The Impact of Learning Management System on Student Academic Performance of Computer Science Department of Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: This study is aimed at exploring the impact of a Learning Management System (LMS) on the academic performance of the Computer Science Department, Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Study Design:  We adopted a hybrid of reliability test study and questionnaire. Place and Duration of Study: Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computer Science Department, Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, Nigeria for 1st semester of 2021/2022 academic session. Methodology: The study was conducted with 60 students, which is made up of 34 males and 36 females. This respondent was given a test at the commencement of the course and was also tested after using the LMS for learning, their pretest and posttest scores were recorded. Furthermore, out of the 60 questionnaires that were served to the participants and 53 numbers were retrieved, 88.30% of the response. Out of the remaining 7 respondents, 4 were not retrieved and 3 were not correctly filled. The questionnaire has questions to which participants are expected to respond on a measure of five-point Likert scale. The Likert scale was assigned numerical values of 1,2,3,4, and 5 respectively from the negative judgment to the positive opinion. Results: From our reliability test on the data, it showed that the students had an average gain score of 12.5. This signifies that, on average, the participants who used the LMS platform had 12.5 points higher during the posttest than they had during the pretest. This reliability test score for the student measures their consistency on both tests. A score of 1 was used to indicate reliability while 0 is not reliable. From our data, it showed test score reliability for students to be above 0.95, indicating that student scores were consistent. Meanwhile, on the respondent's thoughts and feelings about the LMS, With LMS, the student can understand clearly the important learning goal with 4.06, with LMS students who say they are aware of important course during for completion of the course 3.81, 3.77 can easily be guided on the course title while using LMS and 3.92 can easily get abreast of how the task is to be performed to enable the student to learn. The LMS's impact on students' social interaction, showed that the new system has assisted student-teacher relationships and has made them communicate and ask questions freely from people in their area of study. It also showed that students' confidence and interaction with their peers have grown and their online discussion horizon has improved their social interaction. Conclusion: The LMS has improved the academic performance of students of the Computer Science Department, Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Their scores were higher compared to what they used to be and meanwhile, the duration of the study also significantly improved. They are now aware of the reason for collaborative and academic study.