Software Implementation of an Online Multi Media-Based Electronic-Learning System for Post Primary Educational Institutes

1.1 Introduction

An Online Multi Media-Based Electronic-Learning System is a system designed to help students gain access and acquire knowledge in any university of their choice. It can include: Enhance face –to- face instruction (on campus, in class use of computer and the World Wide Web (WWW), enhanced distance education (on or off campus) individuals and group learning with both print and computer-based materials instruction entirely on- line (individual and group learning) because of this mix Electronic Learning and text based e- learning knowledge is moving towards every student being an e- learner at last for part of their study, whether through learning materials, e-mail for contacting teachers/ tutors or any one of their myriad other e-learning applications. Electronic Learning results to learning and other supportive resources that are available through a computer and it includes computer based training, computer based instruction and technology.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

An Electronic Learning framework carries education nearer to the individuals and evacuates the pressure and imperatives, which characterize the conventional classroom learning system. The hallmarks of Electronic Learning are the separation of teacher and learner in space and/or time, the control of learning by the student rather than the distant instructor, and non-adjacent communication between student and teacher, mediated by print or other forms of technology. At its most essential level, distance education is a procedure where number of teachings is conducted by remotely located lecturers. Two categories of Electronic Learning systems exist; namely On-line and Off-line Electronic Learning. On-line Electronic Learning, also known as virtual classroom is a type of learning system in which students work on their own at home or at the office and communicate with personnel and different studies by means of email, electronic discussions, videoconferencing and different types of PC based correspondence.. Off-line Electronic Learning on its own is a multi-campus system where a University or Polytechnic establishes many campuses and each of these campuses may be centrally controlled or decentralized.

E-learning is the use of electronic media and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education. Universities are forced to respond to the emerging developments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The Internet is fast becoming an everyday tool for life activities. The use of internet for teaching and learning is becoming a normal extension. Students also have high expectations about the use of ICT in their education. The shift in learner expectations, changing demographics of learners, and the rapid development of subject knowledge forms challenges to universities.

E-learning is an inclusive term that describes educational technology that electronically or technologically supports learning and teaching. Bernard Luskin, a pioneer of e-learning, advocates that the “e” should be interpreted to mean “exciting, energetic, enthusiastic, emotional, extended, excellent, and educational” in addition to “electronic.” This broad interpretation focuses on new applications and developments, and also brings learning and media psychology into consideration. Parks suggested that the “e” should refer to “everything, everyone, engaging, easy”.

E-learning encompasses multimedia learning (MML), technology-enhanced learning (TEL), computer-based training (CBT), computer-assisted instruction (CAI), internet-based training (IBT), web-based training (WBT), online education, virtual education, virtual learning environments (VLE) which are also called learning platforms, m-learning, digital educational collaboration, distributed learning, computer-mediated communication, cyber-learning, and multi-modal instruction.

Developments in internet and multimedia technologies are the basic enabler of e-learning, with consulting, content, technologies, services and support being identified as the five key sectors of the e-learning industry. E-learning mainly takes the form of online courses, where the dominant learning technology employed today is a type of system that organizes and delivers these courses. E-learning includes numerous types of media that deliver text, audio, images, animation, and streaming video, and includes technology applications and processes such as audio or video tape, satellite TV, CD-ROM, and computer-based learning, as well as local intranet/extranet and web-based learning. Information and communication systems, whether free-standing or based on either local networks or the Internet in networked learning, underlay many e-learning processes.

All that is needed to participate in online training is a good internet facility by the student. The school should maintain the online classes and provide clear and recent video tutorials for visiting students. Despite the convenience of online e-learning, most people still prefer the traditional classroom system due to factors like ignorance, inadequate internet connectivity and the quest to pass through the stimulating-though-stressful and high-bandwidth classroom system where they run to lectures, struggle for seats and physically interact with both teachers and students.

The purpose of this project is to come up with an e-learning facility for an online training system using video elements. Our system has tools and resources that allow students in post-primary educational institutes to watch recorded videos of classroom teaching on different subjects. The system will provide features for the trainer or management to create and manage his database of subjects, students, lecture materials like video tutorials, exams, as well as track to monitor student performance and activities through discussion forums, personal chats and email messaging.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

InvestigationDue to the problems students find and experiences, it has never been easy for students to acquire basic and necessary education in any institution one wishes irrespective of the fact that the resources are there. This poses a lot of problems sometimes they will embrace not going to school at all. It is very impossible for a student in America or any other country coming to Post Primary Educational Institutes everyday for lectures more so, it will be impossible for staff going to America or any other country where the students might be located everyday to deliver lectures. Sometimes if number of students increase reduction in student admission will be affected in order to provided adequate structures where they can have their lectures. The above views are what gave birth to the research work in order to find solution to them.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to develop an Online Multi Media-Based Electronic-Learning System for Post Primary Educational Institutes. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to design an application that will:

1. Provide course material on time and with different media types (audio, text and video).
2. Enable learning materials to be shared online at convenience.
3. Provide tutoring for students using multimedia, image, text and animations.
4. Allow students to learn at their own pace, having opportunity to re-visit topics over and over again.

1.5 Significance of Study

A Computer Interactive Learning System that supports teaching through multimedia will significantly benefit teachers and students in a learning environment. The system will enhance learning for secondary schools; make assimilation faster through text, image, audio and video for students. Electronic Learning can provide benefits for the organizations and individuals involved. Improved performance: it is interactive to the students thereby improving their productivity.

1. Improves Standard of Education: it eliminates examination inadequacies like examination malpractices.
2. Increased Access: It enables people from any part of the world to be educated.
3. Convenience and Flexibility to Learners: learning process is structured in units; this makes the learner study at his own convenience without getting too bored with lectures.
4. Reduced cost: it reduces the cost of learning, examination and result processing institutions.

1.6 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Design and Implementation of an Online Multi Media-Based Electronic-Learning System for Post Primary Educational Institutes.

1.7 Limitations of the study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).

1.8 Definition of Terms

Computer: an electronic device that is capable of accepting data, processing data automatically, store it, produces the result where needed.

Electronic Learning: is an act of using IT tools to distribute or share knowledge between groups of learners. It is not going to be physically but the use of electronics.

E–Learning: it is an acronym of electronic learning it is an aspect of Electronic Learning that is concerned with sharing of knowledge electronically by use of text video, web or any other IT tools.

File: This is a collection of related records.

VEL: This is the acronym of virtual electronic learning

Program: a set of logical instructions combined together to perform a specific task to a given problem and providing solution to it.