The Role of ICT in Education: Focus on University Undergraduates taking Mathematics as a Course

Abstract

This paper examines the role of ICT in education with focus on university undergraduates taking mathematics as a course. The study was conducted at the Federal University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. 150 questionnaires were administered to the first year students offering MA112 which was completed and returned in the lecture hall. According to the study ICT usage shows that majority (32.7%) use technology once or more in a day. Again the majority of the respondents (35%) said that the greatest barrier to using ICT is technical. The survey shows that there is significant correlation between the students and the use of ICT in their studies. However difficulties facing ICT usage is highly significant also. This shows that students have negative attitudes towards using ICT in their academic work. This is a foundational problem which cannot be over emphasized. Most of the students have never practice using ICT in their primary and secondary schools. Recommendations were made, that the government should develop ICT policies and guidelines to support all levels of education from primary schools to university. ICT tools should be made more accessible to both academic staff and students. Keywords-