Cloud-computing Technologies for Effective Instructional Delivery of Office Technology and Collaborative Learning in Universities in Enugu State Nigeria

Abstract

The demand for 21st century skills has placed emphasis on the use of cloud computing technologies for instructional delivery. This study examined cloud-computing technologies for effective instructional delivery of office technology and collaborative learning in universities in Enugu State Nigeria. The study employed survey research design. The population of the study was 182 consisting of 54 business educators and 128 final year students from federal and state universities in Enugu State Nigeria. There was no sampling since the population was of a manageable size, hence, the whole sample was used. Data was collected using a 34-item structured questionnaire developed by the researchers with the help of two research assistants.The instrument was face-validated by three experts from the Department of Business Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. To determine the internal consistency of the instrument, the Cronbach Alpha reliability method was used which yielded high coefficients of 0.85 for the cloud computing technology, 0.87 for cloud computing skills possessed and 0.88 for challenges with an overall reliability coefficient of 0.87. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the three research questions, while three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using t-test statistical tool. The study found that all the participants agreed that all the identified cloud computing technology platform can help to promote effective instructional delivery of Office Technology and improve collaborative learning among students. The study therefore, recommended among others that the university authorities should organize trainings for the business educators on how to use cloud computing and make its use compulsory for instructional delivery of Office Technology in universities in Enugu State Nigeria.