A SURVEY OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE LECTURERS’ READINESS TO EMBRACE VIRTUAL TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE NEW INFORMATION WORLD

Abstract

Library and Information Science (LIS) lecturers are expected to embrace the Virtual teaching and learning that was occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is aimed at looking into the readiness of Library and Information Science lecturers to fully adopt virtual teaching and learning. In an age, where almost everything is done electronically with the aid of technological advancement, LIS educators must not be lagging in the wave or move to maintain their position as pacesetters. Therefore, embracing virtual teaching and learning has become imperative. The question now is whether the LIS lecturers are ready for this paradigm shift which is the benchmark of the study. The study has five objectives that guide the study. An online questionnaire was designed and administered virtually to lecturers at the University of Abuja and Nasarawa State University Keffi as the instrument used for data collection. Out of the twenty-six questionnaires, twenty-one were filled by the respondents. The study revealed that virtual teaching and learning in the two institutions were at an embryonic stage. Technologies for virtual teaching and learning are available however at a low extent and are majorly used to upload content, submission of assignments, and results. However, the adoption is hybrid, where both the LIS lecturers were ready for the Virtual teaching and learning because they have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge required for virtual teaching and learning, full adoption can be achieved if enabling environment and technologies are provided. Other findings include low availability of bandwidth, Internet, and multimedia. Challenges faced by LIS lecturers range from inability to select the right tools, lack of basic infrastructures, power fluctuation, distractions, and indiscipline of students among others. The following recommendations were made. Provision of sufficient technologies, Management should organize seminars and workshops on regular bases to enable lecturers to update their knowledge, increasing Internet bandwidth and network infrastructures, as well as creating an enabling environment for virtual teaching and learning should be encouraged to take place.