Advancing Conference Experiences: Developing UP Open University’s Novel and Open-Source Virtual Tri-conference Platform

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many academic conferences have moved online or become a mix of in-person and virtual events. However, the problem is that many virtual platforms for these conferences are expensive and have different features. The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has taken a unique approach by creating a new and affordable virtual conference platform. Using Moodle, a free and open-source learning management system (LMS), the University pioneered an in-house-developed conference platform. This study outlines the deployment of the UPOU Virtual Tri-conference Platform (OUTriP) and the improvement of user experience by incorporating features and functionalities related to Look and Feel, Support, and Conference Participation. The participants of the first UPOU Tri-conference (Tri-con) evaluated the OUTriP. Our findings reveal a positive reception of the platform, as indicated by an SUS score of 70.86, interpreted as sound. Most participants offered favorable feedback on the platform's user-friendly nature and effectiveness. The practical implementation of our virtual conference platform holds significant implications, particularly for educational institutions on a budget looking to organize virtual conferences. This platform provides a cost-efficient and adaptable solution, and UPOU's experience showcases the practicality of repurposing Moodle to establish a functional and user-friendly virtual conference platform.

Keywords: academic conferences, Moodle, open-source, virtual tri-conference platform, usability

Received Date: January 24, 2024
Revised Date: March 7 , 2024
Accepted Date: April  10, 2024