(PDF) Achieving Access to Knowledge through E-Learning: A Case Study

International Journal of Engineering and Technology Volume 2 No. 10, October, 2012 Achieving Access to Knowledge through E-Learning: A Case Study Christian A. Bolu*, Ikechukwu C. Ifeanacho** *Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, 410101, Enugu State, Nigeria **Department of Architecture, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nige ria ABSTRACT More and more scholars are turning to the Internet to find scientific information and academic institutions are devoting more and more resources to improving their presence on the web. E-learning programs and open access initiatives allow knowledge of these institutions to spread beyond physical boundaries. The Web can hence be used as a way to attract students, scholars and funding from other places, spreading the prestige of these educational institutions all over the world. This has provoked competition between universities to achieve an advantageous visibility on the Web and to improve their position in search engine results. This paper examines ongoing e-learning effort globally to enhance access to knowledge. In particular the role of University of Nigeria is playing in the promotion of access to knowledge is discussed. In line with their Information and Communication Technology Programme, the University has created an Internet repository of over 20,000 documents such as theses, journals articles and academic publications as well as a vibrant e-learning portal. 1. WHY THE WEB? training, educational or learning material. It can involve a greater variety of equipment than online training or More and more scholars are turning to the Internet to find education, for as the name implies, "online" involves scientific information and academic institutions are using the Internet or an Intranet. CD-ROM and DVD can devoting more and more resources to improving their be used to provide learning materials. presence on the web. The web is probably already the main showcase for universities, but in the near future the Distance education provided the base for e-learning's virtual institution might be as important and development. E-learning can be "on demand". It representative as a real one. In a world where every day overcomes timing, attendance and travel difficulties. we become more interconnected, the global visibility of An e-journey is one type of e-learning or online academia is clearly linked to their commitment to the training. Blended learning is e-learning combined with worldwide web [3] other training methods. E-learning programs and open access initiatives allow 3. FEATURES, BENEFITS AND knowledge of these institutions to spread beyond physical ADVANTAGES OF E-LEARNING boundaries. The Web can hence be used as a way to attract students, scholars and funding from other places, "Good teaching is good teaching, no matter how it's spreading the prestige of these educational institutions all done." The old adage still rings true, and e-Learning over the world. This has provoked competition between brings with it new dimensions in education. Some of the universities to achieve an advantageous visibility on the unique features of e-Learning are listed below. Web and to improve their position in search engine results. 3.1 Features of E-Learning 2. WHAT IS E-LEARNING?  Learning is self-paced and gives students a chance to speed up or slow down as necessary E-Learning is the use of technology to enable people to  Learning is self-directed, allowing students to choose learn anytime and anywhere. E-Learning can include content and tools appropriate to their differing training, the delivery of just-in-time information and interests, needs, and skill levels guidance from experts  Accommodates multiple learning styles using a E-learning involves the use of a computer or electronic variety of delivery methods geared to different device (e.g. a mobile phone) in some way to provide learners; more effective for certain learners ISSN: 2049-3444 © 2012 – IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1780 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) – Volume 2 No. 10, October, 2012  Degree, Vocational, and Certificate programs  Designed around the learner  Geographical barriers are eliminated, opening up  Continuing Education broader education options  Individual courses  24/7 accessibility makes scheduling easy and allows a greater number of people to attend classes  Wide range of prices to fit your budget  On-demand access means learning can happen  Go back to school to get a degree, learn a new skill, precisely when needed learn a new craft, or just have fun!  Travel time and associated costs (parking, fuel,  From art to zoology you can do it all online in a price vehicle maintenance) are reduced or eliminated. range to fit your budget.  Overall student costs are frequently less (tuition, Flexibility residence, food, child care)  Online learning accommodates your preferences and  Potentially lower costs for companies needing needs - it's student-centered training, and for the providers  Choose instructor-led or self-study courses  Fosters greater student interaction and collaboration  Skip over material you already know and focus on  Fosters greater student/instructor contact topics you'd like to learn  Enhances computer and Internet skills  Use the tools best suited to your learning styles  Draws upon hundreds of years of established Higher Retention pedagogical principles  Online learning will draw you to topics you like and  Has the attention of every major university in the enjoy. Studies show that because of this and the world, most with their own online degrees, variety of delivery methods used to reach different certificates, and individual courses types of learners, retention is frequently better than in a traditional classroom. 