CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE CASE STUDY
Yaba College of Technology was established in 1947 as Yaba Technical Institute, Yaba College of Technology holds the enviable distinction of being the first institution of higher learning in Nigeria. Following increasing global Information Technology demands, the department of computer technology was established in 1989/1990 session. The department runs both ND and HND programs in computer science. The department is one of the fastest growing department in the College; it is also one of the leading IT institution in the country with software development, bureau services as some of her numerous information technology services. The department also offers certificate courses such as Certificate in Information Processing (CIP), which is a short course, Certificate in Information Maintenance (CIM) with UNESCO, Computer Engineering and Maintenance and Desktop Publishing with very experienced lecturers. The department has in view the B.Tech Computer Technology programme (www.yabatech.edu/deptinfo).
In terms of size, the department has more than one hundred and fifty personal computers and other related equipment spread over its four different laboratories and a central laboratory used for servicing other department in the College. The Department is currently headed by Mr. Oludipe, O.
1.2 INTRODUNCTION TO MOBILE LEARNING
The internet is highly used today as it plays a major role in globalization, affecting a range of situations from interpersonal communication to politics and economic growth. The internet is simply the interconnection of various computers, devices and servers with the aim of sharing resources; it basically allows a wider range for data searching and resource sharing compared with other smaller networks. (Liu & LaMont, 2005)
Learning involves the acquisition of knowledge through forms like reading, listening and observation. The Mobile learning system is a Web-based Learning environment, which enables students pass information within themselves in order to improve their learning capabilities over the internet through the use of uploaded books, tutorial videos, study materials and also test materials. This would inadvertently help to improve students learning process and study skills as available technologies today makes it easier for them to obtain such materials anywhere and at any time (Mak, 1996)
The main objective of the Mobile Learning system is to help reduce study problems due to students absenteeism from lectures for serious reasons or non-conducive learning environment due to overcrowding during lectures and improper impartation of required knowledge on the part of the lecturers to the students.
The case study or field to which this application is to be applied is the Department of Computer Technology, Yaba College of Technology. The web application would allow uploads of student materials and also books by the student (main administrator of the application).
1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The normal learning process has its shortcomings; these problems have hindered the ability of some, if not most, students in the department of Computer Technology (our case study) to learn effectively and efficiently. This is due to the inadequacy of learning environment, in terms of space to accommodate the large population of students that attend lectures, the lack of zeal in teaching by some of the lecturers who sometimes get discouraged by class size and the improper dissemination of study materials might find their way to a set of students who in turn, due to laziness or other issues fail to pass it further to their peers, inadvertently stunting their academic development.
1.4 AIM OF STUDY
The real value of Mobile learning lies not in accessing knowledge at any time, any place and for anyone, but helping the right students to acquire the right skills and knowledge at the right time in order to function as active and collaborative participants in the information based society. Thus, the aim of this project is to design a web-based learning system, which would provide the right students with the flexibility and motivation required for knowledge and skill acquisition and self-reflection in today’s information driven society.
1.5 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The objectives of this proposal include:
• To study the existing learning system being used in the department of Computer Technology, Yaba College of Technology(the case study)
• To highlight the defects in the existing learning system; and
• To design and implement a Mobile-based learning system, using PHP for the backend, while for the communication with users, we are making use of IONIC framework to enable user interact with the system properly, CSS for the interface design and presentation in HTML for rendering the document contents to the browser.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEW SYSTEM
This project of high importance in the following ways:
1. Reducing the need for physical presence of a lecturer in class and improving the conduct of classes with the students
2. Students with health problems can still have access to course materials and view lecture notes, thereby reducing the need for students’ physical presence
3. Students running full-time programmes and still work in the evening period or night can have an avenue for accessing necessary study materials wherever they may be, thus reducing their total work load concerning their academics.
4. The study would improve students’ ability as regards the use of web applications.
