Abstract—The paper promotes a cloud-based course management system for higher educational institutions. Thru cloud services the student’s assignments, examinations and other activities are automatically recorded in a database and immediately the results are evaluated. The system provides timely feedback to the learners regarding their rating. It provides online examination that can randomize questions from the question bank which provides unique set of questions per student. Thus, synchronous automated examination is secured even though there is limited space for the examinees and they are seated closely with each other as they take the exam. The said system was pilot tested to eighty (80) freshmen college students. Based on the result of the survey obtained from the respondents they highly recommend the proposed system. Thus, it can be utilized as an alternative strategy for delivering courses to facilitate resources and services in the classroom. Index Terms—Cloud-based application, course management system, didactic model, synchronous learning. I. INTRODUCTION For more than a decade some educational institutions were implementing eLearning as an alternative strategy for delivering courses to facilitate resources and services in the classroom. They are using software like Learning Management System (LMS) or Course Management System (CMS) to manage the courses offered in the Internet. Ref. [1], [2] according to the survey done by Itmazi and Megías there are more than 200 LMS products. They said that Blackboard is one of the leading commercial LMS (or CMS) software packages used by North American and European universities. Nevertheless, the Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle) is the most recommended Open Source software (OSS). Ref. [3] in another study, Beatty and Ulasewicz compared Moodle and Blackboard. Beatty addressed four main issues of comparison such as: 1) interface and usability; 2) discussion forum tool used; 3) assignment posting and sharing among students and 4) the promise of new features. When it comes to author control of posts and in sharing student work she prefers Blackboard. However, for interface ease of use and for the promise of new features she recommends Moodle. She believes most visual learners will appreciate the flexibilities of the Moodle interface. Manuscript received November 15, 2013; revised January 14, 2014. This work was supported in part by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. B. E. V. Comendador and A. C. Guillo are with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (e-mail: bennycomendador@yahoo.com, acguillo@pup.edu.ph). Consequently, Ulasewicz emphasized that when shifting from a commercial online tool, such as Blackboard, to an alternative online tool, such as Moodle, information technology and instructional design (instructor support services) and faculty advisory committees should be involved. Ref. [4] “In Japan, the implementation of asynchronous distance learning is not yet fully realized in most distance university even if they are well advanced in technology gadgets”. Their students’ motivation is different from their Western counterparts because of its education. Ref. [5] however, UNESCO reports that the Philippines is one of “two dozen countries that devote less than 3 percent of its gross national product to public spending on education. It has had to rely substantially on aid to finance basic education.” Ref. [6] apparently, the country receives an average of 20-25 typhoons a year apart from other natural disasters such as landslides and floods. It is a disaster-prone country and those calamities and disasters may greatly affect the Philippine educational system [7]. Thus, Philippine educators should be innovative to bring equal opportunities to an underserved part of the population in terms of broadening access to educational opportunities through Information Communication Technology. Ref. [8] in our previous work, we developed a project called Network-Mediated Learning System (NMLS) for a Post-Baccalaureate Program in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. However, it was not fully implemented in 2002 because of the complexity on courseware development and limited university Internet bandwidth. Consequently, cloud based application is getting popular not only in large companies but also in the academe for eLearning solutions. Ref. [9] this emerging technology has a potential to provide ubiquitous tool and powerful platform which may be used for higher educational institutions. Ref. [10] it provides resources and infrastructure as a source rather than capital expenditure that would mitigate the institution’s outlay on information technology resources. Ref. [11] in another study by Reyes, he presents how DROPBOX, a free cloud storage service provider was utilized by the Angeles University Foundation in facilitating the delivery of instructions. It’s emphasis is on collaborative works, file synchronizations, file sharing and online submission of laboratory works. Nonetheless, with the advent of cloud computing, Open Source Software (OSS), ubiquitous gadgets and tools as well as increased Internet bandwidth, we can now design sophisticated instructional software for our students to offer courses using blended learning strategy. As such, the authors A Community Cloud-Based Course Management System Using Platform as a Service (PaaS) Model for Higher Educational Institutions Benilda Eleonor V. Comendador and Alberto C. Guillo, Member, IACSIT International Journal of Information and Education Technology, Vol. 4, No. 6, December 2014 478 DOI: 10.7763/IJIET.2014.V4.454