IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY USAGE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF JOURNALISM IN RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY, PORT HARCOURT

Abstract

This study examined the impact of technology usage on English Language proficiency among undergraduate students of Journalism and Mass Media Studies Department of Rivers State University Npkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population comprises 1,140 students of 2024/2025 session across year one to final year. Krejcie and Morgan sample size table was used to determine 291 students sampled for the study. Stratified random sampling technique was further used to sample the 291 students. Self-designed Questionnaire titled Impact and Technology Usage Inventory (ITUI) was used for data collection. The instrument was given face validation by two experts from Measurement and Evaluation and Educational Technology all from the Department of Educational Foundations, Rivers State University. The reliability of the instrument was tested using 20 students from the Faculty of Education, and a reliability index of 0.75 index was obtained using Cronbach alpha statistics. Data collected was analyzed using mean and Standard Deviation to answer research questions. The findings of the study revealed that Technology usage impacted English Language Proficiency especially literature and prose writing proficiency among undergraduate students of journalism in Rivers State University. Thus, the authors recommend the training of Lecturers should intentionally integrate language-enhancing technologies such as video conferencing to enhance learners’ proficiency in English Language.