PRINCIPALS’ APPLICATION OF E-LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES AND THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OWERRI EDUCATION ZONES OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

In this study, the researcher investigated principals’ application of e-learning technologies and the management of secondary schools in Owerri Education Zones of Imo State. To achieve purpose of the study, two research questions were asked and two corresponding hypotheses were tested to guide the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study is 3,562 which comprise and 124 principals and 3,438 teachers in all the 124 public senior secondary schools in Owerri Education Zones of Imo State. The researcher drew a sample of 360 respondents from 25 selected secondary schools using Taro Yamane formula. Cluster random and proportionate sampling techniques were used to select the schools and respondents. A researcher-made rating scale served as the instrument for the collection of data for this study. The rating scale is titled: Principal’s Application of E-learning Technologies and Management of Secondary School Scale which contained 15 items. Three research specialists validated this instrument. A reliability coefficient of 0.80 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients (PPMCC). The research questions were answered using mean scores and standard deviations while the hypotheses were tested using the t-test statistics at a 0.05 level of significance. The result found that there is a low extent of principals’ application of computer in managing secondary schools. The result also found that there is a high extent of principals’ application of smartphones in managing secondary schools in Owerri Education Zones, Imo State. Based on the results of the study, it was recommended among others that Government should make adequate funds for provision of computer and internet as well as other logistical support that would strengthen seamless application of e-learning technologies in the management of in public secondary schools in the state. Keywords: Computer, E-learning technologies, Management, Principals and Smartphones.