ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. Background of the Study

The recent developments in the information and communication technology integrated into the higher education institutions as many institutions are using lecture course allocation through software. The educational institutions are using these software’s to provide effective and hinder free education to the students with the reduction in the administrative staff work. The lecture course allocation system reduces clashes during the preparation of schedule for lecture. The complexities are available in the development of allocation of the lecture course due to various constraints. In case of lecture course allocation the students may have the clashes with other subjects in terms of time and seating capacity. The manual allocation methods used by universities are simple but they do not facilitate the students and lecturer in terms of their choice. The improper allocation will result less motivation to the students for learning the courses (Fujimoto et al., 2016).

The manual allocation technique used by institutions across the nation, which is often lengthy and adds to academy process delays, is causing a constraint on the course allocations for the lecturers. It has an impact on the lecturer's area of competence, on which they focused their major studies. Every lecturer has their preferred course that they will teach for the students enrolled in that course during the current semester. Due to the manual arrangement of courses, several professors also conduct their research during their working hours. Additionally, some lecturers in higher positions are given more courses to teach. Additionally, they ought to receive less lectures in their courses. Due to the fact that this problem exists in universities (Faizul et al., 2013).

The university academic programs have core and elective subjects. The core subjects are mandatory to be taken by students and elective subjects are taken to meet required credits for completion of program. The both core and elective subjects are important in the university. Commonly the lecture allocation procedure in the universities is having constraints like number of resources, number of class rooms, number of students and etc. The university administrations make specific rules based on the constraints for the lecturer (Franz et al. 2013).

To make it easier for lecturers to handle the courses they are assigned, an online course administration system is being proposed. Many problems have arisen as a result of the manual allocation process, which is done by the lecturer in charge of course allocation using paper and a pen. Each professor has a preferred course in which the subject matter most closely relates to their area of expertise. The professor is the primary mentor for students in the courses they are enrolling in for the semester. It doesn't imply that all lecturers can just instruct a small number of courses in line with their areas of competence for the benefit of the students; rather, they can also instruct all courses regardless of whether they fall inside those areas (Latinopoulos, 2014).

1. 2. Statement of the Problem

Course allocation system for lecturer is proposed to provide ease handling on course given for lecturers in the department of computer science, Nigeria Army College of Environmental Science and Technology (NACEST). A lot of issue has been developed due to the current allocation method which has been done manually. The current allocation is being done manually which cause inaccuracy on the number of courses given to a lecturer. Other than that, lecturers could not get the preferred course according to their expertise and also the courses are difficult to manage according to the changes.

Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this research work is to design and implement an automated course allocation system for lecturers that will serve as an aid in solving the statement of the problem.

The objectives include the following;

1. Allow the easy allocation of courses to lecturers.
2. To design a system that will handle the course allocation for lecturers on their preferred course according to their expertise.
3. To develop a software that will provide access for the lecturers to view on the courses assigned.
4. To create a system for the administrators to access or log in and make changes on the courses
5. Enable a proper management of course allocations.
6. Enable a quick and easy search of courses with the corresponding lecturers.

1.4     Significance of the Study

The proposed system would be significant to the Nigeria Army College of Environmental Science and Technology (NACEST), department of computer Science in easing the burden of allocating courses to lecturers and this research would also contribute to the already existing body of research in the academic knowledge space.

1.5     Scope of the Study

This research work covers an online course allocation system for lecturers that will aid in allocating courses to lecturers in the Nigeria Army College of Environmental Science and Technology (NACEST), department of computer science.

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 were also the major factors as the timeframe to submit the project was too short for an extensive research.

ii.       Financial constraint:  Lack of adequate finance to fund the researcher as to visit many places was another major setback.

1.7     Definition of Terms

1. Automation: Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes. Human intervention is reduced by predetermining decision criteria, sub process relationships, and related actions and embodying those predeterminations in machines.
2. Computer Maintenance: Computer maintenance is the practice of keeping computers in a good state of repair. A computer containing accumulated dust and debris may not run properly.
3. Course: In higher education a course is a unit of teaching that typically lasts one academic term, is led by one or more instructors (teachers or professors), and has a fixed roster of students. A course usually covers an individual subject.
4. Electronic: This is a device having or operating with components such as microchips and transistors that control and directs electronic currents.
5. Lecture: To deliver an educational lecture or lectures.
6. Lecturer: a person who gives lectures, especially as an occupation at a university or college of higher education.
7. Maintenance: The technical meaning of maintenance involves functional checks, servicing, repairing or replacing of necessary devices, equipment, and machinery, building infrastructure, and supporting utilities in industrial, business, and residential installations.
8. Online: while connected to a computer or under computer control.
9. Software:   It is a program and other operating information use by a computer system.
10. System: A system is a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole. A system, surrounded and influenced by its environment, is described by its boundaries, structure and purpose and expressed in its functioning. Systems are the subjects of study of systems theory.
11. Technology: This is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.
12. Upload: This is simply a process of transferring data or files from peripheral or subordinate system to a larger or more central one, especially from a personal computer to an internet server.
13. Word Processing: This is the production, storage, and manipulation of text on a computer or word processor.