Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been identified as having two sides like a coin when used instructionally. While some scholars insist on the need to always prepare and deliver instructions using ICTs, others express worries over the pedagogical weaknesses thereof. This paper therefore x-rays the instructional strengths of ICTs to include; improving educational quality, enhancing access to education, easing collaboration, motivating learning, provision of remote learning resources, enhancing technological literacy, amongst others. It further enumerates the weaknesses of ICTs in teaching and learning to include high cost of acquiring and maintaining infrastructure and equipment, creation of inequality among learners, causing distraction among learners, encouraging cheating in examination and during assignments, exposing learners to technological hazards, inter alia. The paper proffers recommendations on how to effectively engage ICTs in teaching -learning to maximize the potentials, amongst which are: adequate funding for ICT sector in every educational institution; identification of needs, goals and objectives; proper budgeting and planning; engaging stakeholders for awareness and getting their inputs; ensuring safe and conducive environmental setting for the equipment; carrying out periodic employment, training and re-training of man-power; putting in place robust plagiarism software to checkmate theft of intellectual property; and providing detailed orientation for learners who are the end-users of the ICTs in the classrooms.

This study verified students’ perceptions on whether utilisation of the social media tools for teaching/learning can possibly contribute towards driving 21st century inclusive education efforts in Nigerian universities. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Study’s population was made up of all 392 students of Educational Technology unit of the Department of Curriculum and Teaching in the Faculty of Education in the University of Calabar. Sample was drawn through purposive sampling procedures with a sample of 68 respondents drawn for the study. A 15-item questionnaire tagged “Learners’ Perceptions of social media as Teaching/Learning Tools and Contributions to 21st century Inclusive Education Efforts’ Questionnaire” (LPSMTLTCIEEQ) was utilized to collect data. Using Cronbach Alpha, the reliability estimate of the instrument was 0.82. Data analysis was achieved using frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that students had favourable perceptions concerning utilisation of the social media tools for teaching/learning as a vital contributor towards driving 21st century inclusive education efforts. Recommendations included that; lecturers should incorporate use of social media tools for teaching-learning processes.

No abstract

Since the emergence of the novel Corona-Virus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its attendant effect which span through all aspects of human endeavours including education, it has necessitated both the instructors and the learners to adopt and adapt several mobile and social media applications for instructional delivery and learning purposes. These mobile and social media applications allow for synchronous and asynchronous instructions and learning. Telegram as one of such media has proven to be a better substitute to the conventional classroom for both instructors and learners alike. Research lately across different discipline have consistently yielded results that tend to emphasize that Telegram utilization is an effective online instructional delivery medium. It can be used for creating and sharing online live and recorded videos/presentations and ensuring learners’ participation by asking them to make comments. The platform encourages self-paced learning via internet enabled mobile gadgets and eliminates or reduces the requirements of physical learning environments.  In view of the crucial role that Telegram plays in effective instructional content delivery, if and when well implemented, this paper takes into consideration a general overview of Telegram Application, outlines the features, benefits accruable to using Telegram for instruction, and also the advantages and disadvantages associated with using Telegram for instructional content delivery in post COVID-19 era.