Information and Communication Technology Integration in Teacher Education Programmes: Assessment of Science Education Lecturer’s Competencies in Rivers State, Nigeria

The relevance of information and communication technology in developing nations of the world like Nigeria cannot be undermined, considering the indispensable role it plays in nations’ development and provision of basic facilities for improvement in standards of living of citizens. In this context, science education lecturers need to be fully equipped with basic skills in information and communication technology. This study therefore, is an attempt to assess Science Education Lecturers’ competency in information and communication technology in Rivers State. Descriptive survey design was adopted and the sample comprised 85 Science Education Lecturers in Rivers State Tertiary Institutions. The instrument was Competency in Information and Communication Technology Questionnaire validated by two Science Education Lecturers. The instruments’ reliability coefficient of 0.76 was determined by test-retest method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation formula. Mean and standard deviation were used for answering research questions while hypotheses were tested using t-test at .05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed low level of competency of science education lecturers in information and communication technology with regards to use of presentation tools to support on-line instructions, test, assignments, e-mail, face book, internet and cybercafé, analysis of a course work, results computation, course evaluation, word processor for personal and instructional purpose, spreadsheet for personal and instructional purpose, collection and storage of data and decision making. There was no significant difference in male and female lecturers’ level of competency in information and communication technology as well as university and college of education science education lecturers in Rivers State. It was recommended among others that Government should ensure adequate training of science education lectures on the use of information and communication technology facilities and also assist them acquire laptops and software packages.