Assessment of Digital-Technology Skills on Long-Distance Learning among Educational Technology Postgraduate Students in Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2025154Abstract
The study was an assessment of digital-technology skills on long-distance learning among Educational Technology Postgraduate students in Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria. Three research questions guided the study. A descriptive research design of survey type was used. The population for this study comprised of all Educational Technology postgraduate students in Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria. Only 30 Educational Technology postgraduate students were selected as sample size using purposive sampling technique. Researchers developed questionnaire; titled: students’ Digital Technology Skills and Effective Long-Distance Learning Questionnaire (DTSELLQ) was used for data collection with reliability coefficient (r = .90). Mean and standard deviation were used for analyzing research questions 1, 2 and 3 while research question 4 was answered using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The findings of the study revealed that information and data literacy, communication, collaboration, content creation and safety and problem-solving were among germane students’ digital technology skills needed for effective long-distance learning. Technical difficulty, inadequate access to technology, unreliable internet connectivity, lack of face-to-face interaction and reduction in student engagement and difficulties in building a strong learning community were among the issues facing effective long-distance learning. There was relationship between students’ digital technology skills as determinants for effective long-distance learning. It was recommended that there should be effective mechanism to overcome the challenges associated with mastering digital literacy skills among students in tertiary institutions.
References
Abdelaal, N., & Al Sawy, I. (2024). Perceptions, challenges, and prospects: University professors’ use of artificial intelligence in education. The Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 7(1), 1309-13920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29140/ajal.v7n1.1309
Abdullahi, M., Hafizu, B., & Abubakar, S. A. (2022). Fourth Industrial Revolution and Business Education Programme in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities. IIARD International Journal of Economics and Business Management, 8(4), 91-100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56201/ijebm.v8.no4.2022.pg91.100
Adeoye, T., Oladipo, S., & Adetayo, F. (2022). Resource gaps in Nigerian schools: Impacts on teacher digital competency. Journal of African Education, 15(2), 67-85.
Adewale, O. (2022). Challenges of ICT integration in Nigerian education: The rural perspective. Journal of Educational Technology, 8(2), 45-58.
Adio, E. O., (2022). An assessment on awareness, adoption and utilization of fourth industrial revolution devices in federal polytechnic libraries in South-West Nigeria. International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM), 8(4), 1053-1061.
Akinyemi, A., Bakare, K., & Olatunde, M. (2023). Evaluating digital training programs for Nigerian educators: Challenges and outcomes. Nigerian Journal of Educational Technology, 9(1), 45-60.
Akpan, V. I. (2017). Digital technology skills as determinants for effective long-distance learning in Ogun State. International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, 4(2), 15-19.
Alenezi, A. (2024). Obstacles to the use of AI applications in blackboard for faculty members at Northern Border University, Saudi Arabia. MIER Journal of Educational Studies Trends and Practices, 14(2), 248–268. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52634/mier/2024/v14/i2/2581
Al-Rodhan, N. (2015). The Moral Code: How to Teach Robots Right and Wrong.
Apata, S. B., Adeniyi, J. T., Ajiwoju, J. A., & Adeosun, K. K. (2025). Digital transformation in teaching: The preparedness of in-service teachers in Nigeria for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). British Journal of Contemporary Education, 5(1), 16-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52589/BJCE-S8GBY9M3
Aralu, U., & Adetimirin, A. (2014). Influence of information support system on ICT use by distance learners in University of Lagos Nigeria. Journal of Information Engineering and Applications, 9(4), 31-36.
Babalola, O. A., & Babalola, F. D. (2014). The use of information and communication technologies among distance learning students of the university of Ibadan, Nigeria. Covenant Journal of Communication, 2(1), 1-20.
Brynjolfsson, E., McAfee, A., & Spence, M. (2014). New world order: Labor, Capital, and Ideas in the Power Law Economy.
David, L. O., Nwulu, N. I., Aigbavboa, C. O., & Adepoju, O. O. (2022). Integrating fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies into the water, energy and food nexus for sustainable security: A bibliometric analysis. J. Clean. Production, 363:132522. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132522
David-West, B. T. (2021). Fourth industrial revolution and library and information science curriculum development in Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/6702.
