Extending the moodle course management system for mobile devices

Distance learning is an increasingly popular concept, based on the existence of educational institutions that produce online materials and support, and of numerous students that consume these resources at their own pace. In recent years, a number of Course Management Systems appeared and are widely adopted by institutions across the world. As students are subjects to the increasing popularity of mobiles, an additional step can be taken in which mobile devices are introduced to further assist them in various learning activities. This concept, known as m-Learning (Mobile Learning) leads to a better organization of available resources and a `anywhere, anytime' type of access. However, current mobile solutions for interaction with Course Management Systems are not exploiting some of the best advantages mobiles have, with consequences on performance and functionality. This paper follows the design and development of a mobile application and a web service designed as an extension to the Moodle course management system, with mobile-specific functionality, such as the offline mode, notifications, and attendance based on location.