INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN CHEMISTRY: A DESCRIPTIVE SURVEY OF ADO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EKITI STATE.

This study examined the influence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the academic performance of senior secondary school students in Chemistry in Ado Local Government Area, Ekiti State. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The sample was made up of all senior secondary school students in the public secondary schools in the region that constituted a total population of 11,972 students in 25 schools. A purposive, stratified and simple random sample of 150 students in five of the primary secondary schools was sampled using multistage sampling method. . Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled ICT and Chemistry Learning Questionnaire (ICCLQ), and was validated by the experts in Chemistry education and educational research and provided a consistency coefficient of 0.82. The data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, percentages and mean scores. The research findings indicated that students and teachers were of positive perceptions of the effectiveness of ICT in enhancing the learning outcome of Chemistry. It was also found that the moderateness of availability of ICT tools in the sampled schools was moderate, whereas ICT utilization had a positive impact on students engagement and performance in Chemistry. Other significant obstacles to ICT integration found by the study were lack of ICT facilities, electricity, poor internet access, lack of teacher training and overcrowded classes. Recommendations were made that successful implementation of ICT improves learning of Chemistry and suggested better access to ICT facilities, enhanced teacher training, and better support of infrastructures in the high schools.Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), academic performance, student engagement, Chemistry.