E-Learning: A way to improve Education in Nigeria

Borderless classrooms, one teacher 2 million students who are giving equal and adequate learning attention and able to participate without restriction with limitless learning resources all at minimal cost-If you are willing to spend at least $100 an equivalent of N15,000-depending on the exchange rate then you can be equipped with a valuable skill or improve on your work performance skill.

Traditional classrooms in Nigeria fits this scenario, a teacher in front of the class quoting Faraday's law, explaining cell theory, comparing demand curve or sitting down at a conspicuous area in the class preparing lesson plan with 3 to 4 piles of 40 exercise books to go through and about 40 interested, inspired or confused students attempting to contribute to class activities or trying to make sense in what others are saying.

Noticeably, it is really not a normal practice to find a classroom equipped with a library where students can go find out more about topics they been taught, however Nigeria school are gradually embracing the “computer phenomena”.

They are installing between 5-20 computers in one of their finest rooms as part of school furnishing; one thing school administrators have failed to do is to adequately use the resources, exploit the functionality or adapt the endless possibilities that the installed computers can bring if skillfully deployed.

E-learning is a technology driven learning. It means focusing on how technology can be the means to learning-ends across the curriculum. E-learning cuts across the following:

• Presentation, demonstration, and the manipulation of data using technology tools
• Use of curriculum-specific applications types such as educational games, drill and practice, simulations, tutorials, virtual laboratories, visualizations and graphical representations of abstract concepts, musical composition, and expert systems
• Use of information and resources on CD-ROM or online such as encyclopedia, interactive maps and atlases, electronic journals and other references.

Before E-learning can be employed, students must first understand the technology before they can essentially use them to learn. A school equipped with a computer and is able to entirely make use can deploy it in the following areas:

1. School Administration: Managing personnel information in school. E-learning is a big part of the working and training practices of staff in Personal department of a school; a virtual classroom is currently used in the financial arm of schools. This can significantly enhance staff skills. Database management system can be applied and manage school records including: enrollment-students that left, student absent-present, academic assessment records, fees, teachers records, etc.
2. School Accounting: Several computer based accounting packages are available that can be used to keep the book of the school conveniently; salary of teachers, school fee record, and other levies. This technology tool is very accurate, easy to implement and requires little advance training to utilize.
3. School-Classroom learning: Computer based training solution offers substantial advantages over classroom-based training. A computer based training solution can cost significantly less per student-hour than classroom training. E-learning training class gives students opportunity to interact with their peers and ask questions in a live environment. In Nigeria, E-learning can reduce the cost of teaching by reducing the amount of resources needed to procure resources like books and periodicals. It can also improve the learning experience of students by utilizing both video and 3-D simulation tools to explain some scientific theory.
4. School Adverts: Schools that want to take their service online can easily do it using ICT, for example they can host a site for their school where they can post information about the school for potential parents to read, get interested and enroll their children. They can also extent the classroom online by offering online course where students can enroll and get important skills.
5. School Research: Teachers needing to do research could use the online resources available. A Nigerian Teachers who want to take his/her information technology career or teaching skills to novel heights can do it by taking advantage of multiple learning prospects available with ICT.

E-Learning approaches allow us much more flexibility which means we are no longer restricted by time or place in the pursuit of developing our talent for now and for next generation of professional. The wide-spread accessibility of the internet is an excellent learning resource, which Nigerian schools can acquire for the benefit of its students. The cost of if efficient planned can in fact be very affordable. This technology driven classroom facilitates a more effective teaching methodology.