An Enhanced Moodle-based Learning Management System to Account for Low Bandwidths

Abstract

Since 2012, at Nazi BONI University (NBU), as in many other universities in West Africa, academic years overlap. In large classes (more than 1000 students), the lack of on-site teachers and classrooms to run several tutorial groups in parallel means that pedagogical activities of an academic year go on for more than 18 months. Integration of ICT in education can contribute significantly to solving the problem. We propose a technical solution that takes into account the narrowness of the bandwidth of Internet access (actually 2 Mbps). We strengthen the capacities of the NBU in IT resources and optimize their use. In this sense, we are making the intranet functional where Leaning Management System (LMS) servers can be accessed with a throughput of at least 10 Mbps from all university sites, including university residences. Optimal exploitation techniques of the Internet resource have been applied. We have conducted a thorough analysis of the causes of slow loading of pedagogical resources and learning activities and we propose technical solutions to alleviate the LMS Moodle. Thereby, on average, we managed to halve the loading time of this platform’s resources. Even actors in areas with only 2G technology can interact with the platform.