By Ayodele Abere.
The negative effects of the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) among a sizable citizenry of Nigerian school age children were brought to the fore at an inaugural lecture at the Ekiti State University ,Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
A Professor of Curriculum and Instruction (Science Education) Kehinde Atinuke Omotayo, while delivering the 70th Inaugural lecture said ICT awareness and its current usage among this category of school age is prone to abuse, negative and unscholarly applications.
At the inaugural lecture titled “Producing Versatility In The Teaching-Learning: An Effort To Revitalize Science Education“, Prof.Omotayo said teachers of every discipline should be well equipped with competencies they will apply to help learners acquire desirable skills, scientific competencies and needed capabilities.
Explaining that it’s important to note that ICT awareness and usage among school age children is very high adding that the negative influence of wrong ICT usage among them is disheartening. She emphasized the need to ensure adequate preparation of proficient and effective science teaching personnel that are competent enough to help students catch up with the new literacies demand for their academic growth and economic development.
The inaugural lecturer noted that preparation of competent teachers can help to successfully exterminate the influence of wrong ICT usage. “It’s suggested that current teacher preparation programmes in the curriculum should be profusely laced with ICT sophistication such that the teachers will be well grounded in the understanding of processes, functions, structures, problems and prospects of the education system as well as the ICT usage”.
According to the don, “this is an era of exhibiting more than what is taught if one wants to be relevant in the scheme of things happening around. Science reformation efforts have suggested a good number of innovative strategies which are “Hands – on” and “Minds – on” learning strategies to help learners build and gain better understanding of scientific concepts”. The Professor said.
In her submission, Professor Kehinde Omotayo, therefore recommended that science be taught more creatively in Nigeria as there is a dire need for paradigm shift to practicality in the teaching of science and science based disciplines. And that, there is a need to create an enabling environment for ICT usage in facilitating scientific instructions. She called on parents, school administrators and learners to endeavour to make it happen. Just as she said that government’s support is needed to execute all policies formulated accurately.
In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Edward Olanipekun congratulated the inaugural lecturer on the feat she has attained in the university and for the lecture eloquently delivered.
The lecture was well attended by the principal officers of the Institution, colleagues, friends families and well wishers from within and outside the university.