UTILIZATION OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTRES IN ADAMAWA STATE

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the utilization of assistive technology for effective teaching and learning in special education centres in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study was guided by two objectives and research questions which sought to determine the level of utilization of assistive technology and the challenges that affect its utilization respectively. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 33 administrators and teachers of two government-owned special education centres in Jada and Mubi while total enumeration sampling procedure was used for the study. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire titled Utilization of Assistive Technology for Effective Teaching and Learning Questionnaire (UATETLQ). The questionnaire was validated by experts with a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.77. Data collected were analysed by means of mean and standard deviation using a criterion mean of 2.50. Results of the study showed that the level of utilization of assistive technology was low with a grand mean of 2.46. However, computers, tablets, and audio-visual materials were utilized more compared to screen readers, communication devices, and digital assessment tools. The result further showed that respondents agreed that the major challenges that hindered the utilization of assistive technology included high cost of assistive technologies, inadequate availability of appropriate assistive devices, inadequate funding, poor maintenance, poor electricity supply, and inadequate teacher training with a grand mean of 2.83. The study therefore concluded that limited fund, inadequate infrastructural facilities, inadequate equipment, and lack of adequate training impeded the effective utilization of assistive technology. The study recommended a continuous provision of funds, provision of appropriate assistive devices, continuous teacher training, improvement of electricity and internet networks, provision of technical support, and monitoring and evaluation of the utilization of assistive technology as well as strengthening partnership in special education in Adamawa State.