AN EVALUATION OF SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS PERCEPTION OF NTA RADIO PROGRAMME “I.C.TECH”

AN EVALUATION OF SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS PERCEPTION OF NTA RADIO PROGRAMME “I.C.TECH”

CHAPTER ONE

PROBLEMS AND ITS SETTING

1.1    Introduction

          Much has been said about the utilization of audio materials in education. Audio aids refer to device of hardware and software through which learning process is facilitated and carried out. Jackson (1987) for him the use of audio devices is not strange to the Nigeria educational system but what is perhaps now is the technological innovation as well as the great challenges which educational technology possess to the teaching learning process.

In the past traditional materials like marbles, cowries, beads were used for teaching in Nigeria. In information, renovation is enhancing the growth of knowledge in the society. The telephone, television and computer for instance are merging into single multipurpose educational devices.

Okonkwo (2006:267) this result is a new trend in communication development. This new trend is referred to as information and communication technology (ICTs). Information and Communication Technology also involves the process and transmission of information by electronic means such as radio, television, computer, mobile phones and cables. Radio is an effective communication medium that disseminates information. It’s one of the communication media which disseminate news of event and activities available to the widest possible audience. In the performance of this task, radio feeds the people with information about what was, what is and what is likely to be, thus making it possible for individuals and communities to read just themselves in ways best suited to the situation. Bitter (1980).

It is this characteristic ability to reach people that make radio a popular medium of education. Steven (2000) adds, that the effectiveness of radio depends not only on it intrinsic qualities, but more importantly on how it is use and for what purpose, in facts, the success or failure of every radio programme can be determined by the perception of listeners. Listener’s perception is known by the reactions or response which comes in various forms. These reactions therefore, could be triggered off by the programme and other factors that motivates as well as reinforce them.

Steven (2000) asserts that student’s perception of radio programme depends on the level of attention paid to the receiver message. The focus of this is to know the audience perception of the NTA radio programme “I.C.Tech”.

1.2    Statement of the Problem

Information and communication Technology has become vital to effective communication no matter the context and field of specialization. I.C.Ts in the area of education according to Hawkins (1988) enhances the quality of teaching and learning, the sharing of teaching and learning, the sharing of knowledge and information. They have the potential to contribute to effective learning through expanding access, promoting efficiency, improving the quality of teaching. Hadder and Duaxier (2002:17).

The ability to move into the information age depends on the capacity of the whole society to be educated. This starts with the educational system from bottom to top, from the primary school to university (Joel 1988) the school systems needs to meet the basic learning needs so that students could have opportunity to leap-frog into the information age to participate and complete as equal partners in our global society Hadder and Duaxier (2002:3).

The social and geographic distance between certain sections of words population is being rendered meaningless by new information technologies (ICTs). Ayabarn (2005) increasingly ICTS are being used to create electronic and non electronic networks for information sharing, the sharing of best civil society and the poor.

“I.C.Tech” NTA-Radio programme was introduced to educates listeners and creates awareness on ICTs and related internet technologies. To promote efficiency in utilization of ICTs and also to enlighten the audience on ICTs. Thus this system aims at examining audience perception of this programme “ICTech” on NTA-Radio programme achieved its aforementioned objectives.

1.3    Objectives of the Study

The following were the objectives of this study

1. to find out whether “ICTech” (an NTA-Radio programme) sufficiently inform and educate the secondary school students on the utilization of information and communication technologies.
2. to examine whether the message contained in “ICTech” are well communicated.
3. to find out whether ICTech is beneficial to the target audience.
4. to identify factors that can help secondary school students respond positive to the programme “ICTech”.

1.4    Research Questions

1. Does “ICTech (an NTA- Radio programme) sufficiently educate and inform students on utilization of information communication technology?
2. Are the message contained in the ICTech programme well communicated?
3. Is “ICTech” beneficial to its target audience?
4. What factors can help Secondary School Students to respond positively to “ICTech”?

1.5    Justification of the Study

The NTA-Radio programme, “ICTech” works towards enlightening and education of its audience on the utilization of information and communication. This study is an attempt to find out how the programme appeals to the listeners and how listeners perceive the programme. The finding in this study would inform the producer on the content quality and presentation  of the programme “ICTech” it also provide the basis for the development of similar studies and throw more light on how producers and presenters of similar programmes could relate with their audience the efficient production and presentation.

This study shall also help the listener to selectively attend to and retain information gathered, as well as help producers and presenters to put significant form in order to elicit favorable audience perception.