DEVELOPING OF A WEB-BASED SYSTEM FOR DISTANCE-LEARNING

(A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BIDA).

NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Distance learning is a web-based environment that allows student to participate in live

teaching and learning events without the need to travel. The aim of the study is to develop a
web-based system for distance learning using federal polytechnic bida (FPB) as a case study.
In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to design an
application that will, provide alternative way of attaining education, facilitate the
development of in formation technology, enhance examination and certification of students
thereby improving the standard of education, reveal the use of technology of wireless
network to the user, proffer solution to students whom because of nearness to institute and
are unable to acquire knowledge that they need, and provide students easier way to acquire
any of the ( FPB)certificates without been in the institute or with less difficulty. This project
will be of benefit to: organizations, students and lecturers. this study contributes to
knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study. The expected result is a distance
learning system that will bridge the communication barrier between students learning and
lecturer teaching in an environment. It was developed using HTML, CSS and PHP. It
handles three different kinds of users: student, instructor and admin.
 CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Distance Learning is a system designed to help students gain access and acquire knowledge in federal
polytechnic bida(FPB) bida. 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 Distance 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 lecturer/ tutors or any one of their myriad other e-
learning applications. Distance 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.

1.2 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

A distance learning framework carries education nearer to the individuals and evacuates the
pressure and imperatives, which characterize the conventional classroom learning system. The
hallmarks of distance learning are the separation of lecturer 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 lecturer, 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 distance learning systems exist; namely On-line and Off-line distance
learning. On-line distance 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 distance 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.

Education is the way toward achieving a generally lasting change in human conduct. It is the
primary instrument used to safeguard, keep up and overhaul people's culture, standards and qualities.
In any developing country, education is a veritable device for deciding innovative headway and
passing on to the new ages, the current learning of the physical condition. Training likewise fills in as
stage for presenting people to any association, giving aptitudes for performing day by day
employments, recreation just as teaching sound ethics in the individuals for their own advantage and
that of the general public. In synopsis, training is the stage on which more youthful age comprehend
the past legacy just as take an interest and contribute seriously to the development and advancement
of the general public. Conventionally, education has been practiced across the world in segregated
buildings by carefully regimented and standardized classes of students and teachers. This has a
consequential effect on both the lecturer and the learner. For instance, education is verifiably limited
distinctly to the individuals who could be in the classroom and pursue the instructor unbendingly with
the pace by which he introduces his lectures, the ever increasing population explosion all over the
continent and different educational system in every region of the world brought greater challenges to
this method of education. For instance, there is an issue of lacking number of human and material
assets to cater for the training of the enormous populace. The number of inhabitants in school in many
spots has developed immensely to the degree that solitary a little rate can be offered admission. The
student – lecturer and student-classroom ratios have grown to the extent that teaching and learning in
the classroom have been less effective. The field of education therefore provides the most fascinating
application of computing system, which has consequently attracted considerable attention from
educationists and policy makers since the late 1960s when computers were introduced into
classrooms. Various information technologies have been applied in learning and teaching, such as
Computer Aided Instruction, (CAI), Computer Aided Learning (CAL), Research Packages, Project
Monitoring, and Computerized Libraries and so on. As a result of technological advancement in
multimedia technology, computer networks and the Internet, computers are now being applied in
distance learning premised on on-line and real time teaching and instruction.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Due to the problem’s 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 federal polytechnic bida
(FPB) everyday for lectures more so, it will be impossible for federal polytechnic bida(FPB) 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.

1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

AIM:

The aim of the study is to develop a Web Base System for Distance Learning using federal
polytechnic bida (FPB) as a case study

OBJECTIVE:

1. Provide course material on time and with different media types (audio, text and video).
2. Provide chat room, online exams, upcoming events and grade report.
3. Provide students easier way to acquire any of the NOUN certificates without been in the
institute or with less difficulty.
4. Proffer solution to students whom because of nearness to institute and are unable to acquire
knowledge that they need.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

1. Distance Learning can provide benefits for the organizations and individuals involved.
Improved performance: it is interactive to the students thereby improving their productivity.
2. Improves Standard of Education: it eliminates examination inadequacies like examination
malpractices.
3. Increased Access: It enables people from any part of the world to be educated.
4. 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.
5. 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 designing and implementing a web-based system for Distance
Learning using innovative technology as a significance tool to drive quality of education using federal
polytechnic bida (FPB), Niger state, Nigeria.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

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.

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.

Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.

Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable
power.

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.

Distance 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 Distance 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.

Education – Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills,
values, beliefs, and habits.

CAI – Computer Aided Instruction

CAL – Computer Aided Learning.

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