THE EFFECTS OF DIGITAL/ELECTRONIC MEDIA ON STUDENTS IN SCHOOL (A CASE STUDY OF NILE UNIVERSITY)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The primary effort of humanity in this social life is to learn more about the facilities and bounties of life spread around, to know them weigh them and make the most of them. Students could not appreciate very well the blessing of life without deep insight into their origin, use and mechanism, and all this then was not possible without the electronic media. The electronic media not only provide light but enlightenment, also helps through a particular mechanism to get to the apex in social life, beyond clouds, cross the surface of earth and to very depth of the seas. It is now a known truth that television and other forms of electronic media is a strong means of not only making the information available but also inform and entertain the masses. While scientific research also proved the fact that T.V certainly some impacts either good or bad (Jennifer 2009). “Electronic Media” can be define those communication means based on electronic or electromechanical means of production and most often distinguished from print media, Berkowitz & Rawlings (2010). The major electronic media sources used by overall public usually include radio, television, sound recordings, video recordings and internet. It shows the basic means of communicating with large number of people. There are four primary functions of electronic media which generally include to inform, entertain, educate and the most vital to influence public opinion. They also argued that 20th century is heavily dominated by communication technology. The vital mean of mass communication manified in succession as the century unfolded. Motion pictures arrived on scene in the first decade of this century. Regular radio broadcasts began in 1920s. Television joined the arena in 1940s, followed by cable television in 1950s, and satellite television in 1970s. The private computer gave access to Internet. It transformed the interconnected computer networks through World Wide Web. Students have various methods of learning. Some can incorporate in a better way the knowledge received visually, auditory or through a certain sense. Researchers give an idea of appropriate combinations of electronic media and learning styles are more effective than others. An electronic media can be used in different ways to implement diverse teaching and strategies which can be matched with various learning styles. The internet has brought about a radical change in the computer and communications. Before internet the world is nothing before. The innovation of the radio, telegraph, computer, and telephone prepares the stage for this strong mixing of capabilities. Internet is the technological progress that started with early research on small package switching and the ARPANET (and related technologies), and where recent research proceeds to widen the horizons of the infrastructure along a number of proportions, which includes scale, performance, and higher level functionality. There is the operations and management feature of a global and complex operational infrastructure. There is the social feature, which lead to a large community of Internet working together to make and evolve the technology. The Internet recently is a widespread information infrastructure, the initial model of what is often called the National (or Global or Galactic) Information Infrastructure. Its history is multifaceted and involves many aspects such as technological, organizational, and community. And its pressure reaches not only to the technical fields of computer communications but throughout society as we move toward increasing use of online tools to obtain electronic commerce, information attainment, and community operations. The Internet is a network of networks. An interplanetary net would be a network of Internets.” (Vinton G. Cerf) There are more television sets than the telephone sets in the world. The statistics prove that; according to official figures from the International Telecommunication Union there were 565 million telephones in 1983, and 600 million television sets. Other figures are just as impressive: in Belgium, from 1967 to 1982, the average time spent watching television by children from 10 to 13 years, increased from 82 to 146 minutes per day incredible in every sense of the word. Our senses are focused every day by the drawing of the visual message. Television has specifically modified students in school. Therefore, the study examines the effects of digital / electronic media on students in school, a case study of Nile University

1. 1. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

One of the notable changes in our social environment in the 21st century has been the saturation of our culture and daily lives by the mass media. Unfortunately, the consequences of one particular common element of the electronic mass media have a particularly detrimental effect on students’ well being. Effects of the electronic media have been found to be far-reaching and potentially harmful in influencing the academic performance of students. Furthermore, time spent with media decreases the amount of time available for pursuing other more healthy activities such as sports, physical activity, community service, cultural pursuits, and family time. Hence, the study examines the digital/ electronic media on students in school, a case study of Nile University.

1. 1. AIMS OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to examine the effects of digital / electronic media on students in school, a case study of Nile University. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. To examine the forms and functions of the electronic media
2. To examine positive role of media
3. To examine the effect of digital/electronic media on students in school
4. To examine usefulness and risks associated with use of electronic media
5. To examine the relationship between digital/electronic media and students in school
6. To examine technology and students’ academic performance

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.  What are the forms and functions of the electronic media?
2. What is the positive role of media?
3. What is the effect of digital/electronic media on students in school?
4. What are usefulness and risks associated with use of electronic media?
5. What is the relationship between digital/electronic media and students in school?
6. What is technology and students’ academic performance?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Hypothesis 1

H0: There are is no significant effect of digital/electronic media on students in school.

H1: There is a significant effect of digital/electronic media on students in school.

Hypothesis 2

H0: There is no significant relationship between digital/electronic media and students in school.

H1: There is a significant relationship between digital/electronic media and students in school.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study would be of help to create enlightenment to the lecturers and stake holders in the education sector on the effects of digital/electronic media on students in a school. This study would also be of immense benefit to students and scholars who are interested in developing further studies on the subject matter.

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted to the effects of digital / electronic media on students in school, a case study of Nile University.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview)

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Students – Someone who is Studying at a University or School. Someone who is very interested in a particular subject

Media – Are all those media technologies that are intended to reach a large audience by mass communication. “They are messages communicated through a mass medium to a number of people”(Bittner, 2012).