UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SOURCES BY STUDENTS OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA

UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SOURCES BY STUDENTS OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA

ABSTRACT

The study examine the Utilization Of Electronic Information Sources By Students Of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa to find out if students utilize electronic resources. It specifically targeted the students of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa randomly selected from the various schools in the institution who make use of the institution library. Awareness, usage, training, access, usefulness and importance and problems of user were explored. A survey method was employed and structured questionnaire were utilized to solicit data for the study. The findings revealed that, though students are aware of electronic resources, they do not fully utilize them to support their academic pursuit due to poor level of information literacy skills. However, few students had not participated at all in information literacy skills training organized by the library. Results from the study also showed that, significant number of students do access electronic resources when on campus and off campus and mostly used electronic devices such as laptops, ipad, desktop computers, and mobile phones. The findings indicated that students used the electronic resources to: complete assignments, write project work, to update lessons notes, for research, and up-date themselves on new information in their fields of study. Some of the major problems respondents indicated using electronic resources includes: inadequate computers in the library, poor internet connectivity, power outages, insufficient search skills, etc. In conclusion, the use of electronic resources in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa has enhanced research, teaching and learning. This implies the need to plan and develop strategies for effective and efficient use of Information and Communication Technology infrastructure for the utilization of electronic resources to support academic study in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The emergency and use of information technology is the most significant development affecting the academic environment. The application of computers to information processing has brought several products and services to the scene.

The academic community has undergone tremendous changes during these years, libraries are using technologies to improve the management of scholarly information to strengthen and speed access to scholarly information not held locally.

Academic libraries now live in a superior new world, the rapid advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) has brought a revolutionary change in the information giving rise to a number of e-sources of information, as a result the utilization of electronic information sources have become a platform to the modern library’s reserves in satisfying varied needs of students, teachers, and researchers with minimum risk and time. Libraries now have both printed documents a well as electronic in information resources in their collection. The electronic documents can be processed, stored, accessed and delivered as at when required. It is common knowledge that virtually all scholarly and academic journals, electronic data bases, online Library catalogues, grey literatures and other relevant scholarly materials in all fields of knowledge are now accessible on the internet.

Information explosion via internet connectivity has greatly increased the amount of electronic information resources available on the web. E-information resources have enhanced accessibility, increased usability, effectiveness and established new ways for information users in using information for more productivity in their endeavors. The value and use of information resources, particularly c-resources, have increased with time. Therefore, the use of resources by users especially by the academic staff members of academic institutions generally depends on skills of each user to locate discrete knowledge elements.

According to the final report of the American library association presidential committee on information literacy, the information literate users skills is being able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, calculate and use information resources effectively Ala, (2009).

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The utilization of electronic information resources into academic environment is almost predictably followed by rapid growth in awareness and by students and academic as documented by Pale Rashy (2008). The use of electronic information sources enable the students to effectively and efficiently access digital information to assist with investigating issues, solving problems, making decisions, providing solutions to support learning, and also assist in developing new thinking and learning skill collaborating this assertion Chisenga (2010) maintained that internet gives the students a wide range of opportunities in the creation, processing, transmission and dissemination of information.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The use of electronic resources has helped teaching and learning process and the way library offer their services. The electronic resources continues to have a profound effect in promoting learning. However, there is little problem about how electronic resources are being use for learning process in Nigeria institution of higher learning. It is said that students learn better when the use electronic resources is good, but unfortunately, this is one of the privileges the Nigerian student is deprived.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i. What are the levels of awareness of electronic information resources among the students?

ii. What are the attitude of students towards the use of electronic information resources in learning process.

iii. What are the reasons behind the use of electronic Information resources in learning?

1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the study are

i. To assess whether or not electronic resources are used in learning by students.

ii. To find out the level of awareness of electronic information resources among the students.

iii. To find out the reasons behind the use of electronic information resources by the students in learning.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The results of the study will provide insight into whether nr not electronic resources are used by students in the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and its impact in learning. It will reveal the ways to promote learning in the institution through the use of electronic resources. Those electronic resources to be made available for use will also be revealed.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study is limited to the use of electronic resources in learning by students of Federal Polytechnic with the aim of discovering whether electronic information sources are used in learning and their effect on the students.

1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Electronic Information Source: Any several different categories of database and machine readable titles, including but not limited to electronic journals, online data base, world wide website and CD-ROM database.
Utilization: The action of using something or the state of being used for a purpose.
Library: This is a collection of hook and non book material which has been carefully selected for the benefit of the users.
Information: It is a processed data that is communicated information consists of the facts and figures that are stored and used.
Availability: This is the process of been able to obtain use or reach information.

REFERENCES

Adeleke, A.A (2005) use of library resources by Academic staff of Nigerian Polytechnics, Journal of library science 12(5) 15 -24.
Brophy, P. (2008) Networking in British Academic Libraries, British Journal of Academic Librarianship 8(1) 49-60.
Chisenga, (2008) Implementing and using electronic mail at the National University of Lesotho, African Journal of Library Archival and Information Science 7 (2) 13-34.
Rosenberg, M.J. (2001) E-learning, strategies for delivery knowledge in the age: McGraw Hill New York.