ABSTRACT
This project work developed computer based application that aids learning of computer hardware instruction and hardware troubleshooting in an interactive model. The project solved problems associated with the teaching profession. It mainly serves as the teachers’ assistant helping to carry out various routine as well as interactive troubleshooting suggestions/solutions: embarked upon by teachers, Attempt was made to stimulate the task of teaching with a view to employing and implementing instructive graphics and audio system, in order to make learning more efficiently by the use of Computer Aided Learning (CAL). Data collected in the course of this research was through review of some existing literatures, internet survey and personal observation. The application was developed with Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 integrated with Microsoft Access 2003 for database (backend) management and the tutorial text is displayed in Rich Text Format (RTF) supported by Word 2003. The selection of the supporting application versions were due to ease of integration and general compatibility issues.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page …………………………………………………………………i
Certification ………………………………………………………………ii
Acknowledgement………………………………………………………..iii
Abstract …………………………………………………………………..iv
Table of content…………………………………………………………..v
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION…………………………………..1
- Background of the study………………………….………………….1
- Statement of the problem…………………………………………….3
- Objectives/Purpose of the study……………………………………..3
- Methodology………………………………………………………….4
- Significance of the study………………………………………………4
- Scope and limitation of the study……………..………………………5
- Project layout……………………………………………………….5
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE………………………5
- Background knowledge ………………………………………………6
- Computer Aided Learning/Instruction……………………………….7
- Computer Aided Individual Learning ……………………………….7
- Computer Aided group Learning …………………………………….8
- Types of Computer Aided Learning Program………………………..8
- Artificial intelligence………………………………………………10
- Problems of artificial intelligence………………………………….11
CHAPTER THREE: SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN…………14
- Description of The Existing System………………………………15
- Analysis of Input………………………………………………….16
- Analysis of Processing Procedure…………………………………17
- Analysis of Output………………………………………………….17
CHAPTER FOUR: SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION…………………18
- Description of the Proposed System………………………………..19
- The System Model (Structure Chart) of the System………………..20
- Database Model of the Model……………………………………….21
- Data Flow Diagram (DFD) of the System…………………………..23
- Programming Model (Flowchart/Pseudo code) of the System………24
- Program Specification……………………………………………….26
- Program Testing and Results………………………………………..30
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION………31
- Strengths of New System……………………………………….….31
- Hardware and Software Requirement………………………………34
- Required Changeover Procedure…………………………………….35
References…………………………………………………………..36
Appendix A…………………………………………………………37
Appendix B…………………………………………………………………………….58
Appendix C…………………………………………………………………………….62
Appendix D…………………………………………………………………………….62
Appendix E…………………………………………………………………………….63
List of Tables
TABLE 4.1: Images Table……………………………………………..….23
TABLE 4.2: User Table………………………….…….………………….28
List of Figures
Figure 4.1: User Login Window…………………………………………………16
Figure 4.2: The Application Main Window………………………………….16
Figure 4.3: The Hardware Image…………………………………………17
Figure 4.4: The Pc-Architecture Topic Contents Accessed…………….18
Figure 4.5: Database Instances……………………………………………30
Figure 4.6 Database Instance Form………………………………………..30
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
When computer were first invented, they were very few, slow, large sizes and high costs prevented their widespread use. Subsequent development of the machine was focused on the more profitable markets economy industry, diffusion of information, development of new forms of culture and consumerists. Most of this application was not educational. However, with the increase in size of student and teachers coupled with large scope of the activities that goes on in the school system, computer are being used in many aspect as computer aided instruction where system would be used as an artificial intelligence that carries out some kind of intelligence (i.e intelligence sense) that teaches a kind of instruction. (Joseph, 1992)
One of the major application of computers in education has been for test scoring whereby standard sheets are used, fed through reading devices attached to computers and is graded together into massive information files so that results can be compared. Apart from this computers are used in school administration for automating grade reporting, school registration and class scheduling.(Bader, 2008) They are also used to transcribe and store the contents of the books in library in tapes and other media. Other administrative applications include the preparation of payroll of employees in the educational system, solving numeric problems and analyzing results. All those application are important to the educational system but are not part of the educational instructional process. Consequently, the advent of cheap and powerful micro-computers has made the computers full potentials in education to be realized and put in harness usage bringing the era of the electronic class room one step nearer. This results in fundamental change in the use of computers. (Alison, 1990) In schools, college and universities, teachers of all subjects are using micros in novel and in imaginative ways to enhance their teaching; commercial word processing packages can be used to produce worksheets and reports, help students with spellings and in many by others ways far removed from the original function as a typing aid. Spread sheets bring alive the concept of statistics allowing students to work with realistic data for geography, history, economics and many other subjects. (Ruth, 1992) This effects has been felt across the curriculum computer aided instruction are very good software’s for illustrative software concept as aids to better understanding for student. The fundamental aim of computer aided instruction (CAI) is to communicate with the student. The most important design feature is the use of interface. For the purpose of this research project, I formally based on the most commonly used intelligent system, which is intelligent computer aided instruction (ICAI) otherwise known as computer aided instruction (CAI). (Leffler, 1989)
