Integrating Emerging Technologies in Distance Education for a Results-Driven Educational System in Nigeria

Abstract

The practice of distance education programmes in the colonial and post-colonial era was more
of correspondence education which was predominantly dependent on print media and face-toface contacts. The subsequent emergence of the computer, internet and World Wide Web (www)
transformed distance education from correspondence study to a technologically driven
educational enterprise. Therefore, the use of technology has become the fulcrum of
contemporary distance education practice. Hence, the emergence of more modern technologies
with capacities to easily connect teachers and learners around the world has become the desire
and vision of distance education operators. This paper briefly x-rayed concepts of emerging
technologies, distance education and result-driven educational system. The study also
examined the process, relevance and benefits of emerging technologies integration in distance
education programme. The challenges confronting emerging technologies integration in
distance education were also considered. The study suggested amongst other things the need
for distance education operators to integrate emerging technologies in the programmes for the
purpose of enthroning a results-driven educational system.