ANIMATION-BASED LEARNING INSTRUCTIONS (ABLI) IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was on the appraisal of Animation for instructions in Early Childhood Education Programmes in higher institutions of learning in North-Central States of Plateau, Nasarawa and Kogi States of Nigeria. The objectives were to appraise the ABLI readiness that is to determine the level of staff knowledge in ABLI and identify the challenges to the effective deployment of ABLI in the study area. The study was carried out in the Early Childhood Education Departments of the higher institutions of learning in North-Central States of Plateau, Nasarawa and Kogi. The 250 questionnaires was administered to relevant teaching staff in ECE Departments, and a total of 219 were received and used in the analyses after putting off incomplete ones. The general response rate after data screening was 87.6 percent. Descriptive statistics based on mean ranking was used to determine the results. Research question 1 was on the level of animation facilities provided in the ECE Department, and the major level is Computer Equipment/Printers, while the least level was reported in Closed circuit television (CCTV) and Cable satellite facilities respectively. Question 2 was to determine the level of staff knowledge with ABLI. The results indicated the highest ranked as Computer Equipment/Printers, while the lowest are loud speakers/Amplifiers/Microphones, Editing/dubbing machines, Floodlights, Closed circuit televisions (CCTV) and Cable satellite facilities respectively. Question 3 was on the challenges encountered in deployment of ABLI. Inadequate animation facilities ranked high, lack of animation instructional applications, inadequate electricity supply, and lack of training among others ranked moderate. The findings show a high level of readiness in ABLI, high level of ABLI usage, very high level of staff knowledge of ABLI and a moderate level of challenges encountered in the deployment of ABLI in the ECE departments. Recommendations were made on how to enhance the deployment of animation facilities for effective teaching and learning.