UTILIZATION OF E-LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES IN DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IN AKWA-SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ANAMBRA STATE.
Nwachukwu Ruphina. U. (PhD), Okop. Ekaette O., Imo Charity O., & Stella Nwizu,
Department of Adult Education & Extra-Mural Studies
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Abstract
The study was carried out to ascertain the level of the utilization of e-learning facilities in distance education programs using NTI centers in Akwa-South Local Government Area Anambra State as a case study. Descriptive survey design was adopted for this study with a sample size of 300 respondents. To make this work successful three research questions were formulated to guide the researcher and the Instrument employed for data collection was researcher developed questionnaire. titled “`Utilization of E-learning in Distance Education Programmes (UEDEP). The questionnaires administered, were duly filled and returned giving a 100% return rate. To analyse the data collected, Means(x) and simple percentage were used to analyze the 3 research questions that guided the study. Findings revealed. : many of the facilities mentioned in the research work such as personal computers, overhead projectors and electronic whiteboard are not available in the NTI centers. Few of the facilities available are poorly utilized . Also some problems were identified to be the challenges that hinder the effective utilization of e-learning in distance education programs in Akwa-South. Based on the findings, the major recommendations made among others were that governments should provide more ICT facilities, computer laboratories should be built by the government in these centers, e-learning courses should be made compulsory in the centers and social media should be used effectively to administer research materials, administrative and other vital information that may be necessary to the participants of distance education programs.
Key words: E-learning, Distance education, NTI centers, Anambra states.