Readiness of Pre-Service Business Education Teachers for Web-Based E-Learning in Colleges of Education in North-East Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the level of preparedness or readiness for use of e-learning amongst pre-service business education teachers in Colleges of Education in North East Nigeria.  One research question and one hypothesis guided this study.  This study was a sample survey, in which a 51-item structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The researcher developed questionnaire was validated and pilot tested and the internal consistency using Cronbach alpha was 0.81.  The participants were 1,003 final year pre-service business education teachers from five Colleges of Education in five states in North East Nigeria that were selected for the study. A sample of 546 pre-service business education teachers was selected using cluster sampling technique. Data were collected with the help of trained research assistants.  Data obtained were analysed using frequency counts and percentages, mean, and t-test statistic. The results indicated that the pre-service business education teachers’ perceived level of preparedness or readiness for the use of web based e-learning is low. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that the pre-service business education teachers should be encouraged to engage in hands-on IT training wherever they are available; and that emphasis of IT training for pre-service business education teachers should be placed on web-based instruction (use of internet and World Wide Web), instructional slides and tutorials (Compact Disk- CD based), and virtual teaching (video conferencing technique).

Keywords: Teacher readiness, Teacher preparedness, e- learning,  IT-Information technology, ICT-Information and communication technology, Business education, Pre-service business education, Teacher education.