Availability-and-readiness of Special Education Teachers in Utilization of Assistive Technologies for Instruction in Oyo State Secondary Schools

• Author(s): Mustapha Awwal Olanrewaju ; Issa Ahmed Idris
• Paper ID: 1707618
• Page: 1299-1312
• Published Date: 01-04-2025
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 8 Issue 9 March-2025

Abstract

This study tries to find out the availability of Assistive Technologies in Oyo state Secondary schools and the readiness of special education teachers in the utilization of Assistive Technology for instructions in Oyo state secondary schools. Assistive technologies are any devices, pieces of equipment or system that help or assist students with disabilities to overcome learning deficiencies. Such devices includes; On-screen reader, text-speech software, tape recorder, instructional radio, audio books, reading glass among others. Despite the numerous benefits of Assistive technologies to students with disabilities, it was found out that school curriculum was not designed alongside the use of Assistive technologies for teaching such students. The objectives of this study were to: (i.) ascertain the availability and functionality of Assistive technologies for instruction; (ii.) determine the preparedness of special education teachers in the use of Assistive technologies for instruction; (iii.) determine special education teachers’ ICT skill level on the use of Assistive technologies; (iv.) examine the influence of gender of special education teachers on the use of Assistive technologies; and (v.) determine the influence of special education teachers’ qualification on the utilization of Assistive technologies for instruction. The study adopted descriptive research design of the survey type. A researcher-designed instrument was used to elicit responses from one hundred and nineteen (119) special education teachers, who were purposively sampled in all special secondary schools in Oyo State. Answers were provided to five research questions and three research hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that: (i.) some of the Assistive technologies for instruction were not available at all (47.33%), 12.20% were available and functional, while 40.36% available are not functional. (ii.) majority of the special education teachers (62.83%) are ready and willing to utilize Assistive technologies for instruction. (iii.) no significance difference between special education teachers’ gender and their self-efficacy on the use Assistive technologies for instruction ( Sig.=0.405). (iv.) no significance difference existed between special education teacher’s readiness and their ICT skill level in the use of Assistive technologies for instruction (F =0.532), (Sig. =0.661). (vi.) no significance difference existed between special education teacher’s qualification and their readiness to use Assistive technologies for instruction (F =0.726). The study concluded that most of the Assistive technologies needed for instruction were not available and the available devices are not functional except few. It was also deduced that majority of the respondents were ready and prepared to use Assistive technologies and believed that Assistive technologies are part of integrating tools for instruction delivery. This implies that there would be rapid improvement in special education students, and easy instructional delivery, especially, if quality and required Assistive technologies were provided for special secondary schools. The study was limited to special education teachers’ readiness and the availability of Assistive Technologies in special secondary schools in Oyo state. Thus, the study recommended that, there should be development, assessment, improvement and distribution of Assistive technologies to every special secondary schools in Oyo state. Also, special education teachers’ attitude should be geared towards the acquisition of Assistive technologies skills and its mode of application for instruction through seminars or training, and easy access to the available Assistive Technological devices.

Citations

IRE Journals:
Mustapha Awwal Olanrewaju , Issa Ahmed Idris "Availability-and-readiness of Special Education Teachers in Utilization of Assistive Technologies for Instruction in Oyo State Secondary Schools" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 9 2025 Page 1299-1312

IEEE:
Mustapha Awwal Olanrewaju , Issa Ahmed Idris "Availability-and-readiness of Special Education Teachers in Utilization of Assistive Technologies for Instruction in Oyo State Secondary Schools" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(9)