An Empirical Analysis on Optimizing Video Conferencing Tools for Virtual Collaborations: Perspectives of Researchers in Nigerian Library Schools

Abstract

The study explored researchers’ perspectives on optimizing video conferencing tools (VCTs) for virtual collaborations. The study was limited to lecturers in Nigerian library schools, and the findings are expected to apply to other researchers as well. Respondents were gathered from several library schools across Nigeria's six geographical zones. Among the library schools are the University of Ilorin, the University of Ibadan, the University of Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello University, the University of Maiduguri, and the University of Calabar. A mixed-method approach was used to gather information from ninety-eight respondents. The total enumeration sampling technique was adopted, using a questionnaire distributed via Google Form. According to the findings of this study, researchers in Nigerian library schools are increasingly using VCT tools for virtual collaborations. Findings from the study show that 97.6% of respondents express their perception of VCTs to be very engaging and highly pleasant, according to the findings. The findings also show researchers prefer virtual collaboration with VCTs compared to physical collaborations. The study findings also show that 95.1% of the respondents agreed that virtual collaborations with VCT are far more convenient and cost-effective than physical collaborations. The study's findings also found that technical difficulties,

network concerns, a lack of ICT understanding, technophobia, the expense of data subscription, and a lack of training are important barriers to using VCT for virtual collaborations. Based on these findings, the study concluded that VCT is better suited for virtual collaboration than physical collaborations, particularly during the Covid-19 era and civil turmoil in the country. Therefore the study recommends that technical difficulties associated with the use of VCTs could be tackled via written instructions presented to the users before the collaboration session.