Influence of Gender on Educators’ Competence and Use of Digital Technologies in Higher Education

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the influence of gender on digital competence of educators in tertiary institutions in Imo State. The population of the study consists of 722 academic staff referred to as "educators" of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri, Imo State. A sample of 225 multidisciplinary educators determined using stratified random sampling was used for study. Based on the objectives of the study, 2 research questions and a hypothesis guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted in conducting the study. The instrument for data collection was a researcher made likert 4-points type questionnaire titled "Educators Gender and Digital Competence (EGDC)". It had a reliability coefficient of 0.87 determined using Cronbach alpha method. The data generated were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions while the hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance using t-test statistical tool. The result of the study revealed that educators in tertiary institutions were digitally competent; gender had no influence on the digital competence of the educators. Based on the result of the study, it was recommended that, in-service trainings, workshops, conferences should be organized to sustain and improve the competence level of educators.