CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The use of ICT in schools requires skilled teaching staff and visionary school leadership. Teachers and school leaders need to be knowledgeable about the potential that ICT presents during teaching and learning in schools. According to Higgins & Moseley, (2011) where this knowledge is lacking, policies formulated by government and investments made towards implementation of ICT in schools, frequently miss opportunities to realize the desired school reforms. The use of ICTs in Nigeria and African countries generally is increasing and dramatically growing. However, while there is a great deal of knowledge about how ICTs are being used in developed countries, there is not much information on how ICTs are being introduced into schools in developing countries (BeukesAmiss and Chiware, 2006). The use of ICTs by teachers to teach the students is highly advantageous. s. This is because its enable them to demonstrate understanding of the opportunities and implications of the uses for learning and teaching in the curriculum context; plan, implement, and manage learning and teaching in open and flexible learning environment (UNESCO, 2004). The integration of ICT may have a considerable impact on the work of teachers, in particular, if ICT is conceived as a tool that supports a change in pedagogical approach. Not only teachers need to change their roles and class organization, but in particular they need to invest energy in order for themselves but also for their students to get ready to introduce and manage new learning arrangements (OECD, 2002). According to Ching (2016), ICT plays a unique but complementary role in each of these approaches, with new technologies requiring new teacher roles, new pedagogies and new strands to teacher education. Te successful integration of ICT depends on the ability of teachers to merge technology with new pedagogies

Physics is a branch of science that deals with energy, matter and their interactions. It is sometimes referred to as the science of measurement and its knowledge has contributed greatly to the production of instruments and devices of tremendous benefits to the human race (Ajadi, 2017). In Nigeria, Physics is being taught as one of the science subject at the senior secondary school level and its branches (that is mechanics, light, waves, electricity, nuclear Physics). The importance of Physics cannot be overemphasized as it forms the basis for technological advancement of any nation. Its study can lead to several scientific fields and professions such as engineering, manufacturing, mining and construction industries. Also, the knowledge of Physics plays a very significant role in the economic development of any nation (Chukwunenye and Adegoke, 2014).

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Over the years the academic performance of physics students in Ankpa L.G.A has been on a steady decline. The poor performance of students in physics could be as a result of lack of instructional materials or poor integration of ICT in most of the physics laboratory in Ankpa L.G.A. Secondly, lack of adequate funding is been observed to be among the causes of poor academic performance in physics. Lastly there have been several studies on ICT and academic performance but not even a single study is based on the influence of ICT on student performance in physics in Ankpa L.G.A, Kogi state

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of the research work is to determine the influence of ICT on student performance in physics in Ankpa L.G.A, Kogi state. The objectives of the study are:

1. To determine the relationship between ICT and student performance in Physics in Ankpa L.G.A
2. To determine the importance of ICT to physics students in Ankpa L.G.A
3. To identify the factors affecting the influence of ICT on student performance in physics in Ankpa L.G.A
4. To recommend ways to immprove student performance in physics in Ankpa L.G.A, Kogi state

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions guide the objectives of the study:

1.  What is the relationship between ICT and student performance in Physics in Ankpa L.G.A?
2. What is the importance of ICT to physics students in Ankpa L.G.A?
3. What are the factors affecting the influence of ICT on student performance in physics in Ankpa L.G.A?
4. What are the ways to improve student performance in physics in Ankpa L.G.A, Kogi state?

1.5 STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESIS

H0: there is no significant relationship between ICT and student performance in Physics in Ankpa L.G.A

H1: there is significant relationship between ICT and student performance in Physics in Ankpa L.G.A

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the influence of ICT on student performance in physics will be of immense benefit to the entire secondary schools in Ankpa L.G.A, Kogi state. The study help the management of secondary schools Ankpa L.G.A on how to integrate the use of ICT into teaching and learning of physics. The study will also as a repository of information to other researchers and students that desire to carry out similar research on the above topic. Finally the study will contribute to the body of the existing literature on the influence of ICT on student performance in physics.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study covers on the influence of ICT on student performance in physics with focus on secondary schools in Ankpa L.G.A, Kogi state

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS:

ICT: Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and computers, as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage and audiovisual, that enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information

PHYSICS: Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. Physics is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines, and its main goal is to understand how the universe behaves.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: Academic achievement or academic performance is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has attained their short or long-term educational goals. Completion of educational benchmarks such as secondary school diplomas and bachelor's degrees represent academic achievement