DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTELLIGENT WEB BASED SYSTEM FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING

1.1 Introduction

Collaborative learning is the recursive process where two or more students work together in an intersection of common academic goals. Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) is an emerging branch of the learning sciences concerned with studying how people can learn together with the help of computers. As we will see later on, such a simple statement conceals considerable complexity. The interplay of learning with technology turns out to be quite intricate. The inclusion of collaboration, computer mediation and distance education has problematized the very notion of learning and called into question prevailing assumptions about how to study it. As the study of particular forms of learning, CSCL is intimately concerned with education. It considers all levels of formal education from kindergarten through graduate study as well as informal education, such as museums.

Computers have become important in this, with school districts and politicians around the world setting goals of increasing student access to computers and the Internet. The idea of encouraging students to learn together in small groups has also become increasingly emphasized in the broader learning sciences. However, the ability to combine these two ideas (computer support and collaborative learning, or technology and education) to effectively enhance learning remains a challenge (a challenge that CSCL is designed to address).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Over the years collaborative learning framework carries education nearer to the individuals and evacuates the pressure and imperatives, which characterize the conventional classroom learning system. The hallmarks of Electronic Learning are the separation of teacher 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 teacher, 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 Intelligent Web Based System for Collaborative Learnings exist; namely On-line and Off-line Electronic Learning. On-line Electronic 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 Electronic 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 teacher 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.

In this system, the lecturing/ listening/note-taking process may not disappear entirely, but it lives alongside other processes that are based in students’ discussion and active work with the course material. Teachers who use collaborative learning approaches tend to think of themselves less as expert transmitters of knowledge to students, and more as expert designers of intellectual experiences for students-as coaches or mid-wives of a more emergent learning process.

The challenges encountered that led to the execution of the research work is that in the existing system students does not have the ability in distant locations to participate in learning and there is limited access to learning materials among Tertiary Institution Students. It is against the background that the developments of this software will provide the following solutions;

1. Secure and customizable training and learning system
2. Skills management and certification via easy web platform
3. Blended, collaborative learning and training through communities, white boards & interactive tools
4. Best-in-class interface using simple, easy to use system
5. Personalized training and learning management tools
6. Easy knowledge management, assessments, and tracking
7. Simple User management and access rules
8. Referral of Students
9. Chatting between Lecturers-Students and Students- Students
10. Repository of Course Materials via e-portfolio

1.3 Statement of the Problem

Investigation revealed the existing Intelligent Web Based System for Collaborative Learning which are stated as follows:

1. Absence of a collaborative e-learning system.
2. Learning is restricted to a specific time.
3. Inability for students in distant locations to participate in learning.
4. Limited access to learning materials.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to design and implement an Intelligent Web Based System for Collaborative Learning. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to design an application that will:

1. Assist users in several subject trainings over a long period of time with a very efficient way of monitoring progress;
2. Grant users the system access to large repository of course materials from any location;
3. Support users in learning throughout the day (24/7) without time limit to when learning can occur; and
4. Enable students participate in the activities anywhere thereby making assignments allocation more comfortable.

1.5 Significance of Study

Collaborative Learning can provide benefits for the organizations and individuals involved. The research work is significant in the following ways:

1. It will provide an electronic learning system for collaborative learning.
2. It will eliminate the barrier of distance in learning.
3. It will allow for 24 hours access to learning.
4. It will facilitate easy assessment of students
5. It will bring about easy communication between students and lecturers.

This study will be of immense benefit to researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.6 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Design and Implementation of an Intelligent Web Based System for Collaborative Learning using University of Calabar (UNICAL) as a case study

The research work is designed to cover the following areas:

1. Discussion Boards
2. Repository of materials (e-portfolio)
3. Chat applications
4. List of courses and lectures-in-charge
5. Submission of Assignments and Feedbacks

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. 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.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. 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

Collaboration: Collaboration is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together in an intersection of common goals – for example, an intellectual endeavor that is creative in nature–by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus,

Social Networking: A social network is a social structure made of individuals (or organizations) called “nodes,” which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.

Wikis: A wiki is a document which can be worked on by a number of users, and which tracks and records all changes madeBlogs:A blog, a contraction of the word weblog, is a type of website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order.

A typical blog can combine text, images and hypertext links to other blogs, web pages or other online resources. Furthermore, the reader can be given the ability to leave comments against a particular blog entry or topic.

Discussion Boards: A discussion board is an asynchronous communication tool that allows one individual to post a comment or question online.

Other individuals who are members of the same discussion board may read that comment/question, and respond with their own remarks over time.

E-portfolio: An electronic portfolio, also known as an e-portfolio or digital portfolio, is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on the Web. Such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and hyperlinks.

1.9 Organization of Research

This research work is organized into five chapters.

Chapter one is concerned with the introduction of the research study and it presents the preliminaries, theoretical background, statement of the problem, aim and objectives of the study, significance of the study, scope of the study, organization of the research and definition of terms.

Chapter two focuses on the literature review, the contributions of other scholars on the subject matter is discussed.

Chapter three is concerned with the system analysis and design. It presents the research methodology used in the development of the system, it analyzes the present system to identify the problems and provides information on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed system. The system design is also presented in this chapter.

Chapter four presents the system implementation and documentation, the choice of programming language, analysis of modules, choice of programming language and system requirements for implementation.

Chapter five focuses on the summary, constraints of the study, conclusion and recommendations are provided in this chapter based on the study carried out.