CONSTRAINTS TO THE USE OF MEDIA TECHNOLOGY 2

Media technology is becoming indispensable because it has revolutionized managerial activities by providing accurate and timely information for managerial planning, decision making and control (Stoner, Freeman and Gilbert, 1996). Access to Media technology facilities will enhance planning, organization of information, monitoring, and improvement of communication.
Uys (2000) emphasized that Media technology has necessitated a change from the traditional administrative operations to increasingly complex, decentralized and integrated levels of organization. Dzidonu (2001) stated that African countries are generally classified as having comparatively less or inadequate access to Media technology. Nigeria is lagging behind in the development, deployment and exploitation of Media technology in the educational system. Several factors are responsible for this problem. Oboegbulem and Ogbonnaya (2000) identified constant changes in the Media technology industry, lack of technical background among university administrators, and lack of adequate Media technology facilities within universities as constraints to the use of Media technology in university administration (as applicable to secondary schools). This study, therefore, investigated capability in information uses and constraints to access and use of media technology by principals in the management of public secondary schools in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Statement of the Problem

        The use of Media technology devices in management has a lot of benefits. The growing availability of Media technology resources such as software packages presents an opportunity for principals to provide accurate, and timely information for managerial planning, decision making and control.

        However, most principals lack the technical knowledge of Media technology preventing them from using Media technology rather continued to use non-technological mode of storing and disseminating information, planning among others. This scenario seems to undermine the relevance of Media technology. The problem of the study therefore is to ascertain the constraints to use of Media technology by principals in the management of public secondary schools.

Purpose of the Study

        The study specifically intends to:

1.  Ascertain capability in Media Technology use for administrative purposes by principals of public secondary schools in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

2.  Find out constraints to the use of audio-visual technology by principals of public secondary schools in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

3.  Determine constraints to the use of computers and telecommunication technology by principal of public secondary schools in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

4.  Find out constraints to the use of broadcast technology for administrative purpose by principals of public secondary schools in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

Research Questions

        The following research questions are stated to guide the study:

1.  What capability in Media Technology use for administrative purposes by principals of public secondary schools in Ughelli North Local Government Area? . . . . . .. . .. .  . .

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CONSTRAINTS TO THE USE OF MEDIA TECHNOLOGY

Chapter One

Introduction

Background of the Study

        Education brings about a change in information, knowledge, undertakings or skills and attitude in an individual. This change is to enable an individual to solver personal and community problems. Thus, education provide for the good and sustenance of the individual and society in general. Schools exist in a technological environment undergoing tremendous changes as a result of advances in media such as Media Technology which has transformed all spheres of human activities.

         According to Isaac, Brockman and Mogale (2001), media technology and use of networking, have reached both developed and many developing economies, albeit to varying degrees and levels of intensity. The ubiquity of these changes have manifested through the extra ordinary expansion of the internet, and the world wide web, as well as rapid deployment of wireless networks, giving rise to the term “networking revolution”. The use of media technology in educational management has necessitated the government innovative policy to provide facilities and necessary infrastructure for the promotion of Media Technology at all levels of education (FRN, 2004). Mani (2001) declared innovative policy as those efforts by governments that encourage the accumulation, diffusion and commercial use of new products, processes and services by firms.
Admittedly, at the secondary level of the educational system, several changes have taken place in terms of broadened purposes, expand curricula and extra-curricula activities. Consequently, the managerial tasks of the principals have become more complex and challenging. The principals by virtue of their position play pivotal roles in the educational system. They are responsible for the actual implementation of the National Policy on Education at the secondary school level. As managers, they are responsible for decision making, planning, organizing, communicating, influencing, delegating, staff development, supervising, motivating, conflict management, time management, coordinating and evaluating in their schools. These managerial tasks are carried out in the areas of academic programmes, construction and maintenance of physical facilities, staff and student personnel services, special services and public relations. In carrying out these duties, the principals work in collaboration with the ministry of education, school board, teachers, parents, guardians, and other stakeholders in the external environment. They are therefore, expected to act as change agents by developing creative and innovative ways of harnessing both human and material resources for the actualization of educational goals and objectives at the secondary school level.         Since the school is a formal organization, formal documentation of past, present and future events and activities are integral parts of the managerial process. Over the years, documents were stored in print form with its attendant problems ranging from limited capacity to total loss of important information. These problems have necessitated the adoption of Media Technology for facilitating the management of secondary schools. Vernon (2001) stated that media technology is a collective term covering all those technologies both hardware and software, dedicated to the capture, storage, processing, transmission, and presentation of information. 
        In the heart of media are computers. They have performance characteristics which make them most appropriate for management decision making. These are accuracy, consistency and repetitiveness, automatic control, storage and networking (Gbadeyan, 2005). The principals are normally inundated with different forms of data development of modern and specialized digital skill with enable them create data bases and electronically manipulate information efficiently. Broadcast technology has long been an integral part of the educational process. Digital teletext and radio have facilitated teaching and learning. Close-circuit television which allows receivers to be connected to transmitter through wire or cable also facilitates the educational process (Nworgu and Nworgu, 2008).  The principals use printed materials and documents in communicating to internal and external stakeholders about the varied activities of their schools. Printed materials such as newsletters, leaflets, posters, calendar of work, diaries, annual reports, journals, newspapers and magazines are powerful assets in creating and maintaining a successful school system. Technological innovations have revolutionized printing and publishing from the old black and white to colourfully and beautifully designed educational materials that enhance the educational process (Nworgu and Nworgu, 2008).

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CONSTRAINTS TO THE USE OF MEDIA TECHNOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

 

Abstract

The study was designed to determine the constraints to use of Media Technology by principals of public secondary schools in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. To direct the study, four research questions were stated. The study adopted the survey research design and the population of the study comprised all the principals in government owned secondary schools in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. Sampling was not required as all the principals were used in the study. Data for the study were collected using researcher’s developed questionnaire. In analyzing the data collected, the researcher used mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions.
The data analyzed revealed that the principals’ capability to use media for administrative purpose was minimal; lack of electricity was the greatest constraints to the use of audio-visual technology; high cost of computers and telecommunication services is a major constraint to the use of computers and telecommunication technology. Finally, it was also revealed that high cost of technology was identified as the major constraints to the use of broadcast technology for administrative purpose followed by lack of electricity in rural and urban schools. Based on these findings, some recommendations were made at the end of the study.

Chapter Two.. 10

Literature Review.. 10

Meaning of Media Technology. 10

Importance of Media Technology. 13

Media Technology Resources for Effective Teaching and Learning  17

Challenges of Media Technology. 20

Strategies to Overcome the Challenges of Media Technology. 22

Summary of Literature Review

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