An Evaluation of Online Reference Services Through Social Networking Sites in Selected Nigerian University Libraries

The study evaluated online reference services through social networking sites in selected university libraries in Nigeria. A survey approach was adopted to ascertain patrons’ level of awareness, their preferences, and the sources from which they were informed of the existence of the service. Findings revealed that patrons are aware that their university libraries are on social networks but are still not familiar with reference services. Facebook, Twitter, and Ask-a-Librarian were ranked as the most preferred methods for delivering online reference services, and online reference service was indicated as more convenient than traditional desk reference service because communication is available anywhere and anytime with a reference librarian and is easily accessible.     

Predictors of Library and Information Science Undergraduates’ Participation in the Online Discussion Forum

The study examined predictors of Library and Information Science undergraduates’ participation in a discussion forum. Through a total enumerative sampling technique, the entire 115 students in (2010/2011) academic session in the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Ilorin, Nigeria were selected to represent the sample for the study. A questionnaire was used to gather data on the study. Three research questions were developed to guide the study. The results demonstrate that computer and Internet search efficacy together with emotional intelligence significantly correlate with and predict users’ participation in an online discussion forum. Similarly, the results suggest that computer and Internet self-efficacy and emotional intelligence constructs are good predictors of participation in the online forum. Based on these findings, the study recommended that LIS students need to be more Internet and computer self-efficacious, as it has been proved that these will promote their participation in the online discussion forum.     

Attitudinal Correlates of Selected Nigerian Librarians Towards the Use of Information Technology

The explosion of information technology (IT) since the beginning of the 20th century rendered manual-based library systems, in academic, research, special and public libraries, irrelevant. Implementing information technology in the digital age depends largely on librarians' attitudes. This study examines the attitudinal correlates of selected Nigerian librarians towards the use and application of IT in their libraries. Forty-one librarians were surveyed from the four selected automated libraries in state of Oyo in Nigeria form the study's population. Two research questions were developed to guide the study. The results indicate that four out of the five variables age, gender, educational qualifications and prior knowledge of IT significantly correlate with the librarians' attitudes towards IT. The other variable, IT anxiety, correlates negatively with the librarians' attitudes towards IT. Findings further show that all the five variables significantly predict librarian's attitude towards IT with prior IT experience showing the greatest predictive effect. Based on these findings, libraries in the developing countries should consider sending their librarians, who do not have knowledge of IT, to IT training in order to remove fear and anxiety hindering them from developing a better attitude towards the use of IT in their libraries.     

Students' Pedagogical Thinking and the use of ICTs in Teaching

This article discusses students' pedagogical thinking in situations where the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has a (well-defined) pedagogical role and rationale. By analysing students' pedagogical thinking in this setting, it is also possible to better understand their motivations and self-regulation. Pedagogical thinking as viewed from the student's angle is a new area of educational research. Our research method is a combination of the Stimulated Recall interview and the semi-structured theme interview. In addition, some background data were gathered by questionnaire to discern students' different uses of ICTs and their contexts. The findings suggest how the educational use of ICTs is considered to be meaningful and motivating by both genders and among all the interviewed age groups, in spite of the fact that an acute and vocal critique seems to develop among older students. The differences reside in students' reasoning regarding decision making in task operations between genders, which was one of the background variables—girls actively include identity and opinion, while boys emphasize the quality of performance as motives for decisions.     

The Adoption of International Communications Networks and Electronic Mail into Foreign Language Education

This article reports a study of the possibilities of communications networks and electronic mail (e‐mail) in foreign language (FL) teaching. The research model combined FL education and information technologies (communications networks and e‐mail). The study was a multisite ethnographic case study, with elements of exploratory, collaborative, change‐oriented field‐work‐based development research. The Finnish participants included six classes (Form 1 or 2) in three senior secondary schools, with four teachers of English. The foreign participants came mainly from schools in Britain and the USA. Data gathering techniques included a number of various qualitative methods. Introducing a technological innovation into FL classrooms was quite successful. The teachers realized that communications networks would soon be an integrated part of FL teaching, though incorporating them in the FL curriculum called for extra work. There was some change in methods of work, taking the authenticity of e‐mails into account, though the linguistic features of the e‐mails were occasionally over‐emphasized. The lesson format was learner‐centred but somewhat teacher‐monitored. Learners’ autonomous, dyadic and small group work increased, while teachers partly became co‐learners with students.     

Cybernetic institutional management theory and practice: A system of flexible workload for university teachers

In the past three decades, higher education reforms have taken place almost everywhere in the world, and governance or the way that higher education is or should be coordinated has become a global topic. The governance reform in Chinese higher education emerged against such a background. The current studies on Chinese higher education reforms mainly tackle the reform processes and treat the Chinese government as the driver of the reforms, whereas how the Chinese government is susceptible to international pressures has remained under‐researched. This article examines the mechanisms that facilitate the spread of global governance reform ideologies in Chinese higher education through the Chinese government, drawing on the concept of institutional isomorphism. Based on analysing recent literature and documents, it concludes that the Chinese government is affected by the global reform ideas and practices that have been legitimatised through international organisations' rhetoric and other countries' successful experiences.     

Towards promotion and dissemination of indigenous knowledge: A case of NIRD

This paper describes what indigenous knowledge (IK) is and why IK is important. This paper highlights the concepts of rural technology and indigenous knowledge. It also explains the initiatives of the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) towards development, promotion and dissemination of IK to the rural community to improve their quality of life. Explained in brief are the practices of IK at NIRD like traditional mud houses, handmade paper, vermi compost, medicinal plants nursery, etc. Among the issues covered are collection, recording and documenting, storage, problems, intellectual property rights, documentation and dissemination of IK, and the role of ICTs in this regard. Finally, it also proposes a digital information resources base on IK.