In this project an add-on module for the Moodle learning management system has been designed, implemented and tested. It makes it possible for teachers to send SMS to the mobile phones of their students.
Moodle system administrators may download the add-on "MoodleWebSMS" in order to integrate the service into their Moodle instances.

Results

The free/open source software is available here: MoodleWebSMS

Approaches

Often it is useful to send quick communications to the students: the shift of a class, a reminder of a deadline and the notification of a last minute scheduled event are some examples where the availability of a direct and immediate communication tool for teachers would help.

This feature is available in the Moodle environment as an additional block that teachers can add to their courses. Teachers (but also teaching assistants) can select who will receive the message: an individual, a set of students or the whole class, and specify the content of the message. The system will immediately send the message to the selected recipients.

1. Analysis and design: Integration analysis of a plug-in module for the Moodle LMS and design of the modular structure of the service
2. Agreement with SMS service provider: Research on different SMS in Switzerland. Subscription to a service with Mobile News Channel SA (MNC). Decision to write a specific interface to use the SWITCH SMS gateway service.
3. Module development: Implementation of the module as an additional block for the moodle system.
4. Interface development: Implementation of the interface for SWITCH SMS gateway service (easily extensible and adaptable to use other SMS gateway services).
5. Testing: Successful internal test of the new module.
6. Launch of service: Software release as free/open source software: MoodleWebSMS