Application of ICT tools to the teaching and learning of History in the 21st century Nigeria

Abstract

 Pedagogical understanding of history teachers is driven by certain factors such as the needs of leaners, availability of resource materials, introduction of modern technology system, changes associated with curriculum, as well as national events. In relation to modern technology as a means of 
communication, digital tools in teaching history are very important to supplement traditional teaching methods. Digitalization is an innovation that has changed the world. The impact of digitalization on the activities of man in different areas such as medicine, tourism, economics, law, engineering and politics, among others, cannot be underestimated as it has improved man's effectiveness and efficiency in diverse aspects of existence. However, such cannot be said of History as a discipline, this is because the discipline has only made little or no significant landmark in incorporating this innovative ideology (ICT) to aid the discipline and also encourage effective teaching atmosphere. However, a major objective in this regard is not to completely replace traditional teaching methods but rather, make such methods more effective. Thus, the end-goal of using digital tools in history class is in threefold: first, to simplify complex historical discourse; second, enhance students' learning experience and third, help teacher to teach better.  Considering its prospect in this regard and for the fact that twenty-first (21) century education is mainly ICT-based, Nigerian history teachers cannot afford to be left behind in the utilization of this potent innovation in teaching history. This paper therefore, addresses the primary function of digitization through the knowledge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which is to make available relevant methods that can be adopted to proffer a lasting solution to certain problems confronted by teachers and learners/students of history in the twentieth-first (21) century Nigeria. This work submits that the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has the capacity to add value to the traditional methods of teaching history, which can also make students/leaners to embrace the discipline