CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
The use of computers for the gathering, retrieval, transfer, and operation of data or information is known as information technology. It's also seen as a subset of ICT. Information technology is the use of computers to store, interact, and organize data in the generation, processing, modification, storage, security, and dissemination of electronic data (Eze and Adu 2014).
Information technology was first mentioned in a Harvard Business Review article in 1958, and it is considered a subset of ICT (Information Communication Technology) (Dwivedi, 2004). Since its inception, the IT sector has advanced in leaps and bounds. It has become so ingrained in our lives that it is difficult to imagine a world without it. From the mid-twentieth century forward, information technology grew to include transistors and integrated circuits. The advancement of technology has resulted in lower energy use and device costs (Eze and Adu 2014).
Information technology performs its operations with the help of hardware and software. Software contains the operating system and virtualization to conduct the key activities (O'Hara, Pritchard, & Bacon 2014). Hardware tools include physical equipment such as user devices such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones, sound recorders, and so on. Architectures, techniques, and standards for the use and use of electronic data are all part of the information technology landscape.
Information technology and its patterns are always evolving as technology advances. The following are some of the current information technology trends:
Cloud computing is a type of internet-based computing that allows computers and other devices to access shared data on demand. Cloud computing lowers the cost of a company's IT infrastructure and supports the notion of virtualization.
Cloud technology also makes software and hardware maintenance easier.
Mobile Applications: Since their inception, mobile applications have been a huge success. They are available for download on the internet.
User interface: Since the introduction of touch displays, the user interface has changed dramatically. Touch screens allow users to interact directly with the display, eliminating the need for a third-party device. This is often found in smart phones, tablets, and other electronic devices.
Analytical Patterns: Analytical Patterns is a blend of statistics, computer programming, and operations research that aids in the discovery of informative patterns in data.
There is no such thing as a certain sort of information technology. Almost every sort of modern computer networking technology falls under the umbrella of information technology. Information technology is utilized to develop a wide range of technologies that are critical to preserving life in the now and the future. As a result, information technology encompasses all of the sorts that we have created in the field of computer networking or in this modern world. However, several forms of mobile technologies, which enable the use of server and storage devices, are typical types of information technologies. Teaching is the process of paying attention to people's needs, experiences, and feelings and making precise interventions to assist them in learning certain topics.
Senior secondary school students in Nigeria study economics as one of their disciplines. According to Dwivedi (2004), economics is the study of how society selects what, how, and for whom to manufacture things, such as steel and strawberries, and deliver services, such as messages or live performances, which are only consumed or enjoyed at the time they are produced. He went on to argue that depending on a country's economic structure, the issue of what, how, and for whom to create is either answered by a central planning agency or the pricing mechanism. In addition, economics might be defined as the study of how man distributes finite resources among competing desires. The Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN 2004) goes on to list the specific objectives of economics as follows: equipping students with basic economic principles necessary for useful living and higher education; preparing and encouraging students to be prudent and effective in the management of scarce resources; and raising students' respect for the dignity of labor and their appreciation of the economy, culture, and social value of the society (O'Hara, Pritcha). As seen by the rise in online learning programs and the usage of the computer as a learning support tool in the classroom, e-learning is increasingly being used to enhance the learner's capacity to perceive, comprehend, and communicate. Although universities were pioneers in developing the Internet and interoperable computer systems to link academics for e-mail and data interchange, educational and training usage of ICTs has fallen behind other sectors of society (Eze and Adu 2014). If effectively applied in the classroom, information technology will considerably improve teaching and learning while also developing a skilled and efficient workforce for the country.
Illiteracy, according to the current global trend, is defined as the inability to read and write, as well as the inability to use some electronic devices. Technology promotes literacy, offers kids access to knowledge, enhances learning, and builds students' self-esteem, according to a research conducted years ago (O'Hara, Pritchard, & Bacon 2014). It is obvious that technology aids pupils in expanding and diversifying their personal knowledge. In colleges and universities, computer software for the preparation of educational documents and curriculum development is uncommon (Nicola 2014).