The study considered the use of online learning applications for instructional delivery and assessment purposes in higher institutions of learning that stimulates a new atmosphere where lecturers could utilize these facilities to promote learning. The study also determined the gender difference between lecturers use of online learning applications for instructional delivery and classroom assessment in a post-covid context. The digital applications analyzed in this study include Google classroom, Email, Moodle, Canvas, Google, Microsoft Team, Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco Webinar, Facebook groups, Open Educational Resources (OERs), Google docs, Google slide, WhatsApp and Telegram Channel. At present, however, opinions are divided over the extent to which lecturers utilize these online learning applications in instruction and assessment. A descriptive survey research design was adopted with 152 participants (n = 88 males and n = 64 females) for the study and the instrument used for data collection was Utilization of Online Leaning Applications in Classroom Instruction and Continuous Assessment Questionnaire (UOLACICAQ). On December 2021, the participants completed the Questionnaire. The internal consistency of the instrument was determined using Cronbach’s Alpha and the reliability index of .93 was obtained. Results of the study show a low extent of utilization of online learning applications in classroom instruction and continuous assessment (Canvas, Microsoft Team, Google Meet, Cisco Webinar, OERs, Google slide, Telegram Channel, Facebook groups, Moodle, Google Classroom, learning management systems, Google forms and Google sheet). There was however, a significant difference between male and female lecturers' use of online learning applications for continuous assessment. Lecturers’ utilization of online learning applications in instruction and assessment of learning will expose them to different online learning applications used in delivery instructions and assessing students’ learning. The research supplies good idea of the instrument for measuring those staked learning outcomes in higher institution. However, lecturers do not differ in terms of the extent to which they use online learning applications while delivering instructions in the classroom based on gender.

This study investigates lecturers’ level of utilization of ICT facilities for teaching purposes in Nigerian universities. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. And a questionnaire with a reliability of 0.907 was used for data collection. Data was collected at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi from a sample of 433 lecturers out of a population of 928. The results show that lecturers have the knowledge of using ICT facilities in teaching, however, they rarely use them in teaching. It was also found that lecturers’ age and years of teaching experiences were significant factors influencing the level of ICT utilization in teaching. However, no significant difference was found due to gender and educational qualification. It was recommended among others that there should be regular sensitization programmes on the importance of using ICT facilities as it promotes students’ learning and enhance their academic achievement.

The data literacy skills of students in Southern Nigeria institutions of higher learning were evaluated in this study using descriptive survey method. A total of five (5) universities were selected for this study. These comprised of 150,055 students of which 2550 constituted sample for the study. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed. The instrument used for data collection for the study was Data Literacy Questionnaire (DLQ). The reliability of DLQ was established using Cronbach-alpha method and it yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.901. The data collected was statistical analyzed using mean and standard deviation for the research questions while t-test and Analysis of variance were used to analyze the hypotheses. Findings revealed that the students possessed moderate level of data literacy skills. The students had their lowest rating in data analysis skills. The findings also revealed that Ph.D. students had better data literacy skills compared to M.Sc. and B.Sc. students, while M.Sc students' had better data skills compared to B.Sc. students. The study recommends that programs and workshops should be designed to help improve data skills for teachers and students in order to meet global standards.

This study explores the multifaceted factors influencing academic performance among undergraduate students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs at a South African university. Employing a Bayesian hierarchical modelling approach, this research analyses data from 630 students collected over four academic years (2019–2023). The findings indicate that high school mathematics marks and progression rates serve as significant predictors of academic success, confirming the critical role of foundational mathematical skills in enhancing university performance. Interestingly, gender and age were found to have no statistically significant impact on academic outcomes, suggesting that these factors may be less influential in this context. Additionally, socio-economic status, represented by school quintiles, emerged as a substantial determinant of performance, highlighting disparities faced by students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The results underscore the necessity for targeted educational interventions aimed at bolstering the academic capabilities of students entering university, particularly those with weaker mathematics backgrounds. Furthermore, the study advocates for a holistic admissions approach that considers various attributes beyond standardized scores. These insights contribute to the existing literature on STEM education and provide practical recommendations for educators and policymakers aiming to foster equitable academic success among all students.