implementation of e-learning in tertiary institutions in ghana: a case study of knust mit linc...
TRANSCRIPT
Implementation of e-Learning in Tertiary Institutions in
Ghana: A Case Study of KNUST
MIT LINC CONFERENCEMAY 23-26, 2010
ROBERT KABUTEY OKINE & JOHN SERBE MARFO
Abstract• Advantages and disadvantages of e-learning
to KNUST• Types of e-Learning systems considered• Strategies involved in e-Learning
implementations in KNUST• Challenges faced • Recommendations on critical issues to
consider
Background of Study
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST)– A public university in Ghana, Africa– 21285 undergraduate Students & 2306
pg students– http://www.knust.edu.gh – Leading Science & Technology
University in West Africa
Background of Study• Initial Implementation of e-Learning in
KNUST 2005/06– Advantages and Disadvantages of e-
learning– Types of e-learning systems considered:
• Commercial, Open Source, Course Management, Learning management systems
– 2nd semester of 2005/06• UITS setup an open source and course
management e-learning system called MOODLE• Fine-tuned to suit the needs of the university
Background of Study• Pilot in 2006/07 academic year– Two courses using two classes– Fine-tuned from the inputs given by
users
• Expected large scale implementation in 2nd Semester of 2006/07– However: Due to Human Resources and
other challenges, it did not happen
Problem Statements– Inadequate ICT staffs to support– Low motivation for lecturers to blend e-
learning into their face to face lectures– Inadequate bandwidth– Poor financing of ICT infrastructure– Poor educational awareness– Unreliable power supply
Methodology• Descriptive study with a cross-sectional
design• Employed qualitative and quantitative
variables• Sample Size– Students– Lectures– ICT Staff– University Administrators
Results
• 97% response rate out of the 125 questionnaires– It comprise of: • 100 Students• 5 lecturers• 15 ICT personnel• 5 University Administrators
Will e-learning enhance teaching & Learning– 98.35% of YES response• Courses will be accessible 24/7• Online learning will not require physical
attendance of student or lecturer• Learning is self-paced• Geographical barriers will be removed• Online course materials can be reused or
modified for a new class• For open source e-learning systems KNUST
will have low cost and support will be highly available
Disadvantages of eLearning
– Little Internet Bandwidth– Inadequate computers and other ICT
infrastructure– unreliable power supply
Choice of e-Learning system• Choice of e-learning system
recommended base on Management:• 68% of respondents chose Course
Management System• 32% of respondents chose Learning
Management System
• Choice of e-Learning system based on cost, development continuity and support:
• 76% of respondents chose Open Source systems
• 24 of respondents chose commercial systems
Why Moodle?–Moodle is widely used by most universities
(48,973 users from 212 countries)It is easily customizable
– It supports several databases including MySQL, PostgrelSQL, Microsoft SQL, Oracle and others
– It supports different operating systems including Windows and Linux
– It is free to download and use, making less costly to deploy.
– It has a large user and developer community and support.
Strategy for Implementation• Successful rate of 35% of respondents• Unsuccessful rate of 69.42% of
respondents• Why unsuccessful?– Not much educational awareness has
been done about it to students– Lack of practical effort from University Top
management– Initial plan of implementing the e-learning
system across the whole university campus was wrong.
Strategy for e-Learning Implementation
• Lack of recognition of lecturers using e-Learning
• A must for the successful implementation of e-learning in KNUST– Blend the traditional face to face with the
virtual learning system– Online system should be complemented
with CD-ROM materials– Deadline for online materials should be
set– Policy on e-Learning
Challenges and Solutions• Challenges– Inadequate ICT infrastructure– Lecturers with very low ICT skills– Inadequate ICT staff to train users of the e-
Learning system– Low motivation for lecturers to blend e-
learning into face to face lectures– High cost of accessing e-learning by non-
residential students– Inadequate finance for acquisition of ICT
Infrastructure
Challenges and Solutions• Solutions– Organise e-Learning training workshop for
lecturers– Provide funds and a well elaborate plan for
implementing e-Learning at KNUST– Expansion of the university ICT network to
non-residential areas via wireless– Provision of adequate ICT staff for e-
learning training and management– Provision of adequate ICT infrastructure to
support e-learning implementation
Conclusion & Recommendation
• Conclusion– Advantages of e-learning far outweighs
the disadvantages– An eLearning system that blends Course
Management and an Open source system
– A policy should back the implementation of e-Learning
Conclusion & Recommendation
• Recommendation–Wireless facilities should be extended to Non-
Residential students areas to use the intranet–Workshops should be organised for Students
and Lecturers regularly– E-learning policy to guide the implementation– Reward system must be developed for
lecturers who blend e-learning into face to face lectures
– E-learning should be adopted in Ghanaian universities due to ever increasing enrolment figures
Relevant e-Learning systems in KNUST• KNUST E-learning System
–Moodle platformhttp://web.knust.edu.gh/elearning/
• Other Digital Systems in KNUST– OER in collaboration with University of
Michigan and KNUST School of Medical Scienceshttp://oer.knust.edu.gh,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1HQOtiotXY
– KNUST Dspace Repositoryhttp://dspace.knust.edu.gh