SELF-RATING OF OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT LECTURERS’ PROFICIENCY FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING OF SPREAD SHEET APPLICATION IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA POLYTECHNICS

Abstract

This study was undertaken with a view to discovering how proficient Office Technology and Management Lecturers are in teaching the MS Excel application in the North-west Nigerian Polytechnics. One research question and two null hypotheses guided the study.  The study utilized a descriptive survey research design. the population and the sample size were 127 OTM lecturers. The instrument for data collection was 5 5-point structured questionnaire with 15 items.  The reliability of the instrument was established using split half method and obtained a coefficient value of 0.84.  The researcher and three assistants administered the questionnaire, and the retrieved data were analyzed with mean and standard deviation.  T-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.  The finding revealed that OTM lecturers were very proficient in teaching spreadsheet applications.  The study also found no significant difference in the mean ratings of respondents’ proficiency for effective teaching of spreadsheet application as a result of gender and the institution's ownership (State and Federal). The study concluded that OTM lecturers possess the requisite spreadsheet proficiency to effectively teach their students.  Based on the findings, it is recommended that OTM lecturers should engage in self-development in order to maintain their proficiency level in spreadsheet applications.