices, planning tools and assessment rubrics

• vii.    Enhance student’s assimilation through graphics (pictures) and audio-visual application that shapes educational outcomes

• viii.    Enhance academic performance due to the reinforcement and practice that computer afforded