Assessment of The Effectiveness of Online Lectures by Bingham University During the Covid-19 Lockdown in Nigeria
- August 4, 2021
- Posted by: rsispostadmin
- Categories: Education, IJRISS, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VII, July 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186
Anthony Igyuve, PhD1, Ben Odeba2, Daburi Bello Misal3
1Department of Mass Communication, Nasarawa State University, Keffi
2Directorate of Academic Planning Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
3Directorate of Information and Protocol, Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State
Abstract: Following the lockdown in Nigeria as a result of COVID-19 pandemic which affected academic activities, Bingham University in order to run an unbroken academic calendar adopted digital technology to deliver lectures to its students. This research assessed the use of digital media communication technology for delivering lectures by Bingham University during the Covid-19 lockdown. Survey research design was used for the study with documentary, questionnaire and interview as the instruments to elicit information from the respondents. Anchored on the Social Presence Theory, Media Richness Theory and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, the study validates the assumptions of the aforementioned three theories of computer mediated communication (CMC) that digital media technology creates a considerable high level of social presence in a communication encounter, interactivity and the capability of the digital media to cater for every communication need in the 21st century. Further findings show that the use of online lectures was effective and it enabled Bingham University to complete its academic calendar for 2019/2020 academic session notwithstanding the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. Findings further indicate that both staff and students demonstrated positive attitude towards the use of online lectures by the University. The result of the study also established that both staff and students encountered many challenges such as insufficient proficiency and experience in the use of digital technology for teaching and learning, cost of data, poor internet connectivity and poor power supply among others. Based on the findings, it is recommended that both staff and students undergo further training to improve their skills in the use of digital media technology, provision of adequate power supply, internet facilities and a general enabling environment for virtual teaching and learning to thrive.
Keywords: Digital Media, Communication, Online Lecture, Covid-19 Lockdown
I.INTRODUCTION
Over the past few decades, online or virtual teaching and learning has gained prominence in many institutions of learning all over the world (UNESCO, 2020). In Nigeria, the online lecture is becoming popular and adopted by some schools both at the primary, secondary and institutions of higher learning. Its popularity and adoption became more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Bingham University is one of the universities in Nigeria that adopted the online lecture during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus(nCovid-19) in Wuhan, China towards the end of 2019, frequently referred to as Covid-19 pandemic, has drastically
