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 different 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 often studied in the context of how modern communication technologies affected 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 & application 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 software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing 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 effective 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. Eiong (2005) emphasized that ICT use in school curriculum depends highly on the teachers who will use ICT to teach the students.