I.J. Modern Education and Computer Science, 2018, 11, 29-35 Published Online November 2018 in MECS (http://www.mecs-press.org/) DOI: 10.5815/ijmecs.2018.11.04 Copyright © 2018 MECS I.J. Modern Education and Computer Science, 2018, 11, 29-35 An Online Collaborative Discussion Platform for Bridging a Technological Reliance Gap in Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania Linus John Nelson Mandela – African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania. Dar es Salaam University College of Education, P. O. Box 2329, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania E-mail: johnl@nm-aist.ac.tz or linusbazz@gmail.com Anael E. Sam Nelson Mandela – African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania. Email: Anael.Sam@nm-aist.ac.tz or anaelsam@gmail.com Received: 03 September 2018; Accepted: 07 October 2018; Published: 08 November 2018 Abstract—Currently, the online discussion forums have become the focal point for e-learning in many Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs); this is due to the ubiquitous of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools, significant rate and fast growing technology adoption and use in many fields including education. However, developing countries, such as Tanzania, are experiencing technical adoption difficulties, such as limited access to computers, problems with Internet connections as well as the technological reliance gap between tutors and learners; these affect the use of technology in Teaching and Learning (T/L). This study aims to use an Online Discussion Platform (onlineDP) to bridge the technological reliance gap between the tutors and learners in HLIs in Tanzania. In this study, the literature review and qualitative research methods were conducted to develop the prototype of the platform. The UMBC semantic similarity service was used to develop the contents filter used to reduce the number of duplicate discussion questions. The application was mainly developed using Laravel Pre-processor (PHP) framework and My Structured Query Language (MySQL) database. The result is the web-based application prototype that enhances the collaborative learning environment in HLIs in Tanzania. The technologies to be used for T/L, should consider both sides of tutors and learners as well as the theoretical framework for their implementations. Index Terms—Online Discussion Platform, online Asynchronous Discussion Forum, Online Discussion Group, Web-Based Application, E-Learning. I. INTRODUCTION It’s significantly understood that, in the collaborative learning situation, discussion is an excludable entity that has been increased in the adoption and use of the ICT in the T/L processes. This has consequently led to the fast development and use of online platforms in offering an e- learning. In the recent past, education system delivery in Tanzania has received adequate changes through the use of learning management systems (LMS) such as Moodle platform [1]. Additionally, the asynchronous discussion forums such as Stackoverflow, Quora, Edmodo, to mention a few and those found into the LMS are used to offer online learning as well as to supplement the classroom T/L. The asynchronous discussion forums provide a virtual collaborative space for collaborating entities and facilitate a free learning environment without limitations of physical availability, geographical settings and time [2]. In addition, asynchronous groups found in social networks (SNs) such as the Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, among others, help to facilitate social collaboration, sharing knowledge, strengthening the learning and decision making. Although ICT is being adopted in T/L environment, there are still many challenges faced globally, for instance, the technical problems such as Internet connection problems, limited computer access and the technology used by the young generation vis-a-vis the old generation which has consequently left a huge gap due to the fact that, an era in which a technology is being invented makes it a native for people born in that time; meanwhile, leaving the other generations as immigrants [3]. The reliance of the technology between the tutors and learners differs in a way that learners engage more in the use of technology that tailors around their area of experience and it differs from the technology used by tutors in the context of e-learning. For example, many tutors in HLIs in Tanzania are trained to use the traditional LMS, whereas, their learners prefer to use new trending technologies such as social networks (SNs) platforms; this makes them active and innovative in learning [1, 4]. Recently, researchers are exploring the technology reliance gap that exists between tutors and learners. Some researchers, propose to have an LMS integrated with the