MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ( SYSTEM MANAGEMENT AN INTERACTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF ABSTRACT e-learning, as defined to be the use of informa- is focusing to two selected pilot schools; Kibaha tion and communications technology (ICT) for secondary school and Wali-ul-Asr girl’s seminary DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERACTIVE supporting the educational processes, has motiva- in Kibaha town, Pwani region. Features of the e- ted Tanzania to apply ICT in its education system. LMS will represent the standard form of any other e-LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (e-LMS) e Tanzania secondary schools in rural areas are secondary school registered by the MoEVT. The SCHOOLS SECONDARY TANZANIAN -LMS) FOR geographically and socially isolated. Rural Tanzania complete implementation of the e-LMS to these FOR TANZANIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS secondary schools face a number of problems in- selected pilot schools will later be extended to all cluding ways in getting learning materials, as well other secondary schools in Tanzania. e as inadequacy of qualified teachers. The impact of -LEARNING these problems is poor performance in National The development uses Object-Oriented System Examinations. This poor performance however is Analysis and Design (OOSAD) approach along highly noted in science and mathematics subjects. with the power of modeling as it has been em- The problem in getting learning materials can be phasized by Model Driven Architecture (MDA). reduced by employing ICT in secondary school Unified Modeling Language (UML) is mainly used Ellen Ambakisye Kalinga education system. in both cases. To create an interoperable system, UML is integrated with extensible markup langu- This research develops an interactive e-learning age (XML) during model transformation from e- management system (e-LMS) to be used by Tan- LMS Platform Independent Model (PIM) to e-LMS zanian secondary schools. The research is aiming Platform Specific Model (PSM). Development will to support teaching and learning functions by al- make use of open source software. For context lowing creation and storage of learning materials, specific development, participatory action research making them available, easily accessed and sharable methodology is adopted and the inputs are well among students from different secondary schools presented in developing e-LMS. Customization of in Tanzania in a more organized way. Tanzania has open source learning management system (LMS) only one curriculum for all secondary schools platforms is employed to help generate a timely registered under the Ministry of Education and solution to e-LMS development. Finally, this thesis Vocational Training (MoEVT). During develop- also considers the need for replication and mir- ment stage it will not be easy to involve all scat- roring of the database for the purpose of making tered Tanzanian secondary schools. The research learning materials highly available to end-users. Ellen Ambakisye Kalinga Ambakisye Ellen Blekinge Institute of Technology Licentiate Dissertation Series No. 2008:03 2008:03 ISSN 1650-2140 School of Technoculture, Humanities and Planning 2008:03 ISBN 978-91-7295-134-1 Development of an Interactive e-Learning Management System (e-LMS) for Tanzanian Secondary Schools Ellen Ambakisye Kalinga © 2008 Ellen Ambakisye Kalinga Division of Technoscience Studies School of Technoculture, Humanities and Planning Publisher: Blekinge Institute of Technology Printed by Printfabriken, Karlskrona, Sweden 2008 ISBN 978-91-7295-134-1 Blekinge Institute of Technology Licentiate Dissertation Series No 2008:03 ISSN 1650-2140 ISBN 978-91-7295-134-1 Development of an Interactive e-Learning Management System (e-LMS) for Tanzanian Secondary Schools Ellen Ambakisye Kalinga Division of Technoscience Studies School of Technoculture, Humanities and Planning Blekinge Institute of Technology SWEDEN ABSTRACT e-learning, as defined to be the use of information and communications technology (ICT) for supporting the educational processes, has motivated Tanzania to apply ICT in its education system. Tanzania secondary schools in rural areas are geographically and socially isolated. Rural Tanzania secondary schools face a number of problems including ways in getting learning materials, as well as inadequacy in qualified teachers. The impact of these problems is poor performance in National Examinations. This poor performance however is highly noted in science and mathematics subjects. The problem in getting learning materials can be reduced by employing ICT in secondary school education system. This research develops an interactive e-learning management system (e-LMS) to be used by Tanzanian secondary schools. The research is aiming to support teaching and learning functions by allowing creation and storage of learning materials, making them available, easily accessed and sharable among students from different secondary schools in Tanzania in a more organized way. Tanzania has only one curriculum for all secondary schools registered under the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT). During