COMPUTER LECTURERS’ COMPETENCY NEEDS IN UTILIZATIONOF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN SOUTH-SOUTH, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the competency needs of computer lecturers in the utilization of digital technologies for instructional delivery in Colleges of Education in South-South, Nigeria. The research specifically focused on competencies in Learning Management Systems (LMS) and cloud computing platforms. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with a population of 255 comprising computer lecturers and experts from federal universities. A sample of 156 respondents was selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire titled "Computer Lecturers' Competency Needs in Utilization of Digital Technologies for Instructional Delivery (CLCNUDTID)," which was validated by experts and demonstrated high reliability with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.89. Data analysis involved mean, standard deviation, and independent samples t-test. The findings revealed a significant competency gap, indicating that computer lecturers need all identified LMS and cloud computing competencies for effective instructional delivery. The t-test results further showed a significant difference between the mean responses of experts and lecturers, confirming the existence of this gap. The study concludes that the current competency levels of computer lecturers are insufficient, highlighting an urgent need for targeted professional development programs. It is recommended that educational administrators and policymakers institute training initiatives to equip computer lecturers with the necessary digital competencies to enhance instructional delivery in Colleges of Education.