Enhancing Students’ Skills Through Technology (ESST) : a one-to-one computer solution at Fiji National University

Abstract

Fiji National University has come a long way from its time of inception in terms of information and communication technological resources and capabilities. Achievement of its primary responsibility of human capital development depends largely upon its teaching and learning resources. Research has confirmed that ICT has significant potential to assist students who are currently disadvantaged by gender, disability, ethnic and socio economic background. Total student population of the FNU comprises of 75% students who are basically from lower income families of which the annual income is lower than FJD 15,000/=. Therefore, majority of the students do not have their own computers and as a result, libraries and computer labs in the university are very competitive and fully occupied even at nights. Thus, FNU is compelled to use a model which explain how that potential can be developed and used to benefit students currently seen to be excluded from, underachieving in, or disaffected by university. As it is evident to develop the skills needed for 21st century, provision of ICT and enhanced information literacy skills through SDL are exclusively needed. FNU has already introduced information literacy as a mandatory course to all students of the university through its COM 501: Information and Communication Literacy. Thus the only gray area of the mission is the provision of ICT facilities to develop HOT skills of students through SDL. This paper discusses the potential models which can be used for implementing 1:1 computer provision in a university library setting.