PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF E-LEARNING IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION USING NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
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PROSPECTS
AND CHALLENGES OF E-LEARNING IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION USING NATIONAL
OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO
THE STUDY
E-learning
refers to the use of ICTs i.e. Information and Communication Technology to
enhance and support teaching and learning process. E-learning ranges from the
way student use email and accessing course work online while following a course
on campus to programs offered entirely online. Advances in ICT have
revolutionized higher education in many ways like increasing access to
post-secondary instruction, improving the availability of educational
resources, facilitating meaningful interaction among learners, outmoded
educational system and as such better prepare students and the average citizen
for the information age, and or accelerate national development efforts
(Albirini, 2006).
The term
e-learning is not a new phenomenon in promoting education in some parts of
world. Presently, some institutions in Nigeria are using it to promote distance
education (DE) and life long learning. E-learning according to Sale (2002), is
the use of electronic technology to deliver education and training applications,
monitor learner’s performance and report learner’s progress. Hedge and Hayward
(2004), defined it as an innovative approach for delivering electronically
mediated, well-designed, learner-centered and interactive learning environments
to anyone, anyplace, anytime by utilizing the internet and digital technologies
in concern with instructional design principles. It is all about learning with
the use of computers. In this age, learning with the use of computer is simply
online ways of acquiring knowledge through the internet or through the offline
– CD-ROM; the online involves the use of Internet Explorer/Navigator. It may be
in form of Audio, Visual, and or Audio/Visual. The process and applications of
e-learning technology include computer-based learning, web-based learning,
virtual learning, blended learning, hybrid models, internet learning, networked
learning, Tele-learning, computer-assisted learning and online classroom and
digital collaboration where contents is delivered via the internet, intranet/extranet,
audio and or video tapes, satellite TV and CD-ROM (Arbaugh, 2000; Achuonye,
2004; Ukoha, 2007).
In Nigerian
schools, the commonest type of e-learning adopted is in form of lectures note
on CD-ROM which can be played as at when the learners desires. The challenge of
this method is that the numbers of students per computer in which these
facilities are available are un-interactive as compared to when lectures are
been received in the classroom. Some institutions adopted the use of intranet
facilities; however, this is not well maintained because of incessant power
problem and high cost of running generating set. Most students in Nigeria go to
the cyber café but because there are people of diverse intension on the net at
the same time, and the bandwidth problem, a multimedia interactive cannot be
done. Despite all these and other challenges facing e-learning in
Nigeria
educational institution, institutions such as University of Ibadan, Obafemi
Awolowo
University,
University of Benin, University of Abuja, University of Lagos, National Open
University
of Nigeria among others has the facilities for e-learning. The number seems
very low (compared to other parts of the world and the usefulness of the
e-learning in the economy development) because of location of most
institutions, bandwidth issue and mostly the challenge of electricity. Though
most of the educational institutions (private and public) have started setting
up their ICT centres for internet services alone without actually taking into
consideration other components of e-learning centre.
The focus of
this research work is to find out the challenges and prospects of e-learning in
National Open University of Nigeria ( NOUN ) , Akure study centre, therefore it
is of paramount necessity to take a look into the foundation / history of National
Open University of Nigeria (NOUN ) as well as her mode of Operations and her
academic activities.
The National
Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), was established in July, 1983, by an Act of
the National Assembly as the first distance learning tertiary institution in
Nigeria when it became crystal clear to the then Federal Government that the
ever growing demand for education by her people cannot be met by the
traditional means of face-to-face classroom instructional delivery. The
institution was closed down few weeks after its establishment and the Act that
established the University was suspended in 1984 by the then Federal Military
Government that overthrew the civilian government. Many years after the
closure, the compelling reasons that informed the earlier establishment of the
university as well as the need to fill the gap created by the Federal
Government clamped down on mushroom outreach study centers of many conventional
universities all over the country and the need to take advantage of emerging
developments in the field of ICTs which have revolutionalized the techniques
and methods of instructional deliveries in the distance learning mode
necessitated the reactivation of the suspended NOUN Act of 1983 in 2002. This
paved the way for the resuscitation of the NOUN.