3.2 Benefits of e-Learning Greater Collaboration There are many significant benefits for the student who learns online. Some of them are listed below: Technology tools make collaboration among students much easier. Since many projects involve collaborative learning, the online environment is far easier (and often 3.2.1 Convenience and Portability more comfortable) to work in since learners don't have to  Courses are accessible on your schedule be face-to-face.  Online learning does not require physical attendance Global Opportunities  Learning is self-paced (not too slow, not too fast) The global learning community is at your fingertips with online learning. The technologies used give online  You're unbound by time - courses are available 24/7 instructional designers the ability to build in tools that take you to resources you may never see in a traditional  You're unbound by place - study at home, work, or classroom. on the road  Read materials online or download them for reading 3.3 Challenges of E-learning later 3.3.1 Disadvantages to the Trainer or 3.2.2 Cost and Selection Organization  Choose from a wide range of courses to meet your E-learning is not, however, the be all and end all to every needs training need. It does have limitations, among them: ISSN: 2049-3444 © 2012 – IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1781 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) – Volume 2 No. 10, October, 2012  Up-front investment required of an e-learning  Slow or unreliable Internet connections can be solution is larger due to development costs. Budgets frustrating and cash flows will need to be negotiated.  Managing learning software can involve a learning  Technology issues that play a factor include whether curve the existing technology infrastructure can accomplish the training goals, whether additional tech  Some courses such as traditional hands-on courses expenditures can be justified, and whether can be difficult to simulate compatibility of all software and hardware can be achieved. 4. GLOBAL EXAMPLES TOWARDS ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE  Inappropriate content for e-learning may exist according to some experts, though are limited in number. Even the acquisition of skills that involve 4.1 Google’s Book Project complex physical/motor or emotional components (for example, juggling or mediation) can be "Google's mission is to organize the world's information augmented with e-learning. and make it universally accessible and useful. Today, together with the authors, publishers, and libraries, we have been able to make a great leap in this endeavour,"  Cultural acceptance is an issue in organizations said Sergey Brin, cofounder & president of technology at where student demographics and psychographics may Google. "While this agreement is a real win-win for all of predispose them against using computers at all, let us, the real victors are all the readers. The tremendous alone for e-learning. wealth of knowledge that lies within the books of the world will now be at their fingertips." [Google, 4] 3.3.2 Disadvantages to the Learner 4.1.1 Quantity The ways in which e-learning may not excel over other training include: Right now, one can search over the full text of some seven million books through Google Books. Whenever  Technology issues of the learners are most you do a Google web search, you are also searching commonly technophobia and unavailability of Google book index; any relevant hits will appear in your required technologies. search results, and clicking on a result will take you to the relevant page in the book, where you can browse a few  Portability of training has become strength of e- more pages and learn where to borrow or buy it. learning with the proliferation of network linking points, notebook computers, PDAs, and mobile 4.1.2 Sources phones, but still does not rival that of printed workbooks or reference material. The books in Google Books come from two sources.  Reduced social and cultural interaction can be a i. The Library Project drawback. The impersonality, suppression of Google has partnered with renowned libraries around the communication mechanisms such as body language, world to include their collections in Book Search. For and elimination of peer-to-peer learning that are part Library Project books that are still in copyright, the results of this potential disadvantage are lessening with are like a card catalogue; it shows information about the advances in communications technologies. book and, generally, a few snippets of text showing ones search term in context. For Library Project books that are 3.3.3 Disadvantages of e-Learning out of copyright, however, can be read and the entire book downloaded.  Unmotivated learners or those with poor study habits may fall behind ii. The Partner Program  Lack of familiar structure and routine may take Google has also partnered with over 20,000 publishers getting used to and authors to make their books discoverable on Google. One can flip through a few preview pages of these books,  Students may feel isolated or miss social interaction just like one could browse them at a bookstore or library. One will also see links to libraries and bookstores where  Instructor may not always be available on demand you can borrow or buy the book. ISSN: 2049-3444 © 2012 – IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1782 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) – Volume 2 No. 10, October, 2012 4.1.3 Future Offering a. In-copyright and in-print books i. Out of print books In-print books are books that publishers are still actively selling, the ones you see at most bookstores. This Out-of-print books will