DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENHANCED IOT-ENABLED CLASSROOM UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The contemporary educational environment faces significant challenges, frequent classroom cancellations, inefficient scheduling practices, and pervasive underutilization of physical teaching spaces (Bell, 2024). Traditional scheduling often results in nearly empty classrooms with electrical devices running unnecessarily, exacerbating energy inefficiency. Outdated and politically influenced space‑management policies often obstruct strategic resource allocation, as academic departments resist centralized control over classroom scheduling (Freeman et al., 2024). This study employs a quantitative research design and agile development methodology to evaluate stakeholder perspectives on classroom usage. The collected data informs the design, testing, and refinement of a prototype for the Enhanced IoT-Enabled Classroom Power Management system. The development of an enhanced IoT‑enabled classroom utilization management system addresses systemic inefficiencies in educational space allocation where legacy policies and political dynamics often lead to fragmented control over classroom scheduling. By deploying IoT technologies such as occupancy sensors, wireless infrastructure, and smart analytics, institutions can centralize management, optimize space use, and significantly improve utilization rates (Pasquel Mohottige et al, 2021). This solution aims to improve energy efficiency, optimize classroom scheduling, and enable smarter resource allocation through real-time monitoring and control. Agile methodology ensures continuous feedback integration, adaptability, and alignment with stakeholder needs. Findings strongly support the use of IoT technologies to address scheduling conflicts and enhance operational efficiency. The study presents a compelling case for implementing smart systems in educational institutions to promote sustainable and efficient campus operations.