Keegan
(1998) once said of Online-education as being “Characterized by the separation
of teachers and learners which distinguishes it from self study and private
tutoring, the use of a computer network to present or distribute some educational
content, the provision of two-ways communication via a computer network so that
students may benefit from communication with each other, teachers, and staff ”,
linking it with the description of e-learning which Arbaugh, 2000; Archuonye,
2004 and Ukoha, 2007 said, “ e-learning implies the abilities of people to use
information technology and the internet to learn improve their learning skills
and strengthen their capabilities in the information society ”.
The
emergence and proliferation of new information and communication technologies
(ICT), had introduced an unstoppable revolution into education particularly in
the areas of teaching and learning. The Internet and the web have further
raised the revolutionary tempo especially through the enhancement of
e-learning. For most open and distance learning providers, e-learning had added
another dimension to the issue of access. While Open and Distance Learning,
ODL, itself is hailed by nations as bailing them out of the problem of
providing access to education to the masses, elearning is further extending the
frontiers by further removing distance from education and helping individuals
who can, to access education anywhere, anytime, at their own pace and at any
place. ELearning or On-line education offers students excellent opportunities
for individual communication with their study materials, study resources, and
their tutors. It is the interactive exploits technology and communication
systems to improve the learning experience. It has the potential to transform
the way we teach and learn across the board (i.e.24 hours / 7 days) throughout
the year. It can raise standards, and widen participation in lifelong learning.
It is important to bear this in mind that Elearning as learning facilitated
online through network technologies involves the utilization of virtual
technologies in the practice of teaching, learning and assessment (Lee, Hong
and Ling, 2002) and at National Open University of Nigeria, e-learning
activities started with the most basic use of audio tapes and progressed to the
use of CD-ROM, interactive videos and now, the university has a most standard
e-learning laboratory using one of the best Learning Management Systems, LMS.
The National
Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, sprang from the ashes of the defunct National
Open University, which was abruptly closed down by a military government in
April 1984, barely one year after its establishment. In the year 2000, after an
international workshop cohosted by the Commonwealth of Learning, COL, and the
Nigerian Federal Government, the years 2001 – 2010 were declared a decade of
open a distance learning in Nigeria. Thereafter, a time-line was drawn for
series of activities and implementation strategies. One of such strategies was
the resuscitation of the defunct Open University which now had to be re-named
National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Electronic learning which is
basically the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to
enhance and support learning / teaching and research (Eteng and Ntui, 2009). It
was clear in the mind of the planner’s right from the beginning that elearning
or on-line learning would play a major role in the teaching and learning
delivery system of the university.
The National
Policy on Education (FRN, 2004. Pg 17) places emphasis on the provision and
utilization of Information and Communication (ICT) when it states that “In
recognition of the prominent roles of information and communication technology
in advancing knowledge and skills necessary for effective functioning in the
modern world, there is urgent need to integrate Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) into education in Nigeria”. Educational institutions are
getting more interested in improving their programme with ICT tools and applications
to introduce flexibility in the teaching and learning process.
The
following gives step-by-step description of the e-learning activities of the
university i.e.
National
Open University of Nigeria.
Objective:
The main
objective of the NOUN e-learning efforts is to encourage staff and students of
the university to adopt an innovatory approach to educational provisions and
instructional deliveries and imbibe the culture of using technologies to
support such provision and deliveries.
Specific
objectives:
Some of the
specific objectives are:
(1) To
sensitize staff and students of the university towards the use of e-learning
tools.
(2) To
develop capacity in e-learning and provide leadership in this aspect of ICT
utilization in Nigeria and within the West African sub-region.
(3) To raise
general awareness of the academic community of e-learning tools.
(4) To
provide systemic and continuous support for staff and students in the use of
e-learning.
(5) To
initiate a culture of innovation which will lead to experimentation in
educational provisions.
(6) To
include e-learning in the portfolio of teaching and learning tools at NOUN.
