The COVID-19 pandemic has transpired to have had a silver lining for the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), Kenya. Initially driven by the disruption caused by the pandemic, the university has embedded eLearning into its academic model.
Today, DeKUT operates a 70:30 teaching policy, where every course is delivered 70 percent through face-to-face instruction and 30 percent online. KENET, the national research and education network (NREN) of Kenya, has assisted by hosting the necessary services and infrastructure.
The university’s KENET-hosted Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) and the integrated BigBlueButton (BBB) web conferencing platform provide a reliable digital infrastructure for online learning and collaboration. This enables DeKUT to deliver secure, scalable, and uninterrupted blended learning experiences for students and lecturers.
Same time, different places
According to Mr. Muchiri Njoki, Deputy Director at the Centre for Open, Distance and e-Learning (CODeL), Moodle has become the institution’s central digital learning hub:
“Moodle serves as the University’s central learning platform, where lecturers upload course notes and learning materials for students to access at any time. It is also used to administer online assignments, making it an integral part of teaching and learning across all academic programs.”
Apart from hosting course materials, Moodle also supports continuous assessment, assignment submissions and interactive learning activities. Complementing Moodle is KENET’s web conferencing platform, which supports DeKUT’s live virtual classes and departmental meetings. Through the platform, lecturers teach live online classes while students participate and engage with them in real time, regardless of location.
“The BBB is used for live classes. If the lecturer does not have to come physically to class, they simply send the link to the students, and the students log in and learn. That is what we call synchronous learning; same time, different places,” adds Mr. Njoki.
Overloading is avoided
Reliable hosting has improved system performance during periods of high demand. In the past, the university had to stagger online Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) to avoid overloading its infrastructure. Through KENET’s scalable cloud infrastructure and continuous resource optimization, DeKUT’s Moodle platform can now support thousands of concurrent users, allowing multiple online CATs to run simultaneously without compromising performance.
“There was a time when, if a CAT required 400 students to take it at the same time, we had to schedule different groups to manage the capacity. Today, we can schedule three or four such CATs concurrently, and the system is able to handle that,” notes Mr. Njoki.
He emphasizes that the reliability of KENET’s services has ensured continuity of learning activities by keeping the platforms available even when the institution, like other institutions, experiences delays in renewals.
KENET’s contribution to DeKUT’s eLearning transformation extends beyond hosting the platforms to include technical support and staff capacity building. Through continuous engagement and knowledge sharing with KENET engineers, CODeL staff have gained skills that enable them to independently manage tasks that previously required external assistance.
Source: the article “KENET Platforms Transform Teaching and Learning at DeKUT” at the KENET website.
Photo: Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) Administration Block. Credit: DeKUT.
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