THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING OF BUSINESS STUDY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

There has been increasing interest in introducing innovations such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the teaching and learning of business studies especially when the Nigeria Education and Research Development Council (NERDC) introduced a modern curriculum into the school system. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) involves the use of computers and other electronic devices to process information. ICT stands for information & communication technologies. ICT refers to technologies that provide access to information through communications. It is similar to information technology (IT). “But primarily focuses on communication technologies. This includes the internet, wireless network, cell phones & other communications medium”. In the past few decades information & communication technologies have provided to society with vast array of a new communication capabilities.

“People can communicate in real time with others in dierent countries using technologies such as instant messaging, voice over IP and video conferencing, social networking websites like face book allow users from all over the world to remain in contact and communicate on a regular basis”. Modern information communication technologies have created a global village in which people communicate with others across the world as if they were living next door. “For this reason ICT is oen studied in the context of how modern communication technologies aected society” (tech factor, January 04, 2010). ICT stands for information & communications technology is an umbrella term that includes any communication device, encompassing radio, television, cell phones, computer and network hardware, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services & applicate with them such as video conferencing and distance learning. “ICT are oen spoken of a particular context such as ICTs in education, health care, or libraries” (Margaret Rouse, September, 2005). “ICT (information and communications technology or technologies) is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and soware, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning”.

ICT (information and communications technology – or technologies) is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and soware, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as video conferencing and distance learning. “ICTs are oen spoken of in a particular context, such as ICTs in education, health care, or libraries” (Abe & Adu, 2007). Nworgu (2008) stated that ICT refers to a whole range of facilities or technologies involved in information processing and electronic communication to be handled with skills and expertise, for eective achievement and realization of its potentials in Education. In the view of Valasidou (2008), ICT is an innovative instrumental tool that enables the educators to modify the teaching and learning processes in order to increase students’ interest. Brown (2009) explained that ICT is considered very crucial for the achievement of various educational objectives in terms of expanding the citizenry access to education at all levels and improving the quality of teaching and learning process. In the explanation of Daniels (2002), the use of Information and Communication Technologies in the educative process has been divided into two broad categories: ICTs for education and ICTs in education. ICTs for education refers to the development of ICT specifically for teaching learning purposes, while the ICTs in education involves the adoption of general components of ICTs in the teaching learning process.

Effiong (2005) emphasized that ICT use in school curriculum depends highly on the teachers who will use ICT to teach the students. This requires that teachers should have the ability to incorporate ICT into teaching and learning. Okereke (2008) noted that, application of ICT to teaching and learning makes instructions more eective and productive. In this regard ICT is viewed as innovations that enable business studies teachers facilitate teaching and learning of business studies. Business studies is an academic subject that helps students to be exposed to realities of business practices. The subject is designed to introduce students to the foundational knowledge of the principles and practices of business. Okute (2008) opined that business studies is the fundamental subject which has to do with acquisition, conservation and expedition of wealth. Osuala (2004) stated that business studies help the students to make informed decisions in the everyday business of living. Obi (2005), explained that business studies prepares students for business career or enables those in that career become more eicient and advance to higher business positions. Computer appreciation entails the general understanding of the basic building blocks of the computer systems, literacy in operating the computer and using the window interface called window explore and other similar interfaces.

Azuka (2000) explained that keyboarding should be emphasized along with the traditional typing; the author identified closer relationship between them likewise word processing, data processing and the use of the internet. Word processing is the application of computer for manipulating text-based documents; the electronic equivalent of paper, pen, typewriter, eraser, and most likely, dictionary and thesaurus (Encarta, 2009). According to Agomuo (2005), word processing can be likened to a typewriter inside a computer in that it incorporates all the duties of a typewriter which basically are: the ability to type and produce text on paper, store and manipulate text in documents and get printed copies. But when using computers, it deviates a little from the common typewriter. There is the enter key replacing the carrier movement and there are commands (simple ones) for paragraph, indent, spacing and so on. In addition, one can: store the document for future reference or use; make corrections to the documents very conveniently; format your documents to a wide variety of specification; automate some functions such as page numbering, generation of indexes; check the spelling of text in your document for correctness; and have greater control 5 over page layout attribute such as margin and so on. Other area where computer is most useful in daily activities is in the use of the internet and data processing.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The internet is a computer-based global information system (Comer, 2009). It is composed of many interconnected computer networks. Each network may link tens, hundreds, or even thousands of computers, enabling them to share information. The Internet has made it possible for people all over the world to communicate with one another effectively, inexpensively and to have free access to useful data for further processing. Data processing deals with the analysis and organization of data by the repeated use of one or more computer programs (Kogge, 2009). Data processing is used extensively in business, and in all areas in which computers are used such as education, to process data educationally by the teachers and other education administrators. The researcher observed that business studies teachers in the state have some difficulties in teaching the ICT component of the curriculum; therefore, they need improvement.