The Contribution of Moodle Platform in Reaching the Unreached People: A case of the Open Univeristy of Tanzania

Abstract

This paper focuses on the role of Moodle platform on reaching the unreached people. The main objective of this paper was to evaluate the contribution of Moodle learning system on educating people living in different geographical location in and outside the county. Specifically, the paper establishes the perception of learners towards Moodle platform; establishes the benefits of Moodle platforms to learners and determines challenges facing Moodle platform learners’ and tutors. The study involved 14 postgraduate students enrolled in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) in the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). 2 Moodle technicians and 3 course instructors. The study adopted descriptive research design. The data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and direct observations. The findings revealed that enrolment and retention of students have increased and different categories of people are enrolled at the OUT as studies do not disturb their work. Despite the fore mentioned benefits, the challenges facing moodle platform include learners negative attitudes towards Moodle platform, little understanding of the Moodle platform by some lecturers; shortage of power or electricity block-out interfere the system; unavailability of the OUT web page or network connectivity; resistance in adopting the Moodle platform by staff members who do not want changes. From the findings, the study recommends that more training should be provided to faculty staff and students. Moreover, OUT should ensure stable connection to OUT-web and make sure the internet is available all the time.