Solomon Sunday Oyelere

Design, development, and evaluation of a mobile learning application for computing education

The study focused on the application of the design science research approach in the course of developing a mobile learning application, MobileEdu, for computing education in the Nigerian higher education context. MobileEdu facilitates the learning of computer science courses on mobile devices. The application supports ubiquitous, collaborative, and social aspects of learning among higher education students. Moreover, the application eases access to learning resources. The paper first describes analysis, design, and implementation activities related to the development of MobileEdu. Also, the paper deliberated on the characteristics and scope of the adherence of MobileEdu to the traits and ideas of design science research. To evaluate MobileEdu in a real-life learning setting, experiment was conducted with 142 third-year undergraduate students in a Nigerian university. Besides the learning achievement of the students using MobileEdu, the study examined the impact of MobileEdu on students’ attitudes toward studying in a system analysis and design course. Experimental data were collected from pre- and post quizzes, interviews, and a questionnaire administered to students. The results of the evaluation are encouraging and showed that the MobileEdu application has a potential to improve students’ learning achievements. In addition, the pedagogical experiences of students were mostly positive and students’ attitudes toward the system analysis and design course through MobileEdu was better than those of students who studied the course via traditional methods. Finally, the study offered suggestions for how to implement effectively a mobile learning-supported course in computing curriculum.

Design and Implementation of MobileEdu M-learning Application for Computing Education in Nigeria: A Design Research Approach

The convergence of Wi-Fi technologies and mobile devices present prospects to design and implement applications that will support learning on the move. Mobile learning (m-learning) is the study and practice of using mobile devices, such as smart phones, mobile phones, tablets, PDAs, MP3s and pocket PCs to support learning for anyone, anytime and anywhere. Through well-situated and flexible mobile devices and network infrastructure, researchers and developers endeavor to offer users with new learning applications and services. We have applied the design research (DR) approach in the course of developing m-learning application, MobileEdu, for computing education in Nigerian higher education context. The application is intended to facilitate the learning of computer science courses on mobile devices, support ubiquitous, collaborative, and social learning for undergraduate students. Moreover, the application eases access to learning resources. In this article we present the analysis, design and implementation activities related to the development of the first MobileEdu prototype. The research also deliberated on the characteristics and scope of the adherence of MobileEdu to the traits and ideas of DR.

The Application of Model Predictive Control (MPC) to Fast Systems such as Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGV)

This paper investigates the application of Model Predictive Control (MPC) to fast systems such as Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGV) or mobile robots. The control of Autonomous ground vehicles (AGV) is challenging because of nonholonomic constraints, uncertainties, speed, accuracy of controls and the vehicles terrain of operation. Two nonlinear models: a car-like model and a bicycle model are considered. A Nonlinear MPC (NMPC) was developed. A trajectory tracking performance index for both models was studied. After thorough and extensive simulation, it is observed that both models are applicable in the context of NMPC and the constraints on model variables were adequately respected. The trajectories were successfully tracked and thus clearly indicate the efficiency and effectiveness of the MPC technique. In order to improve on speed and reduce the computational effort required for the optimization problem, a Linear MPC (LMPC) was implemented with both models. This is possible by successive linearization along the reference trajectory and formulating a quadratic optimization problem which is solved by implementing an interior-point quadratic programming algorithm. For both AGV models, analysis concerning the reduced computational efforts is presented in order to

Application of information and communication technology for internationalization of Nigerian small- and medium-sized enterprises

Information and communication technology (ICT) has fundamentally transformed business transactions. While its uses have become ubiquitous in the advanced economies, emerging and developing economies are still struggling with the mode and manner of the deployment of ICT for business. Thus, this study seeks to investigate how small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) utilize ICT in Nigeria for business internationalization. To achieve the goal of the study, a mixed‐method was employed. A questionnaire was administered to 265 people consisting of SMEs staff, managers, and owners. Similarly, interviews were conducted with seven SME decision makers. Findings revealed that Nigerian SMEs used ICT tools, such as websites and social media platforms, for internationalization. The findings also revealed that the challenges of ICT did not affect its application by these SMEs, which contrasts with many previous studies. Furthermore, this study identified privacy concerns, internet problems, cyber insecurity, trust, and system anxiety as new challenges facing the application of ICT tools by SMEs. Similarly, the findings showed that lack of ICT competence and strategic focus of ICT applications are internal problems facing Nigerian SMEs. These findings provide insight for practitioners and academia on the internationalization of Nigeria SMEs and the application of ICT to promote business growth.

Integrating parson's programming puzzles into a game-based mobile learning application

Understanding of elementary programming concepts, logic, and syntax is a vital part of learning to program. Unfortunately, learning programming is found to be difficult and boring, especially for novices. For example, drill type of exercises designed for learning elementary programming can be very tedious, making it hard to motivate learners. This study focused on the development of a mobile application, which integrates puzzle-based Parsons programming exercises into a strategy board game with the aim of facilitating the teaching and learning of programming. With the mobile application, learners play Ayo, a variant of the famous traditional African strategy board game Mancala. In each round of the game, the learners will solve a Parsons puzzle, which consist of small programming tasks where students are required to build programs by drag and drop, selection, indenting and ordering code fragments. The proposed solution of integrating the Parsons puzzles to Ayo game provides a new perspective on how to use mobile devices in programming education. The long-term aim of our work is to create a framework for integrating board games into computing education. The study reported in the article is the first step towards creating the framework.

Mobile application for pre-screening of Ebola virus disease

Ebola virus disease (EVD), considered viral with asymptomatic and epidemiological clinical manifestation of sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and sore throat. In the endemic area of West Africa with overstretched medical facility and inaccessible medical care, early pre-screening, recognition and detection of the Ebola virus disease features in suspected patients is critical to the containment of the epidemic and minimizing secondary transmission. Mobile devices have gained prominence in every sector of African society, especially in the aspect of its use for socio-economic development. In this article, we developed a self-inference mobile system capable of assisting health practitioners in clinical pre-screening, and serve as a platform for creating awareness about the danger of the contagious disease that has ravaged Africa, especially the West African States. The system is capable of trapping users responses, which in turn triggers the inference engine to provide a pre-screening for further diagnosis. Community awareness assessment of 200 respondents shows that 89% are aware of the various means of EVD transmission, while 95% trust an intelligent self-inference prognostic system in assisting with clinical pre-screening. The results have shown that the system can complement the overstretched medical facilities in the endemic area while providing the right awareness campaign on early detection, prevention, and transmission of EVD. Furthermore, aggregate and analysis of data generated from the application could be used in clinical decision-making and possible prediction of the future disease outbreak.

Evaluating mobileEdu: third-year undergraduate computer science students' mobile learning achievements

We describe a study conducted in a Nigerian university for 142 third-year undergraduate students to evaluate how MobileEdu, a mobile learning application, supports the learning outcomes of the students. The research data for the investigation were obtained from pre- and post-quizzes administered to students. The results of the study were very encouraging and showed that MobileEdu application has great potential to improve learning outcomes.