THE DOMINANCE OF E-LEARNING AND INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN NIGERIAN MUSIC EDUCATION: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

This paper investigated the dominance of E-learning and Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigerian music education. E-learning and ICT serve as a unifying term used to describe the fields of online learning, web based learning and technology delivered instruction where necessary. This unifying term entails the application of computers and various electronic devices in the study of music. It is an established fact that e-learning/ICT is increasingly becoming important by the day in Nigerian Universities. The study focused on four tertiary institutions in South East Nigeria namely University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam (COOU) and Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI). The study adopted a qualitative research using field and library methods with questionnaires and interviews as primary instruments for data collection. The need to sensitise musicologists to fully adopt e-learning and Information Communication Technology (ICT) in modern day musicology prompted this study. The secondary sources of information entailed the use of the library where the results of the findings were analyzed. The analysis of the results shows that Poor finances, poor maintenance culture, poor electric supply and lack of qualified personnels pose the major problems of e-learning/ICT in Nigerian music education while administrative efficiency, technological literacy, support for musicologists advancement in music education were discussed as future prospects of e-learning/ICT in Nigerian music pedagogy. From these findings, the study concludes that the dominance of e-learning/ICT in modern musicology is indisputable and strongly recommends that music education in Nigerian tertiary institutions be provided with special intervention funds.