KCAU

NOTICEBOARD
APP
A mobile noticeboard application for KCAU.
By John Wahome (16/09220)
Abstract
■ This is a presentation on the development of the KCAU notice board application
research project. The students are the fundamental members of a university and are the
target of this project. The notice board is meant to help in bridging the communication
gap between students, lecturers and the administration with help of information
technology, specifically mobile technology. The mobile notice board will have features
like; a platform to post notices, delete notices, edit notices and offer links to other
institutional services among others.
Introduction
■ Currently, communication in KCAU is done primarily through the notice board. This is a
designated place where notices from the administration, faculties, student leaders and
advertisers are posted. Notices posted here range from timetables, pass lists, deadlines,
upcoming events, general announcements, advertisements etc. The mode of posting is by
stapling/sticking the notice on the board for the intended viewers to access. KCAU
stakeholders are required to visit the board so as to learn of the current affairs of the KCAU.
■ The other means is through representatives who are given information to transmit to their
respective representation groups. For example, a class representative is given instructions or
communication regarding their class to convey to their class, this information could be; class
time schedule, assignment and their due date, a cat date, a make-up cat etc. The class
representatives have various channels to do this namely; physically announcing notices to
the class, posting the notices in social media platforms where the class has a group,
individually informing all the class members either physically or via text messaging.
■ Notices are also posted on the official school website where a visitor doesn’t need a log in to
access the notices.
■ Other notices can be given during an event or meeting where the notice is relevant to the
audience.
Statement of the problem

■ The current notice communication channels are flawed on several levels. However, the
problem this research focuses on is the inefficiency of the current system. The notice
board is inefficient because it doesn’t achieve its intended purpose as expected i.e.
doesn’t reach intended audience conveniently, notices are subject to verification
questions, it is untimely etc.
Proposed solution
■ Digital posting of notices.
■ Provide a log in account to access the mobile notice board.
■ Personalization of notices, specific audiences get specific notices rather general ones.
■ On the go notification services.
■ Offer timely, verified and accurate communication channels for the lecturers and
students.
■ A notice board admin will be responsible for the posting, edition and deletion of notices
making the notices verified.
■ Outdated notices deletion, to ensure the notice board is updated.
■ Archiving of the notices in the database for record keeping purposes.
System objectives
■ To bridge the communication gap between students, lecturers, administration and other
stake holders.
■ To ensure efficient communication of notices/ information.
■ To assure users that the information is verified.
■ To indulge students more in their study life.
■ To complement the current communication channels
Research objectives
■ To investigate the current system; the processes, people involved, activities, its
shortcomings, the organizational expectations of a new system.
■ To design a new system from the acquired findings above that will solve the current
problems.
■ To develop the new system according to the design created.
■ To test whether the new system meets the requirements and whether it is functional.
■ To implement the system developed to streamline the communication, the KCAU
noticeboard application.
Significance of the project

■ On the go notifications will ensure timeliness and therefore save on valuable time.
■ It has high convenience as compared to traditional channels
■ As stated before this project does not intend on eliminating the existing channels but
rather to complement them. This will ensure that notifications reach students and other
stakeholders more efficiently.
■ KCAU saves on time and costs associated with miscommunication issues.
■ Students are more actively involved and conscious of their study life.
Methodology
■ Data collection methods
■ Questionnaires – these are structured set of questions either in soft or hard copy that
are issued to the target for them to fill in their answers. The questions are centered
around the topic in question. This research will employ the use of Questionnaires to
acquire their views.
■ Observations – this basically involves experiencing the system in operation.
Observations shall be recorded for reference and later use in the design process.
■ The data collected by the three methods will be compiled for analysis of the
requirements and other issues discovered in the process. This will allow the
identification of issues the new system can address.
■ The software development methodology used for this research project was spiral model.
■ Stage one- involves determining objectives, alternatives and constraints.
■ Stage two – evaluation of alternatives and resolving of risks.
■ Stage three – development of the system.
■ Stage four – plan the next phase.
Achievements and constraints
■ Achievements;
■ Notices are received on the go .
■ Notices posted are verified.
■ Timely notices
■ There is a wide reach at once.

■ Constraints;
■ Unavailability of data, this limits testing.
■ Limited file formats that can be used in the application.
System evaluation
■ In its current state the application has the current functions which are considerable
■ Authentication of users.
■ Addition and deletion of users.
■ Addition and deletion of notices.
■ An admin portal to post notices.
■ Notices in text format.
■ Pdf and image notices have retrieval issues.
Conclusions and recommendation
■ The research project has considerable results and is viable for expansion to be a fully
fledged application that can serve the university.
■ Availability of data to test will lead to new findings which can be used to improve the
application.
■ The firebase database currently in use is insufficient for the application’s complete
implementation.
■ On the go notifications will go a long way in easing communication in KCAU.
■ Recommendations;
■ Shifting of the application from firebase to university servers.
■ A beta testing activity promoted by the university to further test the application’s
performance.
■ Further development of the application to have additional functions and resolve current
errors.
Screenshots

The log in screen the register screen