CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

Nowadays, mobile devices have become a way of life for students especially in higher institution. Computers are now replaced by compact smart phones that can be fit into pocket and can be carried anywhere. The rapid progress in mobile technology has created a new area which is known as mobile learning. Mobile learning is the next generation of e-learning that leads attractive way of knowledge delivery especially used in teaching and learning process. With the advance in time and technology there is a need for faster dissemination of information.The increasing advantages of automated system now are at highest position thus many manual processes are automated. Since the automated system is demanded now-a-days, educational infrastructures like colleges needed their manual system to function on mobile computing systems. Changes in Information Technology (IT) allow institutes to utilize databases and applications such as mobile based student handbook system thus; making the accessing of records centralized (Rakhi, 2015).

It is highly possible to adapt mobile computing in various applications. The portability, open source nature of smart phones and android development platform has made the development of application software for various environments as handy. Smartphone applications are resulted in paper less work, easy to use and time saving in nature. The wireless communication technology of smart phone enables the information transfer from the current client to remote database server, where ever the network range is available (Shibata, 2005).

The advent of mobile learning in education has greatly influenced the manner in which information is disseminated in schools. Up till now, most of the applications developed for teaching in schools are restricted to computers and better part of these are contained on desktop computers. As mobile devices become more and more important to our daily lives so has the need to develop applications that can reinforce teaching and learning on mobile platforms. Since education and process of learning are not confined to only classrooms, it becomes so important to take advantage of the boom in the ownership of mobile devices to develop applications that can be incorporated into education administration in such a way that learning can be improved. With this kind of application, students can learn at their own convenient time (Oriyomi, 2014).

The student handbook could be one of such applications; it gives useful information about the institution. It covers the grading system, rules and regulations, enrolment requirements and other facts relevant to the institution. The distribution of the student handbook is given to every newly enrolled student to keep them aware and understand policies, rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of the Institution. Today’s society characterized as the electronic era where almost everything is in digital format is the right time to address the concern of automating student handbook. The rise of mobile application will not just answer the problems encountered in the printed handbook system setting but will help the environment as well. The development of technology applications that previously runs only in desktop computing can now be applied in mobile through applications compatible in mobile devices such as laptop, digital tablet with Wi-Fi capabilities or even the use of smart phones that can connect to the internet (Lausa, 2018).

1.2   Statement of the Problem

The high cost of printing or reprinting the student handbook anytime there is change or update to its content is a major problem that is affecting the manual method of this system, with trees being cut down to produce paper which also is contributing to the problem in our climate.it was also noted that the hard copy handbook is somewhat boring and not interactive thus student tend to pay little to no attention to its content.

1.3   Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this research work is to design and implement a mobile-based student handbook application.

The specific objective includes:

1. To review related literatures pointing to mobile-based student handbook application.
2. Design and implement an android-based student handbook that is responsive and adaptive to the screen resolution of the mobile device.
3. Design and implement an android-based student handbook that is formatted in a manner that student will find interesting to make use.
4. Design and implement an android-based student handbook application that runs on any android devices
5. Know about mobile development, its tools and requirements to make an application in android. From basic functionality and activity.
6. Design the functions and features of the mobile app using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to specify, build, document, and model the application, and the use case to describe the application how it is used.
7. Develop a mobile application using Android Studio an IDE beta for android app development

1.4   Significance of the Study

This study will be useful to newly enrolled students to give them information and knowledge about the Institution as many of them will be making use of smartphones/tablets. Researchers and academicians will benefit immensely from this study. Also, the old students, parents/Guardians and staffs of this institution will equally benefit from the study.

1.5   Scope of the Study

This research work covers the design and implementation of a mobile based electronic student handbook with special focus to the Computer Science Department, Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental studies (NAITES).

1.6   Limitation of the Study

The researcher faced some limitations during the course of this research. Some of this limitations/constraint includes;

i. Time constraint: Time factor was the major factors as the timeframe to submit the project was too short for a rigorous research.

ii. Financial constraint:  Lack of adequate finance to fund the researcher as to the purchase of data to review related works online was another major setback.

1.7   Definition of Terms

1. Android: Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google. It is used by several smartphones and tablets. Examples include the Sony Xperia, Techno, the Samsung Galaxy, and the Google Nexus One.
2. Android SDK: The Android SDK (software development kit) is a set of development tools used to develop applications for Android platform.
3. Debugger: A debugger is a computer program used by programmers to test and debug a target program. Debuggers may use instruction-set simulators, rather than running a program directly on the processor to achieve a higher level of control over its execution.
4. Electronic: (of a device) having or operating with components such as microchips and transistors that control and direct electric currents.
5. Handbook: a book giving information such as facts on a particular subject or instructions for operating a machine.
6. Institution: an organization founded for a religious, educational, professional, or social purpose.
7. iOS: iOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple. It was originally named the iPhone OS, but was renamed to the iOS in June, 2009.
8. Java: Java is a programming language that produces software for multiple platforms.
9. Mobile App: A mobile app or mobile application is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone/tablet or watch.
10. Offline: not controlled by or directly connected to a computer or the Internet.
11. Student: a person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education.
12. System: a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a complex whole.