E-noticeboard system

Abstract

Context: The times are here when literally our entire lives are being controlled by the power of information, how it is stored, relayed and used. A community that used large scale gatherings for communication two or more centuries ago would make effective communication because of sparse migrations and movement. Today especially at Makerere University, this is not the case as everyone is all over the place. Luckily, there have been forms of different channels that keep people engaged and informed regardless of their location or current position. Whatsapp, text messages, MUELE, Noticeboards as well as to a small extent messengers, are some of the forms of information relay in this digital error. Objective: The overall aim of this project was to investigate these different forms of information relay, identify the challenges around their use at Makerere University, and thereafter identify a solution candidate to effective information around the University. This we illustrated with a number of studies, communication systems and information level needs in the university, and there after explored solution challenges for these needs in a large scale environment. Method: To meet our objective, we performed a simple sturdy of the current available means and made a series of empirical experiments on case studies. Interviews, group discussions and questionnaires were used to derive the actual challenges and potential solutions to our problem. Findings: Our findings proved more than we had earlier expected. Numerous challenges were identified for relaying information to students even with the numerous current forms available. Most of them sprouted from the fact that there seems to be a very wide gap between the administration and the students. The findings show that students communicating with each other is rather easy and correct information is relayed. Unfortunately, student-admin communication is not the same case, with the fact that many third parties (messengers) are usually involved, correct information wasn’t being relayed even to the right people, in time. Conclusions: The Project Report highlights the few loopholes within the communication and information relay structure within the university and proposes a simpler yet very efficient and new method in solving this problem. The report possess an insights to future researchers and developers on how further improve this very important and useful new way of future communication. Keywords E, Noticeboard, E Noticeboard, Information relay, Makerere University, COCIS, Administration, Students, Systems Development, Design , requirements engineering