Design and development of a Web Based Learning System in lower primary schools: A Case study of Makini Primary School, Kenya

Web design technology arises from continued technological trend of computing. Globally the rise of application of information communication technology to the learning programme of primary schools is not much emphasized on. There is empirical evidence to prove that information communication technology is highly beneficial wherever it is applied. The study aimed at designing and developing a web based system of learning that can enhance the academic and social growth of lower primary school pupils. The objectives of the study were: to examine the correlation between the increased use of web based systems of learning and learner‟s academic performance; to identify the set of skills required for lower primary pupils to fully exploit the potential of web based systems of learning; to find out the specification and technical attributes of web based systems of learning that facilitate learning and lastly to design a web based learning system for lower primary school pupils. The study focused on Makini lower primary school in Nairobi County. The study employed case study method and qualitative approach. Rapid Application Development life cycle was used in software development process. Purposive sampling method was used to identify the respondents. Data was collected using interviews and focus group discussions. Findings of the study were: increased use of web based system that enhanced the learner‟s academic performance, the web based system of learning was able to identify games which exploit the pupils‟ skill in learning hence reducing monotony and lastly the web based system was able to identify some technical attributes such as use of graphics and access rights that facilitated learning and testing. The conclusion showed that developing of a web based learning system would reduce monotony in learning and enabled pupils to be in control and also increased the creativity and thinking level. The study recommends that: additions be made to the system such as a module to generate a feasible master timetable for each teacher; the web application of the system be further expanded to help attendance recording by the class teacher and for the parents to be able to view the status of their children performance using the Internet or Intranet of the school and lastly the system be made for every teacher to have some specific free periods or some part of days off and that will require an efficient search technique.

Accepted: 2018-07-19T06:28:17Z