DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ONLINE MULTI MEDIA-BASED ELECTRONIC-LEARNING SYSTEM FOR POST PRIMARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Due to the rapid technological growth and changes that occurred in recent years, electronic learning and training facilities are now gaining grounds, not merely supportive to the traditional classroom system, but as an accepted system implemented by powerful institutions that offer global services. It is discovered that people, especially Africans prefer watching and listening to trainings than reading. (Tunner et al,2008).
E-learning is the use of electronic media and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education. Universities are forced to respond to the emerging developments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The Internet is fast becoming an everyday tool for life activities. The use of internet for teaching and learning is becoming a normal extension. Students also have high expectations about the use of ICT in their education. The shift in learner expectations, changing demographics of learners, and the rapid development of subject knowledge forms challenges to universities.
E-learning is an inclusive term that describes educational technology that electronically or technologically supports learning and teaching. Bernard Luskin, a pioneer of e-learning, advocates that the “e” should be interpreted to mean “exciting, energetic, enthusiastic, emotional, extended, excellent, and educational” in addition to “electronic.” This broad interpretation focuses on new applications and developments, and also brings learning and media psychology into consideration. Parks suggested that the “e” should refer to “everything, everyone, engaging, easy”.
E-learning encompasses multimedia learning (MML), technology-enhanced learning (TEL), computer-based training (CBT), computer-assisted instruction (CAI), internet-based training (IBT), web-based training (WBT), online education, virtual education, virtual learning environments (VLE) which are also called learning platforms, m-learning, digital educational collaboration, distributed learning, computer-mediated communication, cyber-learning, and multi-modal instruction. Developments in internet and multimedia technologies are the basic enabler of e-learning, with consulting, content, technologies, services and support being identified as the five key sectors of the e-learning industry. E-learning mainly takes the form of online courses, where the dominant learning technology employed today is a type of system that organizes and delivers these courses. E-learning includes numerous types of media that deliver text, audio, images, animation, and streaming video, and includes technology applications and processes such as audio or video tape, satellite TV, CD-ROM, and computer-based learning, as well as local intranet/extranet and web-based learning. Information and communication systems, whether free-standing or based on either local networks or the Internet in networked learning, underlay many e-learning processes.