be available for preview, reading agreement expands the online marketplace for in-print and purchase in the U.S.; thus helping to ensure the books by letting authors and publishers turn on the ongoing accessibility of out-of-print books. "preview" and "purchase" models that make their titles more easily available through Book Search. ii. Accessing books The project will create new options for reading entire b. In-copyright but out-of-print books books by the following routes: Out-of-print books aren’t actively being published or sold, a. Online access so the only way to procure one is to track it down in a library or used bookstore. Every out-of-print book that One will be able to purchase full online access to millions Google digitizes will become available online for preview of books. This means that one can read an entire book and purchase, unless its author or publisher chooses to from any Internet-connected computer, simply by logging "turn off" that title. in to your Book Search account, and it will remain on your electronic bookshelf, so you can come back and c. Out-of-copyright books access it whenever you want in the future. Google Books will display out-of-copyright books and b. Library and university access will continue to allow Book Search users to read, download and print these titles, just as we do today. Libraries, universities and other organizations will have the ability to purchase institutional subscriptions, which will give users access to the complete text of millions of 4.2 The University of Nigeria Effort on titles while compensating authors and publishers for the Achieving Access to Knowledge service. Students and researchers will have access to an electronic library that combines the collections from many The University of Nigeria ICT Strategy Programme has of the top universities across the country. Public and the following Objectives: university libraries in the U.S. will also be able to offer terminals where readers can access the full text of  The provision of ICT infrastructure, including millions of out-of-print books for free. support and standards by raising the quantity of Internet Bandwidth to a level that makes the use of c. Buying or borrowing actual books Internet for research and communication comparable to what obtains in some of the best universities in the If the book one wants is available in a bookstore or nearby world. library, one will continue to be pointed to those resources.  The delivery of high quality and cost effective ICT iii. International users services and training by making Internet accessible from the staff research desks, student workplaces and Google Book project directly affects only those users who laboratories in the shortest possible time access Book Search in the U.S.; anywhere else, the Book Search experience will not change. Going forward,  The fostering of innovation, best practice, and value Google hopes to work with international industry groups for money in the use of ICT in teaching, learning and and individual rights holders to expand the benefits of this research across the University. agreement to users around the world.  By this programme the University of Nigeria is iv. Types of books starting to play her part in the promotion of access to knowledge. The University has an Internet repository There are three categories of books on Google Books. of over 20,000 publications such as Theses, University journals, and useful publications. ISSN: 2049-3444 © 2012 – IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1783 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) – Volume 2 No. 10, October, 2012 Fig 1: The University of Nigeria Document Repository http://repository.unn.edu.ng They are as follows: Category Number of Documents Arts 1,208 Agriculture 1,669 Biological Sciences 941 Business Administration 2,236 Dentistry 0 Education 4,877 Engineering 755 Environmental Studies 555 Health Sciences and Technology 261 Law 19 Medicine 1,542 Pharmaceutical Sciences 733 Physical Sciences 759 Social Sciences 3,024 Veterinary Medicine 428 Inaugural Lectures 33 Others 1,057 TOTAL 20,097 ISSN: 2049-3444 © 2012 – IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1784 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) – Volume 2 No. 10, October, 2012 The University has an e-learning Portal for her students Distance Learning programme and some continuing and soon will be providing access to the proposed Education Programmes for the public. http://learn.unn.edu.ng Fig 2: The University of Nigeria e-Learning Portal Presently, the university e-learning portal, as at Tuesday, of access to knowledge in Nigeria. The University has an 22 June 2010, has the following statistics: Internet repository of over 20,000 publications such as theses, journals articles and academic publications as well Areas Quantity as a vibrant e-learning portal. Courses: 207 Users: 3861 REFERENCES Role assignments: 2034 [1] University of Nigeria Repository: Teachers: 109 <http://repository.unn.edu.ng>, accessed June 23, Posts: 529 2010 Questions: 1123 Resources: 302 [2] University of Nigeria e-Learning Portal: <http://learn.unn.edu.ng>, accessed June 22, 2010 5. CONCLUSION [3] Ortega, J. L. & Aguillo, Mapping world-class There is quite considerable effort being made by various universities on the web, Information Processing and organisations and universities to promote free access to Management, Elsevier, 45 (2009) 272–279. knowledge. The effort by Google Inc through their Book project, the controversies notwithstanding, is of note. The [4] Google: http://books.google.com/...../agreement/ >, University of Nigeria is playing her role in the promotion accessed June 22, 2010. ISSN: 2049-3444 © 2012 – IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1785