AVAILABILITY AND USABILITY OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FORTEACHINGPUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS PUPILS IN GWALE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KANO STATE

Abstract

The paper investigates the extent of the availability, usability and challenges
of digital technologies for teaching pupils in Gwale Local Government Area of
Kano State. A descriptive survey research design was used to collect the data.
The population of the study was 2,619 primary school teachers
(comprising1,351 males and 1,268 female)in the study area. Convenience
sampling technique was used to select the sample size of 340 teachers
(comprising 198 males and 142 females). Three research questions guided the
study. Descriptive statistics involving the mean and standard deviation were
used to analyze the data. Digital technologies such as modem, digital video
camera, digital photo printer, digital camera, IPods, smart watch, and card
reader were found not to be available for teaching primary school pupils in
the study area. The digital technologies that were found to be available were
discovered to be rarely used for teaching. The respondents agreed that
information literacy, computer literacy, integration literacy, availability of
curriculum-specific applications, effective communication network, high cost
of digital technologies are some of the challenges in using digital technologies
for teaching primary school pupils. It is, therefore, recommended that schools
should be adequately funded to equip them for using digital technology for
teaching, education authorities should develop a policy for sourcing, using,
management, and handling of digital devices for teaching; and teachers and
students should be supported to develop capabilities in using digital
technologies for teaching, learning, and professional work.