Influence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skills on the Academic Performance of Educational Technology Undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the influence of information and communication technology (ICT) skills on the academic performance of educational technology undergraduates in Southwestern, Nigeria. Four (4) research questions guided the study. A descriptive survey research design was used. The population of this study comprised 2,421 Educational Technology undergraduates of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, (TASFUED) Ijagun, Ogun State, and Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA). For record purpose, TASFUED has a total of 1246 and AAUA has 1175 undergraduates. A total of 520 Educational Technology undergraduates of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, (TASFUED), and Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) were selected as sample size using stratified sampling technique. However, 300 and 220 were selected from TASFUED and AAUA respectively. A self-researchers-designed instrument tagged Information and Communication Technology Skills and Academic Performance Questionnaire (ICTSAPQ) with 0.79 as reliability coefficient was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used for answering research questions 1, 3 and 4. Research question 2 was analyses using inferential statistics of regression analysis. The findings of the study showed that basic computer proficiency skill, keyboarding and word processing skill, data management and spreadsheets skill, presentation software skill and information literacy and critical evaluation skill were among required information and communication technology (ICT) skills for the academic performance of educational technology undergraduates. ICT skills influence academic performance of educational technology students β = .100, t = 2.227, P < .05. It was also showed that poor infrastructure and access limitations are issues, skills and knowledge are gaps, poor or unstable internet connectivity is a problem, inconsistent power supply is a problem and high cost of personal ICT devices (laptops, smartphones) and internet access creates a "digital divide are problems were among issues affecting undergraduates’ usage of ICT skills for academic performance of educational technology undergraduates. And that institutional support is a strategy, integrate ICT into the curriculum is a strategy, usage of student-centered learning approaches, adequate infrastructure and access and align university curricula with current industry needs were among the strategies to be adopted towards improving undergraduates’ ICT skills for academic performance of educational technology undergraduates. It was recommended that institutions should integrate ICT into the curriculum, improve access to digital infrastructure, and provide continuous training.