1.1 Background of the study
The rapid development of information, communication and technologies (ICT), internet technologies and Web-based applications have initiated unparallel transformation in universities all over the world (Cheng 2010). Electronic learning (e-learning) is changing the way teaching and learning is taking place on university campuses (Ahmed, 2010). Though the up-scale of e-learning in developing countries especially in Africa is slow compared to their Western counterparts, the last decade has witnessed some concerted efforts on the part of university administrators to implement e-learning strategies in order to catch up with their counterparts in the developed countries. Essentially, e-learning is usually defined as a type of learning supported by information and communication technology (ICT) via the internet, intranets, extranets or many others to improve the quality of teaching and learning. A broader definition of e-learning is provided by Selim (2007:397) as “the delivery of course content via electronic media, such as internet, intranet, extranets, satellite broadcast, audio/video tape, interactive TV, and CD-ROM. E-learning is divided into different types ranging from web-supplemented courses, through web dependent to mixed mode courses and finally to fully online courses (OECD, 2005).
Nigeria is among the developing countries of the world whose day-to-day dealings are been influenced by the technological advancement in the world. The students in both secondary schools and higher institutions of learning finds themselves engrossed in the internet services provided by the advancement in technology. However, in the aspect of e-learning, Nigerian educational system is yet to embrace this new and fast growing trend in the use of technological facilities for teaching and learning especially in the higher institution.
However, although e-learning has made some gains with respect to payment of fees and registration of students online; and posting of university calendar and handbook on the intranet; very little gains have been made with respect to incorporating e-learning into teaching and learning at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
Computer science department of A. B. U, zaria, has mounted this course for several years such as Web Application engineering, Java Programming, Computer Architecture, Digital Logic Design, Data Communication and Networking and lots more. Computer science offers solutions to problem solving, teaching it develops the lecturer more and the learners, on the other hand is also being equipped with the gadgets for the wider world.
1.2 Statement of the problem
The importance of computer science education is increasing because of increasing pressure to catch up with the developed world regarding to global competitiveness.At the University, the computer science department has quite a large number of students who register to study the course at degree level. In fact, many other faculties such as Education, Social sciences, Engineering, Administration, Medicine and some other departments in the faculty of sciences compulsory study some courses in computer science at their first and second years, that is 100 and 200 levels or more.
However, the performance of these students over the years have been a thing of great concern, as many perform very poorly, below average; while majority perform just averagely. These poor performances can be traced to the conventional method employed in the teaching of computer science, which is lecture method. This method, due to the extremely large number of students offering courses in computer science, is faced with several difficulties such as; inadequate lecture rooms to accommodate the large number, the unavailability of trained lecturers in some courses, inadequacy of current books, etc. This lecture method has thus far not helped to impact the knowledge needed in computer science as expected because the students learn in an over crowed lecture rooms, they tend not to fully grasp what the lecturer is passing on hence, many “cram” just to pass examinations and after which they can’t recall to defend what they have put down. This makes for the reason why competent citizens for the global market are not been produced.
Advance in information and communication technology (ICT) have revolutionized higher education in many ways, for example, it is increasing access to post-secondary instruction, and it is also improving educational resources and facilitating meaningful interaction among learners. This will also help to enhance students understanding of computer and further improve their performances, thus, producing potentials for the nation and the world at large.
1.3 Objectives of the research
This research work has the following objectives to achieve.
1.4 Research question
This research work have the following question:
1.5 Basic assumption
The study will add value to the theory building on computer usage application and software among students of computer science Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. The findings of the study will boast the student’s ability in computer science for easy learning. The findings will also make communication easier among students, lecturers, society, government and non-government Organization. Application of E-learning will facilitate effective teaching and learning processes among students of computer science. The findings also make teaching and learning flexible, reliable and also at lower cost. This study will also serves as a missing link to future researchers as a reference materials.
1.6 Justification
From the characteristics of e-learning system. It’s seems that when it is employed by the department of computer science Ahmadu Bello University, it will yield the following:
1.7 Scope and delimitation of the study
In this research, the researcher intends to make his findings on the perception of students on the effect of application of e-learning in computer science department of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Thus, this research work is restricted to students of Computer science department of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
1.8 Summary
Chapter one discusses the introduction aspect of the e-learning system including the study area which is teaching and learning of computer science especially in higher levels, the statement of the problem, hypothesis, research objectives, justification, research scope and limitation, the basic assumption and finally the summary. Chapter two, which is literature review, gives the detailed definitions of the e-learning system by many scholars. We also discussed the system study, analysis of the existing system, problems of the existing system and the proposed new system (e-learning) which is the solution of the problems of the traditional learning system. Chapter three, which is the general analysis of the methodology of e-learning of computer science gives detailed explanation of how the research was carried out, the design area, the population sample, the sample techniques was fully discussed. Chapter four focuses on the project analysis, analyzing the reports of the questionnaire in details and comparison between the reports gotten. Chapter five presents the summary, conclusion and recommendation of the project work.