This study investigated the relationship between computer literacy and teacher’s job effectiveness of secondary schools in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study was a correlation survey. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 1800 respondents. The respondents were comprised of 40 principals, 80 vice principals, 120 heads of departments, 120 teachers, and 200 prefects totaling 600 respondents from each of the three senatorial districts in Kwara State. Five research hypotheses were generated for the study. Computer Literacy Questionnaire (CLQ) and Teacher’s Job Effectiveness Questionnaire (TJEQ) were used to collect relevant data. The instruments were validated and the reliability index of .63 and .69 was obtained for the (CLQ) and (TJEQ) respectively. The data obtained were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistic and t-test statistics and tested at .05 significance level. The findings revealed that computer literacy encourages appreciation and utilization of computers during teaching learning processes which invariably aid teachers’ job effectiveness, such as job performance, record keeping, school discipline, and supports students’ academic performance. It also revealed that computer literate teachers perform better in the schools than non-computer literate teachers in the schools by making use of computers during their teaching, the use of computers arouse students’ interest in the teachings which supports effective student academic performance. Those schools with non-computer literate teachers were never exposed to computers’ usage which detracted from effective teaching and learning in the schools. It was recommended that computer systems be supplied to every school for the teachers and students use by the government, nongovernmental agencies, and philanthropists. Also all teachers should be encouraged by the government through provision of in service computer training opportunities. In doing so, teachers’ job effectiveness in Kwara State secondary schools will improve.
Keywords: Teacher Computer Literacy, Teacher Effectiveness, Computer Literacy
Introduction
Of recent, electronic information systems have shown that they offer great opportunities for teachers and students in various disciplines. The use of electronic information systems enables teachers to access the necessary information on learning instruction materials through the internet. Electronic information systems can be defined as the combination of hardware and software used to store the needed information from external and internal sources for more accessible data bases towards the accomplishment of organizational goals. Through the use of electronic information systems (EIS) necessary information is transmitted widely within the shortest possible time. Thus enabling researchers, scholars, and professionals to meet, interact and exchange ideas in the field of education.
Lawal (2012) noted that, the assumption of the public that students that study computer education, computer science, and computer technology in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions are usually adjusted or well acquainted to the use of electronic information system is not true. This is because there are various electronic information system resources that come on the market as new systems in acquiring knowledge and information with ease. EIS in education is generally used to introduce students and teachers to the use and working principles of computer systems that enhance teachers’ job effectiveness in their records keeping and teaching learning processes in the schools. EIS in education aids the following: introduction of simulations and games pedagogical strategies, computer based instructions, administrative effectiveness, school discipline, research publications facilities, and effective teaching-learning processes. Also, of recent, teachers log into internet websites to access necessary information for research and assignments. Computers can be described as scientific machines that are used to perform tasks or calculating according to set instructions or programs.
Etejere and Ogundele (2008) observed that electronic information system enables the teachers, researchers, school administrators, and students to acquire, process, store and disseminate vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by electronic based systems. However, adequate use of electronic information systems in the schools demands effective computer literacy skills and acquisition.
Computers also work through the interaction of hardware and software. The hardware is part of computer that one can see and touch. The part of computer that helps to translate instructions and performs calculations is called the central processing unit. While software refers to the instructions and programs that tell the computer hardware what to do through the operating system. Examples of hardware are monitor, keyboard, mouse, and printer etc.