Assessment of Academic Utilization of Online Information Resources by Undergraduate Students in University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to determine the utilization of online information resources by undergraduate students in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It was undertaken specifically with the objectives of identifying the online information resources used; academic purposes for their use, extent, problems and strategies for improving the academic use of the resources by undergraduate students. Descriptive survey was used as the research design. The population of this study comprises of all 25,657 regular registered undergraduate students in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The sample for this study comprises 2500 students which is 10% of the population. The results of the study shows that most of the online information resources are not used by the undergraduate students. Just a few of them are highly used. Some of the academic purposes for the use of the resources include to do course assignment and project works and to stay up-to-date on social events. The major problems responsible for the low utilisation of the resources include incessant power failure, limited available computers in the university library, and server’s low bandwidth. Based on the findings, maintenance of uninterrupted power supply, provision of enough computers in the library; constant upgrade of server’s bandwidth and many more were recommended as the strategies for improving the use of online information resources by undergraduate students in UNN. The implication of this study lies in the fact that solutions to the problems raised would be helpful to the university management, librarians and students in ensuring maximum and adequate provision and effective utilisation of online information a resources in the library.

Keywords

• University
• Online Information Resources
• Academic Utilization
• Undergraduate Students
• Assessment