A Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Ilorin, Aderonke Kofo Soetan has emphasized the need for the use of indigenous language and modern instructional resources in teaching students at the nation’s public schools in order to improve learning outcomes.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Professor Aderonke Kofo Soetan said this while delivering her inaugural lecture at the Main Auditorium of the University of Ilorin last week Thursday.
It was University of Ilorin’s 295th Inaugural and it was titled ‘Unlocking Learning Potentials: The Right Language and Instructional Resources’.
Professor Soetan noted that effective learning in the 21st century must be student-centred and inclusive while adding that learners understand better when teaching is supported with appropriate instructional materials.
Language according to her plays a critical role in how knowledge is received and retained.
‘Teachers must deliberately use suitable instructional resources to awaken learners’ potentials and promote meaningful learning, especially in today’s learner-centred educational environment’ she added.
The Unilorin professor also said importance should be attached to inclusive education through the adoption of assistive technologies to support learners with special needs, saying this will guarantee equal access to language learning and classroom resources.
She also advocated closer collaboration among educational technologists, curriculum developers and language educators to produce culturally relevant teaching materials in indigenous languages.
Professor Soetan expressed concern about the weak implementation of Nigeria’s language policies, particularly at the foundational level of education urging authorities to enforce the use of mother-tongue instruction, especially Yoruba language, in early childhood and primary education which will be supported with adequate instructional resources.
‘Effective mother-tongue instruction at the early stages of education enhances comprehension and helps preserve our linguistic and cultural heritage’ she said.
On the role of technology, she called for the integration of digital tools such as mobile applications, multimedia resources and interactive boards in language teaching citing innovations like Opón-Ònka and ÈDÈ App which can according to her improve learner engagement and learning outcomes when properly deployed.
She also emphasized the importance of continued capacity building for teachers, noting that regular training will help educators develop skills in designing, improvising and effectively using both technology-based and mother-tongue instructional materials.
Adding that where standard materials are unavailable, teachers should be encouraged to improvise using locally available resources within learners’ environments, Professor Soetan further recommended the establishment and strengthening of instructional resource centres in schools and higher institutions, where teaching materials can be produced, stored and accessed to support classroom practice.
Such centres will according to her help to reduce over-reliance on abstract teaching methods while calling for greater parental and community involvement in language development and urging parents to use indigenous languages at home to complement school efforts and ensure early language acquisition and cultural continuity.
According to her, instructional resources such as field trips, models, pictures, games, simulations, animations and online tools help to reduce abstraction by turning concepts into concrete and meaningful learning experiences.
She added that these resources should be systematically used across all subject areas, both inside and outside the classroom, to enhance skill acquisition and address emerging challenges in education while urging increased research into indigenous language technology and also calling on scholars to explore artificial intelligence, natural language processing and other digital innovations for documentation, learning and preservation of local languages, especially Yoruba.
Aligning language use with appropriate instructional resources and technology will also according to her help to unlock the full learning potential of Nigerian students and reposition the education sector for sustainable development-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
