Information and Communication Technology Competences Possessed by Biology Teachers in Secondary Schools in Anambra State

Abstract

The new requirement for working and living in the 21^st century is the ability of individuals to be technologically compliant. There is always need for teachers to possess the right competences to operate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities available in the schools. This necessitated the study on the ICT competences possessed by secondary school biology teachers in Anambra State. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised 288 biology teachers in all government owned secondary schools in the state. The sample for the study comprised 99 biology teachers drawn from six education zones in the state using a purposive sampling technique. The instruments for data collection were biology teachers’ ICT competence questionnaire (BTICTCQ) and biology teachers’ ICT competence practical test (BTICTCPT). Three experts validated the instruments. They were trial tested to ascertain its reliability using Cronbach Alpha, BTICTCQ gave a reliability coefficient value of 0.83 while BTICTCPT gave a reliability coefficient value of 0.88. The instruments were administered through direct delivery approach by the researchers and six research assistants. The data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions and t-test to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 alpha levels. The study revealed among others that there is a significant difference between the assumed and actual mean ICT competences of biology teachers in demonstrating basic ICT tasks and age is a significant factor on actual mean ICT competence of secondary school biology teachers. The study concluded that secondary school biology teachers in Anambra do not possess the required ICT competence to use ICT facilities to teach biology concepts. The study recommended among others that practicing biology teachers should enrol in in-service training programme on ICT to update their competences in its use in teaching and the education/teacher training institutions should make sure that pre-service biology teachers possess the required competency before graduation.