AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF E-LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES IN BUSINESS EDUCATION CONTENT DELIVERY IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the availability and utilisation of e-learning technologies in the distribution
of business education materials within higher education institutions in Cross River State. In the
quest to achieve the aims of this study, two research questions were articulated and later honed
into two null hypotheses. The design of the survey research was considered appropriate for the
inquiry. The population for the study comprised 57 business educators from three universities
situated in Cross River State. The research utilised a comprehensive census methodology. A
comprehensive questionnaire comprising 58 items and utilising a four-point rating scale, titled
―Availability and Utilisation of E-learning Technologies Questionnaire (AUELTQ), was
employed as the instrument for data collection. The instrument was subjected to validation by a
group of three experts, including two specialists in business education and one authority in
measurement and evaluation, all associated with the University of Calabar. The reliability was
assessed using the Cronbach Alpha Method, yielding coefficients of .78 for Availability and .75
for Utilisation of E-learning Technologies, respectively. A total of 57 copies of the questionnaire
were disseminated, and all were duly retrieved. The mean and standard deviation served as the
analytical tools to address the research enquiries, while the population t-test was employed to
evaluate the hypotheses presented. The findings indicate a limited availability and minimal
utilisation of e-learning technologies in the delivery of business education content. The
examination of hypotheses indicated that the degree of accessibility and the scope of application
of e-learning technologies in the delivery of business education content within tertiary
institutions in Cross River State is markedly deficient. Based on the findings, it was suggested,
among other things, that the government should address the deficiencies in e-learning
technologies. This includes the provision of a virtual learning environment, digital libraries,
electronic boards, and interactive whiteboards. These technologies are increasingly becoming outdated in many developed nations, yet they remain unavailable or underutilised for
educational delivery in our country.