Information and Communication Technology Pedagogical Competency Possessed by Secondary School Chemistry Teachers in Onitsha Education Zone

Abstract

This work investigated into the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) pedagogical competency possessed by secondary school Chemistry teachers. The investigation was carried out in Onitsha Education Zone of Anambra State. Gender and school type (public and private) were considered. The study adopted descriptive survey design; population of the study included ninety-five (95) Chemistry teachers in the zone. A sample size of thirty-seven (37) Chemistry teachers made up of 15 male and 22 females in 18 public and 19 private secondary schools was used. The sample was selected using multistage sampling procedure. Three research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. For data collection, two instruments were used; Chemistry Teachers’ Competency Observational Rating Scale (CTCORS) was adapted while Teachers Self-Rating Scale on ICT Competency (TSRSICTC) was developed. The instruments used gone through face validation. Also, these instruments were tested for internal consistency using Cronbach Alpha to obtain its reliability coefficients. The reliability coefficients for CTCORS was 0.796 while TSRSICTC was 0.761. The data gathered was analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The mean and standard deviation are the statistical metrics used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the research hypotheses. The research findings revealed that the extent of Chemistry teachers’ competency in pedagogical ICT usage in Onitsha education zone was fair. Gender has no significant influence on Chemistry teachers’ use of pedagogical ICT competencies in senior secondary schools in Onitsha Education Zone. However, school type has no significant influence on pedagogical ICT competency in the aforementioned education zone. In accordance with our research findings, it was recommended that in order to enhance Chemistry teachers’ competency in ICT usage in secondary schools, ICT program should be made; mandatory during the teacher’s preparation course, prerequisite for teachers’ recruitment. Also, state-of-the-art of ICT gadgets and the internet facilities should be made available to public and private secondary schools at large.