TITLE:
A Framework for Mobile Education System for Higher Institutions in Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Boukari Souley, David Emmanuel Aniobi
KEYWORDS:
Cloud Computing, e-Learning, Distance Education, e-Assessment, Mobile Devices
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Software Engineering and Applications,
Vol.7 No.10,
September
12,
2014
ABSTRACT: With the advent of cloud
computing technology, the development of mobile applications for use in several
facets of life has been on the increase. This has been supported by the
proliferation of mobile devices in the society which is also being used in
utilizing the prowess of the cloud technology. Building a mobile education
system that is platform independent is a major challenge since most of the
popularly used ones are either software dependent or hardware dependent. In
this work, a framework for mobile education system that is cross platform in
nature with regard to operating system, hardware and web browsers using the
3-tier Client/Server mobile application architecture built on web standard was
developed and fully tested. A first year computer science course offered by
more than 1000 students was used as input to validate the framework. An
integration of Short Message Services (SMS), virtual classroom and e-assessment
components enable students and lecturers to communicate, create discussion
forum and carry out e-testing using their mobile devices. This work is strongly
recommended for higher institutions in Nigeria that need to explore the use of
mobile devices that are available with the majority of students. Only
registered users can access the developed app via the use of handheld devices
(smart-phones & tablets). This can actually improve learning, research and
collaboration between students and lecturers thereby enhancing learning
experience.