Impact of professional development programme on academic librarians’ attitudes towards educational technology and digital learning resources for inclusion: The Nigerian case

Abstract

This study took a look at the Impact of Professional Development Programme on Academic Librarians’ Attitudes towards Educational Technology and Digital Learning Resources for Inclusion in Federal University in Nigeria. The study was guided by three reseacrh questions and adopted quasi-experimental research design with a sampled population of 85 academic librarians selected from 10 federal universities in Nigeria through random sampling techniques. The instrument used for data collection was Likert type structured 6 points questionnaire. Data collection was done digitally through email with a link to the online surveys both at the start and at the end of the program periods. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze data collected with which answers to the research questions as they concern federal university libraries in Nigeria academic librarians attitudes towards educational technology and the effect of group on changes in participants’ perceptions of the benefits of DLR for inclusion were provided. The results were presented in table and the outcome among others revealed that federal university libraries in Nigeria academic librarians’ attitudes towards eduational technology were generally positive and that one of the greatest challenges facing academic librarians in federal universities libraries in Nigeria today is balancing their attention between the library as a whole and students with special and complex needs who demand extra support. The study based on the findings recommended among other things that academic librarians in Federal Universities in Nigeria should be sufficiently in a practical ways exposure to technology over time and that university library management should provide the needed enabling environment for students with learning disabilities.