Ezekiel, O. B., & Akinyemi, A. L. (2022). Utilisation of artificial intelligence in education: The perception of University of Ibadan lecturers. Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Science, 16(5), 32–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56557/jogress/2022/v16i58053
Gershenfeld, N., & Vasseur, J. P. (2014). As Objects Go Online: The Promise (and Pitfalls) of the Internet of Things.
Gilster, P. (1997). Digital Literacy. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/work/editions/2346785-digital-literacy
Goode, L. (2018). Everything Is Connected, And There is No Going Back. The Verge.
Höller, J., et al.. (2014). From Machine-to-Machine to the Internet of Things: Introduction to a New Age of Intelligence (1st ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Jules, T. D. (Ed.) (2017). Public policy and governance. The global educational policy environment in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Gate, Regulated and Governed. United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S2053-7697201726
Kissane, B., McConney, A., & Ho, K. F. (2021). Review of the use of technology in mathematics education and the related use of CAS calculators in external examinations and in post-school tertiary education settings. School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
Lambert, L. (2017). The four challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Market Mogul.
Leswing, K. (2017). Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'If I were a country leader, my goal would be to monopolize the world’s talent'. Business Insider. Wolf, M. (2015). Same as It Ever Was: Why the Techno-optimists Are Wrong. In the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Foreign Affairs.
Lund, B. (2021) The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Does it Pose an Existential Threat to Libraries? Information Technology and libraries. DOI: https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v40i1.13193
Mampane, M. R. (2020). Assessment in open and distance learning. In M. Letseka (Ed.), Open distance learning (ODL) in South Africa (pp. 39–50). Nova Science Publishers.
Manyika, J. (2017). Harnessing Automation for A Future That Works. Report by McKinsey.
Marais, E. (2023). The Development of Digital Competencies in Pre-Service Teachers. Research in Social Sciences and Technology, 8(3), 134. https://doi.org/10.46303/ressat.2023.28 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46303/ressat.2023.28
McBrien, J. L., Cheng, R. & jones P. (2019). Virtual spaces: Employing a synchronous online classroom to facilitate student engagement in online Learning. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 10(3),1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v10i3.605
Min, Xu., Jeanne, M., David, S., & Suk Hi Kim (2018). The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges. International Journal of Financial Research, 9(2), 45-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5430/ijfr.v9n2p90
Ndung’u, N., & Signé, L. (2019). The Fourth Industrial Revolution and digitization will transform Africa into a global powerhouse. GSM Association, The Mobile Economy: Sub-Saharan Africa (London: GSM Association).
Nel, D., & Masilela, L. (2020). Open governance for improved service delivery innovation in South Africa. International Journal of Business & E-Government Studies, 12(1), 33-47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34111/ijebeg.202012103
Nnenna, U. J., & Perpetua, U. I. (2024). Overcoming distance education challenges in Nigeria: A call for collaborative ICT integration. International Digital Organization for Scientific Research, 9(1), 22-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAM/2024/9.1.222489
Ojeyemi, F. U. (2022). Full adoption of e-learning in Nigerian MDIs: Prospects, challenges and the future. ICT Unit, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3789987
Omotosho, A. O., Lateef, E. B., Amusa, O. I., & Bello, T. O. (2015). Information and communication technology adoption and use among students of a Nigerian University for distance learning. Library and Information Science Journal, 23(6), 45-57.
Onasanya, A. O. (2024). ICT based learning. In: education technology. Paper presented at the 8th UN ICT Task Force Meeting, Dublin, Ireland.
Oni, L. O., Owolabi, J., Opateye, J. A., & Bello, K. O. (2023). Assessing learners’ participation and challenges in online facilitation in open and distance learning (ODL) institutions in Nigeria. Zamfara International Journal of Education (ZIJE), 3(2), 45-59.
Ozerbas, M. A., & Erdogan, B. H. (2016). The effect of the digital classroom on academic success and online technologies self-efficacy. Educational Technology & Society, 19(4), 203–212.
Reju, C. O., & Jita, L. C. (2020). A comparative investigation of assessment practices in distance and online learning undergraduate mathematics in Nigeria. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 10(1), 90-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5590/JERAP.2020.10.1.06
Yusuf, M. O. (2023). Information and communication technologies in education: Analyzing the ICT in Education http:en.m.wikibooks.org/wiki/special:mobilemen