In a simple system, this involves screen design the use of the keyboard and control the student has over the behavior of the software. CAI has a number of advantages. It does not only provide for suitable evaluation of the course from the point of view of the teachers but more importantly, it can also give student a continuous opportunity for self-evaluation and for remedial teaching adopted to the student’s own needs CAI means. Learning with computer and this impact is largely restricted to the students, the teachers and department. It involves a one to one student computer interaction. It is a better and cheap way of learning.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The use of Computer Aided Learning (CAL), however, can make a different in the sense that learning occurs when student are highly motivated to participate in activities that promote learning. CAL can be capable of improving any prevalent students’ weakness in learning how to configure and computer hardware. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the potential of the Computer Aided Learning in hardware instructions would identify pre-service teachers who were lacking minimum computer hardware competency and effectively correct their differences. Three problems exist that will tend to frustrate an attempts of the Researchers to study the effectiveness of CAL. These problems are:
(i) First, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find parents who will agree to have their child serve as a member of a control group while his peers are recovering CAL.
(ii) The second problems involve the collection of data during a time when thousands of micro-computers are being used as separate entities.
(iii) The third problems involve the difficulty of obtaining homogeneity in software used during a time when thousands of different CAL programs are being used.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
This project implements an interactive software for computer-aided instruction to help the open minded student to judge the potential of computer assisted learning while providing the already convinced with practical help and simple exercise. The project is aimed at solving various problems associated with the task of teaching in order to attain learning efficiency and accurate clarity on the Computer Architecture, hardware instruction and simple interactive troubleshooting. It mainly serves as teacher’s assistant helping in carrying out various routines embarked upon by teachers when discharging their duties. The objectives are:-
- To implement a method for achieving learning efficiency in the shortest time.
- To ease lecturers of the problem of having to come to class to dictate their lecture notes/write on chalkboards.
- To discover how efficiency could be achieved by the lecturers and the students in the course of learning through the use of computer simulation.
- To enable students revise lectures and lesson notes at their convenience.
- To provide a consistency of teaching using variety of presentations and to provide correct answers to question.
- To develop and empower teachers so as to enable them to enhance learning of students and create learner-centric classroom processes.
- To develop and empower teachers so as to enable them to enhance learning of students and create learner-centric classroom processes through the use of technology.
1.4 Methodology
Gathering information about the tutorial software is through the reading of textbooks, surfing the internet and observation, which gave a broad knowledge on the project.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The significance of the study is to see the viability of using the computer to automate educational practices. To see how the computer can be used to achieve a better result. It is also designed to help and bringing a good report between students and their teachers.
1.6 Scope and Limitations of This Study
As covered in Michael Carbo’s Book on Computer Hardware Architecture, The application does not produce audio or animated video presentation of its tutorial contents. It make use text-based and still-images used together to accomplish it task. However, the software does not cover the entire curriculum of hardware architecture as taught across higher institution in Nigeria. It is limited to basic computer hardware architecture. (Michael, 1996)
1.7 Project Layout
This study consists of five chapters. These chapters are made up of the following;
Chapter one of this project deals with the introduction to the general work in the project. It also entails the statement of the problem, aims and objectives of this project, the significance of the study, the scope and limitation of the study and organization of the report.
Chapter two deals with the review related journals and books. It covers overview of computer aided learning, types of computer aided learning program, benefits of computer aided learning, artificial intelligence and problems of artificial intelligence.
Chapter three covers the methods used for data collection, description of the current procedure, problems of existing system, description of the proposed system and the basic advantages of the proposed web based application.
Chapter four entails design, implementation and documentation of the system. The design involves the system design, output design form, input design form, database structure and the procedure of the system. The implementation involves the implementation techniques used in details, choice of programming language used and the hardware and software support. The documentation of the system involves the operation of the system and the maintenance of the system.
Chapter five deals with the summary, experience gained, conclusion, recommendation and references.
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