Utilisation of e-Learning innovations for instructional delivery by public university lecturers in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined utilisation of e-learning innovations for instructional delivery by public university lecturers in Rivers State, Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were tested. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of 3,165 lecturers in all the public universities in Rivers State was studied with a sample of 633, representing 20% of the entire population, using a stratified random sampling technique. A 4-point rating scale questionnaire was validated by experts and was used for data collection. Pilot test was used to establish the reliability of the instrument, with a Cronbach Alpha and a reliability coefficient value of 0.89 was obtained. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question and determine the homogeneity of the respondents’ views, while the hypotheses were tested with z-test at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that the lecturers in public universities in Rivers State utilise e-learning innovations for instructional delivery to a low extent. Also, this low extent of utilization of these e-learning innovations are caused by some challenges they face as identified in this study. Based on the findings, it was concluded that, inadequate utilisation of e-learning innovations in the university by lecturers is a major contributory factor to the ineffective instructional delivery of the current era. Consequently, it was recommended that management of the universities should sponsor their lecturers on short-term courses and conferences to equip them with competencies for e-learning utilisation to improve the quality of their instruction using e-learning innovations.