AVAILABILITY

This study was on the availability and utilization of information and communication technology resources for teaching business education courses in colleges of education Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study and three hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The population of this study comprised 133 business educators in colleges of education in Delta and River States. As a result of the manageable size, the entire population was used as sample, hence, census. The research instruments used for data collection was a checklist and a well-structured questionnaire titled "Availability and Utilisation of ICT Resources in Business Education Programme Questionnaire" (AUICTRBEPQ). The instrument for data collection was subjected to face validity by the researcher's supervisor and two other experts from the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, University of Benin, Benin City. To determine the reliability of the instruments for the study, the internal consistency of the items were measured using Cronbach alpha statistic. The instrument yielded a coefficient of 0.88. Data collected were analysed using simple percentage (%) mean ( ), standard deviation (SD) and two sample independent t-test. The findings revealed that schools did not meet up to the standard set by the National Commission of Colleges of Education with regards to the required ICT facilities needed for teaching business education courses in colleges of education. There was a low utilisation of ICT resources in teaching business education courses in colleges of 14 education in Delta and River States. There was no significant difference between the utilisation of ICT resources for teaching business education courses by male and female business educators in colleges of education in Delta and River States; there was a significant difference between business educators in federal and state colleges of education in Delta and River States on the utilisation of ICT resources in teaching business education courses and there was a significant difference between office technology management option and accounting option on educators' utilisation of ICT resources in teaching business education courses. It was concluded that the availability and utilization of ICT resources in teaching business education courses in colleges of education in Delta and Rivers States was low and the low availability of ICT facilities contributed negatively to effective utilization of ICT resources in colleges of education in Delta and Rivers States. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that there should be collaboration between Government, management of the colleges of education and non-governmental agencies for the purchase of various ICT facilities in order to foster effective utilisation of these resources.

The research work assessed availability and utilization of e-learning technologies on academic performance of Business Education Students in Higher Institutions in Edo State. Six research questions and two hypotheses were raised and formulated respectively to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised of the five hundred and twenty-one (521) Business Education students in 200 level, 300 level and 400 level students in the University of Benin and Igbinedion University, out of which 100 students were used as sample, using the disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire containing forty items was the instrument used in obtaining responses from respondents. The reliability of the instrument was ensured by using Cronbach Alpha reliability computation which yielded a co- efficient index of 0.839. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for the research question, while t-test and ANOVA were used to test the hypothesis. The findings of the study showed that students had several positive thinking about e-learning technologies enhancing business education programme and these technologies which would cover the gap that exist between theories and practical learning were not effectively available. Arising from the findings, it was recommended that government and other relevant stakeholders in education should provide adequate e-learning technologies for the teaching and learning process of business education courses. The government should make Internet connectivity a priority for higher education by creating free and accessible wifi. And also, the relevant authorities should create an avenue for uninterrupted power supply. In addition, in-service training programmes such as on the job training and retraining programmes such as attending seminars, workshop on the utilization of e-learning technologies should be allowed on a regular basis for serving business educators and students in the University of Benin, Benin City and Igbinedion University, Okada..

This study investigated the availability, functionality and utilization of instructional materials in the teaching and learning of basic science in junior secondary schools in Egor local Government area of Edo state. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The sample for the study consists of 40 basic science teachers from 20 junior secondary schools in Egor local Government area of Edo state. A questionnaire titled “Availability, Functionality, and Utilization of Instructional materials in the Teaching and Learning of Basic Science in Junior Secondary Schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State” and a checklist were the instrument used for data collection. Data collected from the respondents were analyzed using percentage, mean and standard deviation. Findings from the study revealed that majority of the required and essential instructional materials for effective basic science teaching were not available in schools. Basic science teachers fairly utilize instructional materials during classroom instruction. Teachers’ lack of motivation, short periods allocated to basic science classes on the school time-table, large class size, lack of supervision of teachers by school administrators and lack of in-service training for teachers were identified as challenges faced by basic science teachers in the utilization of instruction for basic science teaching. Lastly, inadequate funding to acquire instructional materials, high cost of instructional materials, poor implementation of educational policies, mismanagement of funds meant to purchase instructional materials and insufficient improvisation of instructional materials are factors affecting the availability of instructional materials in schools. Based on these findings, the study recommended that Government should ensure adequate provision of funds for the procurement of instructional materials that are not available in secondary schools. Government should provide incentives to motivate and enable teachers purchase instructional materials. Teachers should improvise instructional materials for basic science teaching where the standard ones are not available. Principals and school administrators should ensure strict supervision of basic science teachers to ensure the utilization of instructional materials. Government should provide in-service training for teachers on the utilization of instructional materials.

This research work assessed the availability and utilization of Elearning technology in the University of Benin, 100 respondent were sampled, the research was carried out using questionnaire as it’s instrument of data collection in accordance with the specification of the research questions. The validation of the instrument was obtained through scrutiny of the project supervisor and one other lecturers from the department of CIT, the reliability of the instrument was determined through Pearson product moment this yielded a reliability ratio of 0.669, the anlaysis and interpretation of data involved the use of mean and standard deviation to answer the research question. The study revealed that E-learning technologies are available to some extent Biology Students have projectors in their lecture hall for teaching biology. The study revealed the challenges that hinder effective utilization of Elearning technologies are poor connectivity and inability to acquire data, power failure. It was recommended amongst others that the E-learning teaching and learning method should be adopted by the school and that all necessary provisions in which constant power supply is a major factor should be made readily and affectively available.