Abstract:
The study assessed the utilization of ICT tools among Colleges of Agricultures Lecturers in Southwest Nigeria. Specifically, the study ascertained the demographic characteristics of the Lecturers; examine the ICT tools and software available in the institutions; ascertain the utilization and the extent of utilization of ICT tools and software by the Lecturers. It also determines the area of ICT tools and software training needs of the Lecturers and factors influencing the use of ICT tools and software for teaching and research. A multistage sample procedure was used in selecting 428 respondents for this study. Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study revealed that most of the respondents (65.7%) were male with a mean age of 37.7 years. Most of the respondents (48.1%) possess a Master's Degree as the highest academic qualification while most of the respondents were Lecturer II with a mean lecturing experience of 2.75 years. The study revealed that the most ICT tools available for teaching and research are laptops (99.8%), video cameras (90.2%), and projector (73.4%) while the most available software was Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (94.6%). Laptops (98.6%), and microphone, amplifiers, and speakers (89.7%) were the most utilized ICT tools by the Lecturers, while PDF (86.7%) and SPSS (78.0%) were the most utilized ICT software for teaching and research. Among the ICT tools, Laptops were most frequently used by the respondents, while PDF (69.9%) and SPSS (45.8%) were the most frequently used software by the Lecturers for teaching and research. The study also revealed that training is highly needed in the use of STATA (X̅=1.74), SPSS (X̅=1.74), creating online signature (X̅=1.56), use of excel (X̅=1.54), use of video Editor (X̅=1.52), and storing educational materials in the cloud (X̅=1.52). The factors influencing the use of ICT tools and software were grouped into technical, academic, and psycho-social factors. The results of the hypotheses showed that academic qualification (χ2= 10.094, p< 0.05), professional rank (χ2=22.758, p< 0.05) and lecturing experience (χ2=16.688, p< 0.05) were significantly related with the utilization of ICT tools for teaching and research while a significant relationship was observed between academic qualification (χ2=5.726, p< 0.05), and utilization of ICT software for teaching and research. The study recommended the Colleges of Agriculture management could embark on soliciting both internal and external funds and support from willing individuals, philanthropists, and international organizations for funding of ICT tools in these institutions.
