Design and implementation of a web-based social networking site for staff and students

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p>Social networking is a phenomenon which has existed since society began. Human beings have always sought to live in social environments. The proliferation of social networking sites (SNS) and their pervasion in everyday practices is affecting how societies manage their social networks. To a significant extent, SNS have shifted local networking to the internet. In less than five years, these sites have grown from a niche online activity into a phenomenon, through which tens of millions of the internet users are connected both their leisure time, and at work, and also at school. Networking is a system of trying to meet and talk to other people who may be useful to you in your work. Social networking is a theoretical construct useful in the social sciences to study social relationships among students. The theoretical approach is necessary and relational.</p><p><strong>1.2 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Statement of the Problem</strong></p><p>Social network sites are based around profiles, a form of individual (for less frequently, group) homes page, which offers a description of each member. In addition to text, images and video created by the member, the social network site profile also contains comments from other members, and a public list of people that one identifies as friend within the network. Due to this effect and the lack of it in our present communalism; there is a loophole that must be bridged which has caused less relationships among the students resulting to minimal ideas in situations like tweeting famous conversation, attending lectures remotely share inspirations, ideas, reading and thoughts, and also absence in interpersonal understanding, that is getting to know small bits of others overtime, as happens through social media, which provides a greater picture of who those people are and to develop a deeper sense of understanding for openness and sharing in the classroom.</p><p><strong>1.3 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Objectives of the Study</strong></p><p>The objectives of this study are:</p><ul><li>To design and implement a web based social networking system for students and staff.</li><li>Improve on the demands on teacher when redesigning curriculum.</li><li>How students can become valued participants in the teaching and learning process.</li><li>The development of appropriate tool to ensure that active student learning takes place; learning which supports the new literacy needed in our world today.</li></ul><p><strong>1.4 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Significance of the Study</strong></p><p>This project is aimed at returning sanity and restoring hope in the minds of students by putting an end to the clash of lectures and unnecessary shift of lecture by lecturers. The new system will be a reference point for all further research on this subject matter by other departments, faculties and other schools that wish to eliminate the clash of lectures. Potential benefits for students in using social networking are explained in terms below:</p><p><strong>Social and recreational new media used as a site of learning</strong>&nbsp;It is important to appreciate that people who are interacting socially online are accumulating social and technological skills that are needed to participate in contemporary society.</p><p></p><p><strong>Diversity in form of media literacy</strong>&nbsp;Online interactions range from purely friendship-driven to interest driven, but each may have benefits in terms of socializing or education that are necessary for participation in future social network environment.</p><p><strong>Peer-based learning- </strong>Use of new media facilitates learning from peers, which has some advantages over learning from adults, including teachers.</p><p><strong>1.5 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Scope of the Study</strong></p><p>Social networking site is a web-based service that allows individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile, articulates a list of other users with whom they share a connection, new and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. Networking emphasizes relations initiation, often between strangers. While networking is possible on these sites, it is not the primary practices on many of them; nor is it what differentiates them from other forms of computer-mediated communication (CMC). It has to implement in all university in Nigeria. This study shall focus on the development of social networking system for students and staff.</p><p><strong>1.6 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Definition of Terms</strong></p><p>Few terminologies to be defined as it relates to the whole study of chapter one.</p><p><strong>Networking &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</strong>to increase greatly in number or to reproduce rapidly.</p><p><strong>Phenomenon &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</strong>something experienced; a factor occurrence that can &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; be observed.</p><p><strong>Niche</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; place or an area of the market specializing in one type of product or service.</p><p><strong>Proponent</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; somebody who advocates something or a propose</p><p><strong>Semiotics</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; the study of signs and symbols of all kinds; what the &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; mean, and how they relate to things.</p><p><strong>Constructionist</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; somebody putting specified construction on text.</p><p><strong>Epidemiology</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; pattern of disease development</p><p><strong>Scaffold</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; platform for execution</p><p><strong>Communalism</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; communal living or support for a communal society</p> <br><p></p>