The Registrar of the University of Ilorin, Mr Emmanuel Obafemi, has said that the institution would, from January 2014, be fully digitalised.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ilorin, Obafemi said that the development would make it possible for lecturers to be able to send assignments to their students via the Internet.
“As from Jan. 2014, University of Ilorin lecturers would be able to send assignments to their students through the Internet from the comfort of their homes,’’ adding that students would also be able to respond respond via the same channel.
He said that the school had ordered for 25,000 pieces of mini iPads from the U.S. for the students, to enable the lecturers to send assignments to them from home.
He noted that the iPads were already fully loaded with the students’ courses and each student would get one as they resume in January.
Obafemi confirmed that because the iPad was produced in large quantity, the university had subsidised its price, noting that the whole school had already been connected to the Internet.
He expressed the readiness of the institution’s administration to make the university one of the best in Nigeria and Africa.
Obafemi noted that the school would continue to encourage programmes and policies that promote global best practices in the education system.
The registrar gave an assurance that the institution would sustain the legacy of the past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.
“If you come here in another five months, you will see a positively different Unilorin and well managed institution,’’ Obafemi said.
He commended the management of the institution and expressed delight in the fact that the university had not gone on strike in 13 years. (NAN)
In my opinion, this is a case of being smart in the wrong direction. Why would you want to have their assignment sent to an iPad mini? Of what academic benefit does that comes to? To address an issue, you need to consider the feasibility and viability of the solution. If you have an iPad for instance, what is the usage outside the school premises? They probably will have to get 3G connection to it also. How many student can afford that? More importantly, wouldn't a simple laptop had made a better sense than an iPad? How comfortable will a student be on an iPad compared to using a regular laptop? A laptop would be more accessible and convenient especially when it involves student writing reports, researching online and running serious applications etc.
ReplyDeleteI am an IT professional with experience in big IT infrastructure projects and I can see this failing. We are not talking about your school making name here or as we say in those days effizy. We are talking about deploying a project that will endure. A simple laptop would have made a better sense. I did my MSc in the USA and as developed as United States is, you still see most students with their laptops. Student go to school with inexpensive i3, 4GB memory or less laptops and not with tablets. Most people with tablet still have their laptops when it comes to doing more serious things. My problem with Nigeria and government projects is that its either they do it to embezzle public funds or they do it to make cheap names. And Nigerians too will start applauding silly moves like this.
Very soon, you will see the school taxing the poor student with exorbitant fees for the iPads. May God help this leaders.
Adeyinka Fadehan
In my opinion, this is a case of being smart in the wrong direction. Why would you want to have their assignment sent to an iPad mini? Of what academic benefit does that comes to? To address an issue, you need to consider the feasibility and viability of the solution. If you have an iPad for instance, what is the usage outside the school premises? They probably will have to get 3G connection to it also. How many student can afford that? More importantly, wouldn't a simple laptop had made a better sense than an iPad? How comfortable will a student be on an iPad compared to using a regular laptop? A laptop would be more accessible and convenient especially when it involves student writing reports, researching online and running serious applications etc.
ReplyDeleteI am an IT professional with experience in big IT infrastructure projects and I can see this failing. We are not talking about your school making name here or as we say in those days effizy. We are talking about deploying a project that will endure. A simple laptop would have made a better sense. I did my MSc in the USA and as developed as United States is, you still see most students with their laptops. Student go to school with inexpensive i3, 4GB memory or less laptops and not with tablets. Most people with tablet still have their laptops when it comes to doing more serious things. My problem with Nigeria and government projects is that its either they do it to embezzle public funds or they do it to make cheap names. And Nigerians too will start applauding silly moves like this.
Very soon, you will see the school taxing the poor student with exorbitant fees for the iPads. May God help this leaders.
Adeyinka Fadehan