Enhancing Scientific Research and Innovation: The role of the Computer Educator

Research is a very important aspect of society as it helps in increasing the stock of knowledge and information through systematic and creative work. Research involves the collection, organization and analysis of data/information to better understand a topic or issue. The process of collection, organization and analysis can be rather cumbersome if the necessary technologies or innovations are not applied. There is need for expertise in these processes. In this descriptive study, 40 Computer Educators were surveyed and their responses showed that computer educators play a prominent role in the pyramid chain of scientific research and innovation. This is further heightened by the global Covid-19 pandemic which has put humans on lockdown and ensured that most activities are carried out virtually or remotely. The relevance of computer literacy is further buttressed as research can become continuous even with the lockdown as long as the necessary skills and expertise are available. The implications of these findings are discussed in the light of available literature.