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

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 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

• Questions & Suggestions

THANK YOU