IMPACT OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY IN THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR OF NIGERIA

Introduction

1.1 Background Of The Study

Emerging technologies are technologies in their infancy or adolescence that some observers consider likely candidates for partially or completely replacing legacy technologies. For instance, some futurists believe that nuclear power, both fusion and fission and their new improvements will entirely replace the burning of fossil fuel. This would be a highly appealing outcome, as it would provide us with electricity without contributing to global warming. It should be noted that some emerging technologies and their impacts are more speculative than others, and have differing degree of support among expert. For instance, futurists in the 1950s predicted flying cars and moon cities by the year 2000, but these never happened. (www.wisegeeks.com/what)

Major emerging technology can be put into roughly six categories: energy technology, transportation, information technology, biotechnology, robotics, and material science.

The Internet becomes an essential infrastructure to integrate the information and Communication technologies (ICT) used in various applications such as education and health Care as well as in electronic commerce. In Korea, the government established the Next-Generation Internet (NGI) networks by 2005 and an increase of the portion of Internet users to 60percent of the population, thus laying the groundwork for digital economy.

The NGI infrastructure, aimed at boosting the average data transmission speed from then 33 Kbps to today's 33 Mbps, which is expected to support info-tech venture business.

According to Korea Times (2001), the government will inject 93.1 billion into the development of back bonenet works, expanding the coverage into remote areas while strengthening the high-speed network gears to increase the base of online users.

With connecting universities and national labs with high-speed networks and Promoting experimentation with next generation of networking technologies, emerging technologies will Support new application services such as distance education, health care, scientific research, national security, and environmental monitoring. Recently, National Computerization Agency (NCA), an agency of Ministry of Information and Communication USA, recommended seven core technology application service areas such as distance learning, digital library, digital government, virtual cooperation, telemedicine, virtual research lab, and Video on Demand.

These new applications could have profound effects upon professional practices and values invarious fields as illustrated vivid vignettes in NGI planning documents (Kling, 1998). Of the various application services, Education and Health Care application services could widely impact almost all the people’s life. That is the reason this research chooses educations application services.

This study raise the most important question for the emerging technology, not how these technologies and its application will be changed, but how the impact of its application service will change our life and implicate key policy making. This research focuses on one application service areas such as Education. This study wraps up policy, Implications and application of technology in education system.

Educational technology, especially computer and computer related peripherals, have grown tremendously and have permeated all areas of our lives. It is incomprehensible that anyone today would argue that banks, hospitals or any industry should use less technology. Most young people cannot understand arguments that schools should limit technological use. For them, the use of the internet for example, plays a major role in their relationship with their families and their schools. Children and their parents generally thinks use of the internet enhance the social life and academic work of teenagers.

The internet is becoming an increasingly vital tool in our information society. More children are going online of conduct such day-to-day activities as education, business transactions, personal correspondence, research and information-gathering and jobs searches. Each year, being digitally connected becomes ever more critical to economic and educational advancement and community participation, now that a large number of Americans regularly use the internet to conduct daily activities. People who lack access to these tools are at a growing disadvantage. Therefore, raising the level of digital inclusion by increasing the number of teenagers using the technology tools of the digital age is a vitally important for national goal, (U.S Department and Information Administration, 2000.p. xv).

ICT revolution has transformed the national educational system such that it has changed the means and method of studying, the modalities of schools operations, and the way people thinks about what education could be and should do. Through the use of the internet, it is possible, fast and easy to access learning materials anywhere. This has led to the development of interest by tertiary institutes. A classic example is the University of Benin, Nigeria, which has started to use telecommunication and computer for teaching.

Emerging technology and communication offers numerous opportunities for the educational system In Nigeria. Course materials can be posted on the internet for easy access to students and assignment can be communicated through email messages. Teachers/ lecturers can be accessed around the clock by the modes of transmission e.g. video conferencing.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

According to Eason K.D (1998), edutech is the future change of growth in any economy, Chan, yaw-Jane (2005) also sighted that technology has brought about transactional distance in World Wide Web learning environment, innovation in education and teaching.

But most people seem not to understand the social implication of technology in the educational service sector especially in Nigeria. As there is a dearth in knowledge in understanding the interacting limit between learning and teaching especially when it comes to distance learning program. Neither have there been much study in Nigeria of how e-library and other technology usage affects the quality of education and reading culture among Nigerian students. This study examined critically the impact of emerging technology in the educational system in Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

1. To investigate if there is a significant relationship between quality of education and technology used in distance learning program.
2. To examine the social implication of technology on the educational service sector.
3. To determine if there is any relationship between e-library usage and reading culture among students.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the relationship between quality of education and technological usage in distance learning program.
2. What degree of relationship exists between e-library usage and reading culture among students.
3. What is the social implication of technology on educational service sector.

1.5 Research Hypothesis

1. Quality of education does not have any significant relationship with distance learning program.
2. E-library has no significant relations with reading culture among students
3. Technology usage has no social impact on education service sector.

1.6 Significance Of The Study

This study will bring to the forefront the need for a well-integrated and functional information and communications technology approach to improving the educational system.

It will bring to the forefront the social benefits, diversifications, and settlement of dispute between the best teaching method between distance and physical learning methods

Based on the research, this study is aimed at showing the impact of revolutionised technology in education and how it enhances student's performance.

1.7 Scope And Limitations Of The Study

The scope of this research is to bring to awareness the benefit that accrues from the efficient use of information and communication technology in the educational system. It will also gear up all stakeholders involved in the educational system to the need for sound ICT skills.

This study is aimed at reducing the high cost involved in the organisation of educational structures in some backward countries and it will also effectively improve students’ performance if this research is applied.

1.8 Operational Definition Of Terms

Information:

This is a processed data that gives idea of a particular knowledge. Knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular fact or circumstance.

Communication:

This is the exchange and flow of information and ideas from one person to another.

Technology:

This is referred to the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machine, technology, craft, system, and method of organisation, in order to solve a problem.

E-learning:

This refers to the use of electronic media, information and communication technology (ICT) in education

Revolutionize:

Change radically or fundamentally.

Internet:

The internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use a standard internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to serve several billion users worldwide.

Wireless communication:

This is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not connected by an electrical conductor. (wikipedia.org)