Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
2017
Abstract
Information resources utilisation plays a major role in the teaching profession. The quality of teaching, research, and self development of teachers in any institution depends largely on the level of their interaction with the various information resources at their disposal. This study examined the types of information resources available for teaching and learning in Nigerian polytechnics and their impact on lecturers’ teaching effectiveness. Using a survey research design, 1,411people comprising 46 lecturers teaching 4 selected courses (electric circuit theory, engineering management, inorganic chemistry, computer graphics and animation) at the HND level and 1,365 HND II students (offering those courses) across 12 Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria were selected through multi stage sampling technique. Two types of structured questionnaires – one for lecturers and one for students were administered on the sample. Total response was 1256 (89%). Data were analysed using the descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression analysis. Findings revealed that information resources available for lecturers were mainly textbooks (82.6%) and journals (78.3%), while electronic resources were barely available. Also, level of accessibility especially to print information resources was high among lecturers. Though availability and accessibility of information resources were found to have a multiple positive influence on teaching effectiveness; accessibility of information resources was the major predictor of teaching effectiveness (18%). The study recommends that while provision of information resources (print and electronic) has increased in polytechnics, access, especially, to electronic resources should be ensured so as to enhance utilisation vis a vis teaching effectiveness.
Comments
This paper was culled from the PhD dissertation submitted by the author to the School of Postgraduate Studies, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State Nigeria in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy in Information Resources Management.