International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) |Volume IX, Issue VII, July 2022|ISSN 2321-2705
Assessment on the Use of ICT in Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities and Difficulties
OWOLABI, Abdulhakim Adewale, ALAO, Beatrice Funmilayo, IYAWA, Ifeyinwa Jane, ENOGHOMWANSE, Adesuwa Deborah
Department of Computer Science Education, School of Secondary Education (Science), Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria
Abstract: The study focused on assessment on the use of ICT in teaching students with learning disabilities and difficulties. The study is a descriptive survey research design, using a population of 62 teachers in special need schools in Asaba metropolis. There was no sampling for the study since the entire population was studied. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire made up of 15 items. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested using Spearman rank order correlation co-efficient and a coefficient of 0.87 was obtained which suggested a high reliability. Three research questions were raised for the study while one null hypothesis was formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The data collected were analyzed using mean statistics and standard deviation for the research questions and t-test used to test the null hypothesis. The findings of the study revealed that lack of teachers ICT compliance; inadequate provision of ICT tools and environmental challenges has significance effects in teaching students with learning disabilities and difficulties. It was recommended that specialized schools should invest more on the purchase of ICT tools necessary for handling students various learning difficulties; teachers in special need schools should receive in-service training at least once a year to be able to improve their competence in handling new ICT tools and State government should assist the schools’ head in providing regular power supply and internet facilities to the schools as most of these ICT tools required power supply and internet access.
Keywords: Information and Communication Technology, Teaching, Learning disabilities and difficulties.
I. INTRODUCTION
Learning disability and difficulties is defined as a physical or mental condition which implies that one cannot use a part of one’s body completely or easily or that one cannot learn easily (BBC English dictionary, 2017). It is seen as students who constitute a large group that exhibit severe problems such as blindness, mental retardness, hearing impairment and so on. The Good Schools Guide (2016) however pointed out that some students who have no obvious physical or mental impairment can have trouble managing tasks necessary for learning, such as concentrating, keeping still, making themselves clear or understanding tasks set in class.