Implementation of e-Learning in
Tertiary Institutions in Ghana:
A Case Study of KNUST
MIT LINC CONFERENCE
MAY 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 elearning 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
Types of e-Learning
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
Choice of e-Learning system recommended
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 eLearning
• A must for the successful implementation of elearning 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 eLearning system
– Low motivation for lecturers to blend e-learning
into face to face lectures
– High cost of accessing e-learning by nonresidential 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 nonresidential 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 eLearning
Conclusion & Recommendation
• Recommendation
– Wireless facilities should be extended to NonResidential 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 platform
http://web.knust.edu.gh/elearning/
• Other Digital Systems in KNUST
– OER in collaboration with University of
Michigan and KNUST School of Medical
Sciences
http://oer.knust.edu.gh,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1HQOtiotXY
– KNUST Dspace Repository
http://dspace.knust.edu.gh
• Questions & Suggestions
THANK YOU