Upper Basic Students’ Attitude towards Utilization of a Mobile Application for Learning among Basic Technology Students in Nigeria

Abstract

In spite of the advancements in technological growth, learners are still subjected to physical classroom conditions characterized by rigidity. However, learners can leverage on mobile technologies to receive curriculum-based instructions irrespective of distance and time. Hence, this study developed a mobile application for learning selected basic technology concepts in Nigerian Upper Basic Schools using the conceptualized ASDDURE (Analysis, Statement of Objectives, Design, Development, Utilization, Response and Evaluation) Model. The objectives of the study therefore were to: (i) examine the attitude of upper basic school students to utilization of the mobile application and (ii) examine the difference in male and female students‟ attitude to utilization of the mobile application. The study was conducted using descriptive research of the survey type. The study population comprises of all Nigerian upper basic school specifically upper basic school two students. 27 students in upper basic school two were purposively selected based on access to smartphones. A research-designed questionnaire was used to elicit data from respondents. The research instrument as tested for reliability using Cronbach alpha with value 0.83. Mean and t-test were used for data analysis of research questions and hypothesis with 2.5 as benchmark mean. Research hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study indicated that, students had positive attitude towards utilization of the mobile app with a grand mean of 3.31, there was no significant difference in the attitude of male and female basic technology students towards utilization of the developed mobile application (t= 0.26, p>0.05). The study concluded that students have positive attitude on the use of educational mobile application for learning. Hence, the study recommended learning contents should be deployed via mobile applications in order to encourage learning of basic technology.