(7) To
establish and disseminate good practice in this area of teaching and learning
in Nigeria and within the West African sub-region.
(8) To
provide, as part of the university’s strategic plan, a sound infrastructure for
the development and delivery of e-learning tools and services.
The call for
utilization of e-learning in various educational sectors / unit on
instructional delivery is to infuse and inject efficiency and effectiveness in
Curriculum implementation. However, in developing countries like Nigeria,
e-learning is challenged with the problem of material devices such as computer,
computer laboratories, internet and email facilities, videophone systems and
teleconferencing devices, fax and wireless applications, digital library,
digital classrooms, multimedia systems and the problem of multimedia courseware
development among others. Other studies indicates that there is dearth of
professional trained and skills teachers for elearning, lack of facilities,
infrastructures and equipments (Jegede and Owolabi, 2008).
It is
against this background that the present study is to be carried out to
determine the extent of various challenges facing e-learning as well as to
examine its prospects and benefits to the education industry if well utilized.
1.3 PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
The purpose
of this study is to investigate and identify the challenges and prospects of
elearning in Nigerian university education using National Open University of
Nigeria, Akure Study Center as a case study and to recommend possible solution.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESIS
Research
Questions:
In trying to
find solutions to specific problems arising from e-learning, the following
research questions were asked.
1. Are
students really acquainted with the required knowledge necessary for the use of
e-learning facilities?
2. What is
the attitude of students and staff of NOUN to the use of e-learning facilities
towards teaching and learning?
3. Does
National Open University of Nigeria have enough e-learning facilities and
equipments?
4. To what
extent is the e-learning facility being used towards the achievement of
teaching-learning goals in NOUN?
Research
Hypothesis:
H01: There
are no any significant challenges and prospects of E-learning in Nigerian
University
education.
H02: There
is no significant difference between education via Electronic means and
conventional means.
H03: There
are no significant impacts of e-learning towards academic performance of students’
achievement in NOUN.
1.5
DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study
will focus on almost all selected departments across all faculties/schools in
the
National
Open University of Nigeria, Akure Study Center, few of these schools are:
i. School of
arts and Social sciences; ii. School of Agricultural sciences; iii. School of
Education; iv. School of Earth Sciences;
v. School of
Law; vi. School of Management Sciences; and vii. School of Science and
Technology.
viii.
Theology and psychological study ix. Research study center.
x.
Counseling and Business study center.
But the
faculties and range which will not be able to cover with this research are as
follow: i. School of medical Science.
ii. School
of applied science iii. Space and Marine school
This is
because much of practical work is required and can best be achieved with
hands-on learning.
1.6
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
An attempt
to embark on this study might provide a diagnostics basis for solving problems
or challenges facing e-learning as well as knowing the prospects of e-learning
in Nigerian university education. It might also help to change the altitude of
students as well as teachers/lecturers towards e-learning. Also, it will find
out the role of Government to the development of e-learning through the
provision of e-learning equipments.
In addition,
it will make the teachers/lecturers, Students and government to be aware of the
challenges and prospects of e-learning in Nigerian university education.
1.7
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Prospects:
Prospects is from the Latin word prospective which means “a view or outlook”. A
prospect is a way of looking ahead and expecting good things, a possibility
that something fabulous or great will happen. It is like potential in that it
is something that might be but is not yet. There is also the potential for
something bad to happen, but prospects usually look good.
Challenges:
Challenges refers to a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and
needing to be dealt with and overcome.
E-Learning:
E-learning refers to electronic learning. This means using a computer to
deliver part, or all of a course whether it is in a school or a full distance
learning course.
Education:
Education refers to the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction,
especially at a school or university. The act or process of imparting or
acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgement
and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
University
Education: This refers to an optional final stage of formal learning that
occurs after secondary education. It is otherwise known as higher education,
post – secondary education, tertiary education or third-level education.
Distance
Education: Distance education refers to a method of studying in which lectures
are broadcasted or classes are conducted by correspondence or over the
internet, without the students needing to attend a school or college.
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