Effect of Digital Media on Acquisition of Numeracy Skills among Preschoolers in North-East Senatorial District of Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of digital media on acquisition of numeracy skills among preschoolers in North-East Senatorial District of Jigawa State, Nigeria. To achieve this purpose, three specific objectives and corresponding research questions were also raised to guide the study. Three null hypotheses were postulated to guide the study. A quasi-experimental design, specifically the non-randomised pretest and post-test control group, was employed and used for this study. The population of this study consisted of all 2,401 preschool children in functional Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) centres established within public primary schools in Jigawa North-East. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 240 ECC II pupils from four intact classes. Number Work Achievement Tests (NWAT) were used as instruments for the study. The instrument's validity was determined by validates. Kuder Richardson Formula 20 was used to determine the internal consistency of the Number Work Achievement Test (NWAT), which yielded reliability coefficient indices of 0.73. Mean analysis and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that pupils exposed to computer-assisted instruction (CAI) performed better overall in their’ acquisition of numeracy (ability to count numbers, identify numbers, and add numbers) than those exposed to the chalk and talk method. Based on the findings of this study, the researcher recommends, among others, that teachers should be encouraged to use computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in teaching preschool pupils’ numeracy skills.