VIRTUAL TEACHING AND LEARNING OF KEYBOARDING SKILLS IN POST COVID 19 ERA: THE PERCEPTION OF BUSINESS EDUCATORS

Abstract

 

The study examined the perceived challenges and effectiveness of teaching and learning of keyboarding skills using virtual approach in the post COVID-19 era. Survey research design was adopted. Population of the study comprised 174 Business Educators from the 11 public Colleges of Education in South West Nigeria out of which 55 were randomly sampled from three public Colleges. A 23-item structured questionnaire was the instrument for data collection based on modified 4-point Likert rating scale. The instrument was face validated by two experts in Business Education. Reliability of instrument was determined by administering it to 10 Business Educators outside the sample of the study. Data collected were analyzed using Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient which yielded 0.78. The researchers administered the instrument. 55 copies of the questionnaire were distributed out of which 45 were retrieved giving 81.82% rate of return. Mean ratings and t-test were the statistical tools used for data analysis. Mean of 2.50 and above was acceptable for the research questions. Findings of the study revealed that epileptic power supply, lack of access to internet connectivity, among others are challenges facing the effectiveness of virtual teaching/learning of keyboarding skills. When considering efforts of the teacher in enforcing correct fingering position and student’s posture, there is the need for face-to-face interaction. The study concludes that virtual teaching/learning of keyboarding skills alone may not be effective for improvement in business education students’ academic achievement, hence, the need to combine another strategy of teaching like demonstration. It was recommended among others that lasting solution should be provided to all the challenges threatening the teaching/learning of skill-based courses especially keyboarding. Provision should also be made for modern telecommunication equipment/ICT resources to make virtual teaching/learning of keyboarding skills effective in the post COVID-19 era.

 

Keywords: Virtual teaching/learning, challenges, effectiveness, keyboarding skills, post COVID-19.