Background to the Study

Education is a large social service enterprise made up of pre-primary, primary, secondary (including vocational-technical) and tertiary educational level. It also embraces the adult and non-formal including the open and distance, special and early childhood education. The dynamics of social change and the demand on education had always been the reason for the various editions of the National policy in Nigerian education. The policy was necessitated by some policy innovations and changers, one of which was the introduction of Electronic learning (e-learning) into the Correspondence and Open University or National Open University of Nigeria education system (Akube, 2011).

E-learning refers to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance and/or support learning in tertiary education. E-learning is basically the network- enabled convey of skills and knowledge. E-learning refers to using electronic applications and processes to learn. E-learning denotes the use of ICT by teachers and learners. Schmidt 2005 holds that e-learning consists of conventional training, such as courses, ad-hoc training, selected learning objects, formalization through document collections and community formation which can be achieved via social software.

According to case studies, there are already a number of e-learning programs offered in developing countries (Kohn, 2008). These programs are developed by various national and international initiatives, for example, the group learning sets initiated by Computer Aid International in collaboration with Kenyatta University. The growth of e-learning programs according to Lockwood and Gooley, 2002 is driven by the need for and potential of providing education in less expensive ways, increased access to information, effective learning and greater flexibility.

Stephenson, 2001 posits that there is little systematic research into the overall effectiveness of e-learning as a learning medium despite the great interest in it. He acknowledges that while there is much more work to be done, a variety of e-learning courses aimed at making sustainable development a reality have been developed and demonstrate how e-learning can reach thousands if not millions of minds and potentially plant the seeds of change.

In E-learning system, students are able to interact anytime from wherever with different instructional material (text, sound, pictures, video and so on) through Internet. In addition, learners can communicate with teachers and classmates both individually and as a group discussion with the use of message boards, instant message exchanges and video conferencing (Al-Ammari and Hamad, 2008).

Khan 2005 suggests that e-learning system is used for an open, flexible, and diverse E-learning environment. Moreover E-learning system can be analyzed as an inventive approach for delivering, learner-centered, interactive, and facilitated learning environment to anyplace, anyone, anytime by utilizing the features and resources of different digital technologies along with other types of learning materials suited for an open, distributed, and flexible learning environment (Ibid, 2008).

It is evidently noticeable that over the last two decades, activities relating to Information and Communications Technology (hereafter, ICT) experienced an unprecedented evolution leading to increased sophistication in both computer hardware, and software and the emergence of high technology driven communication facilities such as the Global System Mobile (GSM) phones, the Electronic Mail (Email), and the Internet.

Web Based Training and its newer and more general synonymous term e-Learning are two of today’s buzz-words in the academic world. Decision-makers associate with its new ways of learning that are more cost efficient than traditional learning strategies and which allow students to better control the process of learning because they can decide when, where and how fast to learn.The emergence of e-leaning has tremendously transformed information – handling and management in academic environments (Ani and Ahiauzu, 2008). A number of e-learning initiatives have been put in place to assist in the development training and use of electronic resources in a number of academic institutions.

These initiatives notwithstanding, some inadequacies in the development provision and utilization of electronic resources have been identified in a number of academic institutions. A number of studies have been made with a view to proffering solutions to problems encountered in the development of electronic information resources. However, little or no efforts have been recorded in the identification of influence and impact of e-learning on academic performance of student in higher learning institutions.  As the use of e-learning is becoming more and more widespread in higher education it has become increasingly important to examine the impact that this teaching style has on student performance.

Statement of Problem

Many hurdles remain in the infusion of electronic learning system practices in tertiary institutions in Nigeria which invariably has slow down the pace of manpower development. These hurdles includes the finding, paucity of electronic gadgets and  infrastructure, irregular and low quality power supply and high cost of maintaining information communication technologies, illiteracy and  computer or basic computing skills; these two points are closely related in the educational sector. Several studies have been carried out on academic performance especially on conventional students, but not much on e-learning students within the Nigerian  educational system. The need to sever this ground so as to extend the frontier of knowledge in order to help improve the unimpressive e-learners’ academic performance necessitates and serves as the motivating factor for undertaking the present piece of research so as to fill the existing important research gap. This study sought to establish whether the “Group Learning Sets” offer its beneficiaries ability to develop the associated concepts; does e-learning help the students improve their grades, skills, values, procedures and technology necessary to apply in their jobs.

The enormous increase in student enrolment and teacher data in Nigeria tertiary institutions as been noted by educationist. This increase as called for the use of sophisticated equipment and facilities such as ICT for the processing of data in schools. It has been observed however that ICT facilities might not have been used effectively in the management of schools in the State.

Hence, its management demands more from the managers to achieve the set goals. Due to this complexity, School administrators are sometimes faced with the challenge of managing schools in a meaningful and productive way. Some of the problems faced include poor communication within the staff and students and even with external governing bodies of the school and sometimes effective task sharing, record keeping and reporting processes are still carried out manually.

Purpose of the Study

The major purpose of this study was to assess the prospects and challenges of e-learning in Nigerian university education using National Open University of Nigeria. Other specific objectives are sets out:

1. to examine prospects of optimizing e-learning on academic performance of  student in National Open University in Lagos State.
2. to determine the strategies for optimizing e-learning on academic performance of  student in National Open University in Lagos State.
3. to identify the challenges of optimizing e-learning on academic performance of  student in National Open University in Lagos State.

Research Questions

The following research questions were used to guide the study:

1. What are the prospects of optimizing e-learning in academic performance of  student in National Open University in Lagos State?
2. What are the strategies for optimizing e-learning on academic performance of  student in National Open University in Lagos State?
3. What are challenges of optimizing e-learning in academic performance of  student in National Open University in Lagos State?

Significance of the Study

The present study has great significance. First of all, the study findings provide an idea about the e-learning aspects and academic performance in order to provide key information to further research work in such areas. In the same way, the study provides knowledge and guidelines to that may be of help to policymakers. The research is therefore of importance for planners, and other social scientists. Finally, this study provides an input to the students, teachers and researchers in the areas of e-learning.

Research works are embarked upon with a view to extending the frontier of knowledge. The present study was therefore carried out with this same objective, especially in the field of e-learning. It has therefore, contributed to the extension of the frontier of knowledge in the following ways. First, the study has shown the predictive power of the selected factors, especially socio-demographic factors, prior computer skills and time management status in the determination of the academic performance.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The study focused mainly on prospects and challenges of e-learning in Nigerian university education using National Open University of Nigeria. The study focused mainly on tertiary institutions in Lagos state.

Limitations of the Study

The present study reflects a number of limitations. Firstly, the student models of learning were identified on the basis of a specific sample comprising those under e-learning study model and those under the traditional study model. Secondly, the theoretical nature of this study limits its direct relevance for the educational praxis.  Therefore, it is hoped that future research may additionally focus on how student cognitions about learning are influenced in the context of everyday learning environments. The results could enable educational practitioners to encourage the adoption of student learning models which invoke a deep oriented and self-regulated study strategy.

This study did not consider all the aspects e-learning influences but instead was restricted to those elements of e-learning that affect performance in one way or the other. The study

did not also consider all students studying through the e-learning mode but only focused on the National University of Nigeria students and specifically those who benefited from the Computer Aid initiative.

Definitions of Terms

Information and Communications Technology: These are electronic devices, assisted by human and interactive materials that can be used for a wide range of teaching and learning as well as for personal use.

E-learning: This refers to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance and/or support learning in tertiary education. E-learning is basically the network- enabled convey of skills and knowledge. E-learning refers to using electronic applications and processes to learn.