Fostering the use of ICT in Pedagogic practices in Nigerian Universities

Abstract

The paper discusses the development of ICT and the status of its application to pedagogic practices in Nigerian Universities. It considered the availability of Higher Education in terms of the parameter: Higher Education participation Rate (HEPR) for Nigerian Youths. The current HEPR is known to be 8% which is the lowest among 16 countries considered. It also examined the inadequacy in number of lecturers and infrastructural facilities in coping with the number of registered students considering the fact that the face to face method of teaching was still prevalent. A review of the steps taken to provide ICT infrastructural facilities for the Nigerian Education System by the government and private organizations were made. ICT based activities which could be used in pedagogic practices in the classroom were discussed with particular reference to the African Virtual University programs such as the Teacher Education program and Open Education Resources which are accessible to all. In conclusion, the paper points to the fact that ICT-integrated education has great potentials to bring the necessary education reforms desired and is able to expand the scope of accessibility of Higher Education in the country without building more campuses. However ICT-integrated education adoption would require a greater investment in internet connectivity, technology hardware and software as well as teacher professional development in the use of ICTs. // Paper ID: 152