Don  Harps On ICT Importance

A lecturer at the Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, Nigeria, Prof. James Samuel  Oludotun, has harped on the importance of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Educational Technology, and instructional materials as important tools to ameliorate and shore up physics as a subject at all levels.
Oludotun, a Professor of Physics, disclosed this at a valedictory lecture organised in his honour as he retired from the university, recently.
In his lecture title, “Improving the Teaching and Learning of School Physics in Nigeria”, he said for the love of Physics as a subject/course, which serves as a bedrock for professional careers in natural and applied sciences, government at all levels, stakeholders in education, universities, tertiary institutions and teachers in secondary education teaching and learning processes must comply with application of up-to-date instructional gadgets and ICT resources.
Such persons in natural and applied sciences include academic researchers, acoustics consultants, clinical scientists, and geophysicists.
“In addition, teachers, educational facilitators and lecturers are to be exposed and equipped with ICT knowledge and capacity building in order to ameliorate and shore up physics as a subject at all levels”, he said.
He recalled that in 1985, the then Director of NTA’s Education Programmes, and late news broadcaster, Mr Bode Alalade, wrote an article in one of the Daily Newspapers on the establishment of Instructional Television (ITV) to assist science learners (both young and old) in the society, in the study of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics.
“In response to the article, Dr A. O. Adeagbo, a Research Fellow in Mathematics Education and I, a Research Fellow in Physics Education, responded by showing our interest to take part in the NTA (ITV) project.
“It was observed that Physics and Mathematics were produced and transmitted from Lagos, while Chemistry and Biology were produced and transmitted from Kaduna.
The production and the presentation of the Physics programme were part of my contributions to the improvement of teaching and learning of the new Physics School Curriculum in Nigeria.
“The objectives of the NTA’s ITV programmes were as follows: to supplement and complement the efforts of the teacher in the field and not to replace him; to broaden and deepen the scope of knowledge available through formal school channels; to encourage and teach vocational skills at various levels; to relate learning to contemporary life and enhance the inculcation and application of general principles as opposed to rote learning.
“These objectives were laudable for the development of the country in terms of the communication necessary for science (Physics) and Mathematics”, he said.

Prof. Oludotun said the goal of the NTA ITV was focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning of the New School Physics and Mathematics Curricula through broadcasting, which is a massive and effective mode of reaching a large audience.

Recall that the Science (Physics) and Mathematics programmes were transmitted in the evenings, 4.00 pm to 6.0 pm, Monday to Friday each week.

“The Physics and Mathematics NTA ITV programmes were on for almost three years, from 1986 to 1988 when they were stopped for lack of fund to keep them in the air”, he added.

Oludotun concluded that, “The use of ITV and other forms of scientific video-films in the classrooms will be added material for teachers to enrich the teaching and learning of Physics and Mathematics.

“It is hoped that the above prospects will open the doors to better research into learners’ perception of the world around them and the subject evaluation in terms of skills, comprehension and application”.

In response, Crawford University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Reuben Jiya Kolo, presented an award of meritorious service to Professor Oludotun for his contribution to the growth and development of Crawford University.

Kolo advised lecturers and all participants to make good use of ICT infrastructure, educational resources and facilities provided for teaching and learning activities in various teaching and learning processes in the University system.