THE USE OF COMPUTER IN THE ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS LEARNING

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Assessment is an increasingly common topic in higher education, whether discussed as a measure of student learning cost-effectiveness, administrative efficiency, or the value of technology assessment is on the mind of many group of people. Assessment has different meaning and measures, however depending on its use.

Adding technology to the mix can exacerbate the confusion about assessment. Although asking whether technology improve learning may seem like a straight forward question, the answer is not simply. Surveys conducted by higher education faculty shown that students prefer courses taught using computers, and some research indicate that incorporating technology into a course results in greater learning.

Other studies which has shown that technology-enriched courses positively affect students’ personal and intellectual development, few have determined, however, whether technology has a positive effect on how well students learn. The challenges begin with the definition of assessment but are compounded by the complexities of people technology, and educational organisation.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

There are enormous problems associated with the use of computer in the assessment of students and there include:

Problems do generate when the teacher cannot operate computer leading to limitation in the part of wide spread of assessment of students results by computer.
The situation whereby their are inadequate computer facilities and equipment can also hinder the success of student result by computer
What opportunities will be provide for the students to operate the computer
Want assessment tasks will be set
What method of assessment will be used.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The aims and objective of the study are as follows:

To examine whether technology improve learning
To assess the importance of computer based assessment
To determine how students result are compute in the computer.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be benefit to patriotic citizens of Nigeria, teachers, students and socio-economic groups in the following manner.

It would help teachers to know the strength and weakness of his students and the necessary measures to handle the problems.
It would provide students with feedback to know their strength and weakness
It would also help to know how these test affect students who are not computer literate

It would help parents to know the positions of their children academically.

1.5 SCOPE/LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is limited within Uyo metropolis in Akwa Ibom State hence relating to all technological advancements occurring in learning process of educational board.

1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Computer: This is an electronic or mechanical device which can accept data as an input, process the date according to the instruction issued by the user, it also generates an output in a form known as information.

Assessment: Is the evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something. Is also the systematic collection, review and use of information about educational programs to improve student learning.