Practical technological skills improvement needs of educational technology practitioners in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed practical technological skills improvement needs of educational technology practitioner’s in Niger state, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study was guided by three research questions. The population of this study comprised of all Educational technology practitioners in Niger State. A sample of 66 educational technology practitioners were selected using Purposive Sampling Technique. A researcher-designed structured questionnaire was used for data collection and was validated by five experts. The questionnaire was pilot tested and the data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Cronbach Alpha Correlation Formula and reliability coefficients of 0.91 and 0.85 were obtained for practical technological skills required and possessed by Educational technology practitioners respectively. Descriptive statistics of Mean, Mean Rank and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions. Findings of the study revealed practical technological skills are required and possessed by Educational technology with grand means of 2.98 and 2.87 respectively. Use of Edmodo to share text, video, homework and assignment with students and teaching of students how to make their own web page were practical technological skills not possessed by educational technology practitioners in Niger State and were ranked 14th and 15th with mean of 2.44 and 2.42 respectively. In light of the findings, it was recommended among others that educational technology practitioners should be encouraged to acquire the needed skills and abilities; enabling environment that would enable them utilise these possessed skills should be provided.