Software Implementation of Online Post UTME (A Case Study of Fcsit, Bayero University Kano)

Introduction

1.1 Background Of The Study

When the World Wide Web was started in 1990 as a means to speed and simplify the retrieval of informational resources through the scientific research communities, few people envisioned the variety of learning opportunities it would make available to the average person in the span of a few years after its inception. These educational services exist for virtually any subject without the constraints of schedule or location. Students can participate anytime or anywhere they have access to a computer with an Internet connection (Crossman, 1997).

With the proliferation of the internet technology, online examination system has become an effective component to traditional test in many developed countries. It is a web based, efficient, flexible and adaptable means, which can provide a new and open mode of examination meeting the needs of various Academic and Non-Academic organizations. The examination consists of different types of multiple choice questions. The answers are evaluated and the marks obtained are stored in the database while the examiner can get the results immediately from the system. The main features of an online examination system include instructions for the participants, accessibility of examination content, valid time allocation, submission ways and result release (Wondershare, 2012).

Faculty members have found interactive communication has transformed many aspects of their traditional classroom format. Many of the visual cues from students, that instructors have depended upon in the face-to-face classroom, are non-existent (Farrell, 2000). This includes those postures and facial expressions that give instructors the non-verbal feedback they utilize in order to be more effective (Hains, et al., 2000). The online students have complete control over their responses to the instructor. During distance learning, this lack of sensory observation makes communication through E-mail and the Web absolutely critical for each student’s success (Schrum, 1998). During assessment, however, this lack of visual observation leaves the impression that test security is non-existent. The instructor has no assurance, even under proctored testing conditions, of the actual identity of the test taker (McCormack & Jones, 1998).

Online Post UTME is an online web application which will aid and improve the processes involved in carrying out the post UTME examination from start tofinish by providing an online CBT examination platform where candidatescanlog-on (sign-in), write their examination and get result instantly before leaving the venue.

1.2 Statements Of The Problem

Online Post UTME has become a necessity in every examinations environment especially for the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Bayero University Kano the current methods of conducting Post UTME examination have the following problems:

i. Delay:

It takes the lecturer long period of time to mark and compile examination scripts of their students.

ii. Error Prone:

Errors ranging from mismarking of student option choice, to mismatched recording of scores to the appropriate students due to large number of students the lecturer is handling.

iii. Waste of resource:

The process of producing customize booklet, picking up the materials and other process involving in examination are time and resource wasting.

1.3 Aim And Objectives

The aim of this project is to design and implement an Online Post UTME for the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology. The following are however the objectives:

1. To design a user friendly interface for Online Post UTME.
2. To design an interface for lecturer to set and edit questions and also view entire student results.
3. To create a database for storing student details and scores.
4. To build a timer that times the examination.

1.4 Significance Of The Study

This research work will help in a number of ways to academic institutions with respect to their methodology of conducting examination. The proposed Online Post UTME will enable institution to achieve the followings.

1. Allow lecturer set questions online.
2. Store student results.
3. Set specific time frame for examination.
4. Reduce the cost of invigilation.
5. Eliminate errors due to score input.
6. Allow student take examinations online.
7. Eliminate conflict of multi-same-schedules of examination.
8. Shape students perception of fair marking.

1.5 Scope And Limitation Of The Study

This research work will focus mainly on providing an interface for students to write their examinations using the computer and also enable lecturers to set and save the test/examinations questions into the database. The application will only provide objective questions.