A

PROJECT PROPOSAL

ON

DESIGN of E-LEARNING FOR EDUCATIONAL

INSTITUTIONs
(A case study of Computer Science Department)

BY

AFOLAYAN FIDELIS OLUWATOSIN

FPA/CS/17/3-0011

Supervised by:

DR. OGUNNUSI
1.0 INTRODUCTION
E-learning is a means of implementing education that can be applied within varying
education models (for example, on-campus or distance education) and educational
philosophies of practice. E-learning enables a unique form of blended education that
combines the existing paradigms of on-campus and distance education. Whenever possible,
the choice of e-learning tools should reflect rather than determine the pedagogy of a course.
However, as a general rule how technology is used is more important than which technology
is used. E-learning advances primarily through the successful implementation of pedagogical
innovation that exploits the affordances of the technologies to create powerful and engaging
learning activities.
E-learning can be applied in two major ways: presenting education content, and
facilitating education processes. E-learning tools can operate effectively operate within both
carefully selected and optimally integrated course design model and as emergent facilitators
of communication and learning in informal contexts. Effective e-learning practice considers
the ways in which end-users will engage with the learning opportunities provided to them.
The essential process of education (that is, enabling the learner to achieve
instructional goals and performance objectives) doesn’t change when e-learning is applied. It
includes the shifted focus of control towards learner ownership and responsibility that
technology-mediated education affords. At one time e-learning was really only relevant to
distributed or distance contexts, now however blended learning and electronic classroom
tools, show that e-learning is being used to change practice in both face-to-face and
distributed learning.
E-learning system is a system designed to help students gain access and acquire
knowledge in any higher institution of learning of their choice. It can enhance face-to-face
instruction and also enhance distance learning by making available course materials on the
internet where individuals or group of learners can both download and print computer based
materials instructions entirely online.
E-learning results to learning whereby students, teachers and the institutions are
separated by time and space. Student will be on their computer to download course materials
even if they are not present in class using any format be it text, audio and video. Students will
have the opportunity of attempting online test, assignment instead of having to travel down to
the location before they can submit assignment or attempt a test. This will go a long way in
helping students to acquire degree in the institution.
 An e-learning environment is a system that creates an environment designed to
facilitate lecturer’s/instructors management of education courses for their students, especially
a system using computer hardware and software. The lecturer is able to present lectures
through video, presentations, audio or text. The student is able to share their thought with
each other students and can as well as collaborate with each other, answer questions, or pose
questions. They can use the tools available through application to accomplish a lot of things
such as send messages, or answer questions.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Over the past decade, the structure of educational institutions has modified, partly due
to the introduction of E-learning. E-learning has led impact on educational institutions,
although its implication aren’t restricted to education alone, the impact it has had in this area
has more than what the outlook suggest. This is to suggest that the impacts of e-learning are
numerous of that they involve positive and negative.
Education generally is one of all the numerous sectors to witness revolutionary
changes in recent times. It is a blessing for developing countries most especially Nigeria
which suffers from ailment of access and affordability.
There have also been much technology dawn in the past years during which desktop
computer and the internet have been developed. There has been a similar dawn throughout
the 20th century film, broadcast television, audiotape, and radio record video programmed
learning machines, etc. Each time enthusiast has announced that the transformation or even
the bulk of teaching and learning has been minimal. Development in paper/printing
technologies have had far more influenced, with the consequence that face to face discussion
and paper resources will dominate public education. Audio-visual media have been treated
more as an icing on the cake than as something at the very heart of learning and likewise their
long suffering support service through the new media particularly video have fared somewhat
better in the development of media that can promote improved learning (Kozma R. B. 1994).
Technological innovations always tend to create benefits and pitfalls. As for E-
learning, on the upside, it can enhance the bottom line by making an organization more
productive, saving money and providing more learning access to more education on the
downside E-learning may reduce personal contact between instructions and learners among
the learners themselves, sometimes many learners higher value. This may lead to high
dropout rates, which is a warning of the potential pitfalls of E-learning. This project will help
us review both sides and suggest ways to avoid E-learning pitfalls and reap its benefits.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Due to the difficulties encountered by students, it is very obvious that it has never
been easy for students to acquire basic and necessary knowledge in any institution in Nigeria
except in private institution. This poses a lot of problems, it is impossible for students to
access course material at their own disposal, students are unable to get knowledge more than
what the lecturer provides to them. Also attending lectures every day is a challenge due to the
distance, cost and time. Students submit assignments to lecturers through hard copy which
enhances duplication of work. The classrooms are not conducive enough for learning.
Sometimes if the number of student increases, reduction in students will be affected in order
to provide adequate structures where they can have their lectures. The above views are what
gave birth to this research work in order to find solution to them.

1.3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This study focuses on implementation of an online E-learning portal which requires
the ability to conceive human reasoning and mode of interactions and execute them in

available technologies. The tools employed for the development of the proposed web based
E-learning for educational institution portal are:
i. The programming language that will be used at client side is HTML
(Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
ii. The programming language that will be used at the server side is PHP
iii. The database that will be used is MYSQL and the web server apache

1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

There is already recognized fact that the need for educational experience is rapidly
growing. Therefore the flexibility provided by education becomes especially important and
the new means of access to education is quite individualized, that is enabling individuals to
make their decision regarding their private and public lives generally. The objective of this
study include the following:
(i) Evaluate the existing system of learning which is a traditional means of learning
(ii) Design a computerized learning system to complement it.
(iii) Implementation of the designed system in (ii) above
(iv) Test and evaluate the designed system

1.5 EXPECTED CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE

The focus of this study is to provide continuous learning and development of new
skills and knowledge rather than a one-off training session or rapid knowledge transfer
through an orientation program. This study will also serve as blessing for Computer science
department of the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti and other departments in the school or
different educational institutions in our dear country Nigeria which are chronically suffering
from ailments of access and affordability with wide coverage over numerous means of
Lecturer-student communication of information which includes text, speech and visual of the
same content of information. To enable learners access course materials which are relevant to
them. Here are some of the reasons
 Enables students to become thinkers/learners/risk takers in a sheltered environment
 To enable students to be engaged with what they are doing to improve learning
outcomes
 To enable learners access course materials which are relevant to them.
 Broaden the horizons of many students as it exposes students to the world outside
their domain of study.
 Enables students not to rely on instructors, be accountable for themselves and become
independent.
 Allows ubiquitous learning environment.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study seeks to cover issues surrounding the E-learning concept and questions
which enthusiast seek to understand within the domain of this study. It also cover areas such
as factors to optimize the teaching/learning environment, anatomy of online course, prepare
an instruction for online tests and assignments. The major areas would ensure that all
necessary facts regarding online education are tentatively discussed so as to make the interest
of this project worthwhile and an asset to anyone/institution seeking to becoming a part of the
E-learning community and making such a person or society a citizen of the internet.