UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ ACCESS AND UTILIZATION OF E-LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES IN AN AFRICAN UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The inadequate provision of e-learning technologies has hindered adequate access to technologies in most universities in Nigeria; hence this study investigated the extent to which e-learning technologies are provided and used in Tai Solarin University of Education. The survey research design was adopted in this study. Four Departments was selected from the University, one from each of the colleges available in the University. 100 out of all the 400 Level students in the four sampled schools were randomly selected, that is, 25 from each of the four short listed Departments. The main instrument used for the data collection is a checklist type of questionnaire designated ‘E-learning Technologies Access and Utilization Questionaire (ETAUQ)’. The Cronbach alpha technique was used to validate the instrument. An exercise which yielded a reliability co-efficient of 0.87. The percentage was the statistic that was used to analyse the data. Results showed that the undergraduate students do not have adequate access to e-learning technologies. Their utilization rates were very low.  Whenever the curriculum shifts to incorporate the use of e-learning facilities for teaching, these facilities will be grossly inadequate access. The University authority should initiate the review of all the curricula, as there is a need to incorporate the application of e-learning technologies to teaching and learning. The University should increase the number of hours from six hours to maybe 12 hours or even more. The University should also introduce those e-learning technologies that are not available for the students at all times. This will compel learners to improve their literacy and utilization levels.