ASSESSING THE ATTITUDE OF ACADEMIC STAFF TOWARDS E-LEARNING IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN SOUTH-SOUTH GEOPOLITICAL REGION OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Purpose: The study assessed the attitude of academic staff towards utilization of e -learning in teaching and learning in the universities in Bayelsa State, which is in the South-South Geopolitical Region of Nigeria.

Methodology: The study employed descriptive survey research design. The population was made up of 1,958 academic staff out of which 587 were sampled and used for the study. Sampling technique used was random sampling in which 30% of the total population was selected for the study. A self- made instrument, ‘attitude of academic staff to e-learning questionnaire (AASEQ)’ was developed for the study. It was validated by two experts in Educational Measurement and Evaluation, and has reliability coefficient of 0.87. Mean and standard deviation were used in answering the research questions, while independent sampled t-test was used test the hypothesis at 0.05 significant level.

Findings: The result indicated that academic staff have positive attitude towards utilization of e -learning in teaching and learning. The study also found that there is a significant difference between the mean score of male and female academic staff on their attitude towards the use of e-learning in teaching and learning in the universities.

Application of the Study: Insights from the study can guide policymakers and educational leaders in creating conducive environments for e-learning.

Novelty/Originality of this study: This study focuses on the South-South geopolitical region of Nigeria, which may not have been extensively covered in previous research on e-learning attitudes. This regional focus could provide new insights specific to this area, which may differ from findings in other regions of Nigeria or other countries. The study targets academic staff in tertiary institutions. Much of the existing literature might focus on students' attitudes towards e-learning, making this focus on academic staff relatively unique. Understanding the perspective of educators is crucial as their attitudes can significantly influence the success of e-learning initiatives. The study adds to the body of knowledge in the field of educational technology and e-learning.