The Role of Educational Technology in Building a Culture of Collaboration for Transformative Teacher Education: A Case Study of Teacher Training Institutions in Kebbi State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT:

Educational technology tools are not meant to replace teachers, nor are they intended to micromanage or control how a group of teachers work together. This study explores the role of educational technology in building a culture of collaboration for transformative teacher education, with special focus on teacher training institutions in kebbi state, Nigeria. The study adopted mixed-method approach. A sample of 76 educators was purposively drawn from four teacher training institutions in Kebbi State, Nigeria as participants for the study. Questionnaire and interview schedules were used to collect data from the sampled respondents. The face and content validity of the two instruments was carried out using experts in the field of educational technology and computer science from Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero. Both instruments were further subjected to pilot testing, and a reliability coefficient of 0.75, 0.80 and 0.78, respectively for the 3 items were determined using Cronbach Alpha formula. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Findings revealed (Grand mean score = 3.0) to show that teacher educators in Kebbi State, Nigeria makes use of educational technologies to collaborate with their peers in other institutions, and it also revealed (Grand mean score = 3.0) to indicate that educational technology tools play a significant role in enhancing collaboration practices among teacher educators in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Also, (Grand mean score = 3.2) to revealed certain barriers hindering collaborative culture among teacher educators in Kebbi State, Nigerian. It was therefore recommended that educators should incorporate educational technologies in building a culture of collaboration for transformative teacher education in teacher education institutions in Kebbi State.

Keywords: Educational Technology, Culture of Collaboration, Transformative Teacher Education, Teacher Training Institutions.