development stage it will not be easy to involve all scattered Tanzanian secondary schools. The research is focusing to two selected pilot schools; Kibaha secondary school and Wali-ul-Asr girls’ seminary in Kibaha town, Pwani region. Features of the e-LMS will represent the standard form of any other secondary school registered by the MoEVT. The complete implementation of the e-LMS to these selected pilot schools will later be extended to all other secondary schools in Tanzania. The development uses Object-Oriented System Analysis and Design (OOSAD) approach along with the power of modeling as it has been emphasized by Model Driven Architecture (MDA). Unified Modeling Language (UML) is mainly used in both cases. To create an interoperable system, UML is integrated with extensible markup language (XML) during model transformation from e-LMS Platform Independent Model (PIM) to e-LMS Platform Specific Model (PSM). Development will make use of open source software. For context specific development, participatory action research methodology is adopted and the inputs are well presented in developing e-LMS. Customization of open source learning management system (LMS) platforms is employed to help generate a timely solution to e-LMS development. Finally, this thesis also considers the need for replication and mirroring of the database for the purpose of making learning materials highly available to end-users. 4 ACKNOWLEGEMENTS First I thank God for his blessings, giving strength in all ways, keeping me safe and in good healthy. Through Him everything is possible that’s why I am now forwarding my licentiate report. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Sida/SAREC through the ICT for e-learning project, for the financial support that enables me to do this research. I am deeply grateful to my supervisors Dr. B. R. B. Bagile of the University of Dar es Salaam, College of Engineering and Technology in Tanzania and Prof. Lena Trojer of the Blekinge Institute of Technology, School of Technoculture, Humanities and Planning in Sweden for their valuable guidance, co-operation and assistance throughout the whole period I have been engaged in this research. Sincere appreciation goes to Prof. Lena for making my life comfortable while in Sweden. My thanks also go to members of the ICT for e-learning project in Tanzania; coordinator of research and publication Prof. J. Geoffrey, ICT for e-learning project coordinator Dr. M. Kissaka, Dean faculty of ECSE Prof. Nzali, Head department of CSE Dr. N. Mvungi, Prof. Mwinyiwiwa, Prof. Victor, Prof. Mjema and Dr. Haule for their contribution in every sense towards my research. I am very much grateful to staff members of BTH, School of Technoculture, Humanities and Planning, Karlshamn campus for their support. These include Peter Ekdahl, Peter Giger, Pirjo Elovaara, Silvio Ocasic, Anita Carlsson, Madeleine Persson and Ulrika Carlsson. Special thanks go to Mattias Schertell whose teaching was a motivation in liking Web based technologies. My sincere thanks are also due to the Ministry of Education and Vocational training (MoEVT), specifically to the directorate of secondary schools for its contributions towards this research. Special thanks go to Mr. Philemon, Mrs Anna Njau, Mr. Kibga, Mr. Mwenda and Mr Kavishe. I am also very grateful to the management of selected pilot schools for this research; Kibaha secondary school (KSS) and Wali-ul-Asr girls’ seminary, for their support. They are always ready to give needed information whenever called upon. Special thanks go to teachers Lubuva, Jabir and Uwesu of Wali-ul-Asr girls’ seminary without forgetting the Headmaster S. Kayenga, teachers Mgina, Mbawala, Urio and Kadelya from KSS. Special thanks go to my friend and research colleague Mrs Suzan K. Lujara. Who has been my companion throughout this research period. Finally my heartfelt thanks go to my family, especially my loving husband Mr. Simon Chale and our dearest daughter Joan Amabilis Chale for their constant support and for bearing my partial absence during my studies. Lastly many thanks go to my loving mother Bertha Ulisubisya Kibona for always prays for me. 5 DEDICATION To my late father Mr. Ambakisye Mwalukasa Kalinga 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract . 4 Acknowledgements . 5 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations . 10 List of Figures. 13 List of Tables . 14 Overview of ICT for e-Learning Project . 15 1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 18 1.1 Introduction . 18 1.2 Statement of the Problem . 18 1.2.1 Definition of Rural Secondary School . 20 1.2.2 Student’s Performance Analysis 1995-2003 . 21 1.2.3 The Need for e-Learning Management System . 24 1.3 Research Objectives . 24 1.3.1 Main Objective . 24 1.3.2 Specific Objectives . 25 1.4 Research Questions . 25 1.5 Research Outcomes . 25 1.6 Research Registration . 26 1.7 Limitation of the Study and Research Focus . 26 1.8 Outline of the Thesis . 27 2.0 ICT SURVEYS . 28 2.1 Introduction . 28 2.2 Means of Data Collection . 28 PART A: ICT Application Status in Tanzania by 2004 . 29 2.3 National ICT Policy of Tanzania Towards e-Learning . 29 2.4 MoEVT ICT Policy for Basic Education .