Efforts to provide tertiary education for the teeming population of prospective students who could not access the conventional system in Nigeria are being made by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and already producing results. Current undergraduate enrolment is 51,911, while some 4,308 students graduated in 2014. NOUN offers Science, Technology and Science Education programmes since scientific literacy is becoming a requisite capability for individuals’ efficient living and is recognised as the bedrock for technological advancement of nations. To provide quality science programmes, the university entered into Memoranda of Understanding some conventional universities across Nigeria for her students’ science laboratory experience. Challenges encountered by the universities in this arrangement include; inadequacy of equipment, facilities, reagents, industrial actions and staffing issues. NOUN’s therefore, has designed a multimedia approach such as intelligent pedagogical agents, (IPA)s useful embodied agents in virtual learning environments to support active learning, improve intelligence and collaborative activities in science experiments. This study, attempted a situation analysis of NOUN’s readiness for the incorporation of IPAs into its LMS (i-Learn) platform and stages required for achieving such integration with respect to student engagement in science laboratory experiments in their different locations. The qualitative research methods of document analysis, observation, focus group discussions and interviews were adopted. Instruments were Observation Schedule, Focus Group Discussion Guide and Key Informant Interviews. Data collected were analysed using a thematic approach, logical and discourse analyses. NOUN i-Learn platform was found to have the capacity to accommodate the IPAs. The processes for instructional design, multi-media content production and online interaction system towards effective integration of IPAs into the existing platform are achievable and the resources are available. NOUN and other ODL institutions can explore the use of IPAs for exposing their students to science laboratory activities.
Title of Article
Integrating Intelligent Pedagogical Agents into Learning Management Systems for Student Exposure to Science Experiments in the National Open University of Nigeria
Research Method
Thematic Area
Author(s)
Ogunleye, Bamikole; Apata, Funke
Abstract
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Type of Document