INCLUSION OF COMPUTER-BASED ASSESSMENTS AND PEDAGOGIES INTO NIGERIAN TEACHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM: IMPERATIVES FOR GLOBALIZATION INTERPLAY WITH EDUCATION

Abstract

There is the urgent need for the teachers to be trained and developed in a process (Teacher Education) that will increase their knowledge, skills, capacities and competences so they can cope with the challenges and realities of the present century wherein the world is now a global village. To achieve this, Inclusion of Computer-Based Assessment and Pedagogies into Nigerian Teacher Education Curriculum is very apt. Computer in its various forms has become an essential part of the learning process. Computer can efficiently serve as a convergence facilitator, a bridge builder between the machines, the humans, the society and the organizational objectives. Computer can effectively connect the learners, teachers and administrators and indeed all staff even when they are physically apart. At present, our work life is mainly based on national and international trade which will become more global. This paper, therefore, is a deliberate advocacy for inclusion of Computer-Based Assessments and Pedagogies into the Nigerian Teacher Education Curriculum. The discussion covers Concept of Education, teacher education, Curriculum, computer-based assessments, computer-based pedagogies and imperatives for globalization interplay with education. It was concluded that the application of computers in Virtual Reality, Electronic commerce and electronic marketplaces are creating a strong change factor behind the structure of work life. Consequently, Nigerian Teacher Education Curriculum should not be left behind. Veritable recommendations were articulated including inclusion of Computer-Based Tests, online and web-based assessments as well as computer aided instruction into Nigerian Teacher Education Curriculum.