Online learning tool for DU: Informal chat application

Inspiration

Currently all informal discussions (i.e. without lecturers) about maths modules/homeworks etc take place in Facebook messenger. We wanted to create a messaging app better suited to the needs of students.

What it does

The messaging app would in particular have the following requirements:

• only requires a durham uni email address (students would be added to course streams by uni administration)
• ability to ask questions anonymously (or not)
• A general course stream in addition to module sub streams
• ability to save messages for later
• ability to tag messages by topics (e.g. homework 3, etc)
• web and mobile applications

The advantages of this would be:

• no need to know other people doing your course to get onto the course Facebook (or other) messaging groups
• less pressure when asking questions as with a smaller group of people and potentially anonymised
• can find past conversations (e.g. with helpful advice) easily through topic tagging tools
• easier to find groups for group projects
• university is less dependent on third party applications.

How we built it

Used socket.io and node.js.

Challenges we ran into

Have very little prior experience in javascript/coding in general so struggled with a lot of aspects of the messaging app.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Managed to code a web-based messaging app which can transfer messages between devices on our network. Added an anonymity feature.

What we learned

A lot. We improved our javascript coding skills and discovered socket.io, gaining a much better understanding of how messaging apps work.

What's next for Online learning tool for DU: Informal chat application

Potential to add other collaborative tools such as:

• whiteboard features
• group chats with a mix of year groups so younger students can get advice from older students.

Built With

• javascript
• nodes.js
• socket.io