Implementing Moodle-based LMS at Castells Immerscom: A Case Study in Enhancing Online Learning

Country: Spain / Industry: Education / Technology: Moodle / Year: Since 2017

In recent years, technology has played a vital role in the field of education. This is particularly true for online and distance learning programs, where a robust Learning Management System (LMS) is essential for delivering course content and facilitating student engagement. Castells Immerscom, an English school in Spain, recognized the importance of an LMS in delivering high-quality instruction to its students and decided to implement Moodle. Moodle is an open-source LMS that is widely used in educational institutions of all levels. This case study examines the implementation of the Moodle-based LMS at Castells Immerscom, including the challenges that were encountered and the results of the implementation. The study also provides recommendations for future LMS implementations in the school to achieve better results.

• The school’s hybrid model of teaching, which combines online and in-class instruction, created a need for a central platform to deliver course materials and facilitate communication between students and instructors
• The current methods for delivering online instruction were inadequate and did not provide the necessary support for the hybrid teaching model
• Difficulty in effectively managing and coordinating both online and in-class components of courses
• Difficulty in providing a seamless and consistent learning experience for students across different modalities
• Difficulty in tracking student progress, engagement and attendance in both in-class and online learning
• Inefficient use of time for instructors, who had to use multiple tools to manage course content and activities
• Difficulty in measuring student learning outcomes across both in-class and online learning
• Difficulty in providing personalized instruction and feedback for students in both modalities
• The need to upgrade the technology infrastructure and training of the staff to better support the hybrid teaching model
• The need to improve the student’s satisfaction and engagement
• The need to increase the attendance and to reduce the dropout rate
• The need to improve the administration and organization of the school in relation to hybrid teaching
• The need to provide accessibility and flexibility in learning for students in both in-class and online modality.

• Moodle was chosen as the LMS for its open-source platform, which allowed for customization to fit the school’s specific needs.
• Moodle’s wide range of features, including course management, assignment management, gradebook, and reporting, met the school’s needs for tracking student progress, engagement and attendance
• The ability to incorporate multimedia, such as videos and podcasts, allowed for a more interactive and engaging learning experience for students
• Moodle’s built-in communication tools, such as forums and messaging, facilitated communication and collaboration among students and instructors
• The integration of e-commerce and payment gateway functionality (handled by WooCommerce), allows for easy management of fees and other monetary transactions.
• The integration of different types of themes, plugins and add-ons, which the school has used to tailor the system to their needs and provide a better user experience.
• The system was configured to provide a seamless and consistent learning experience across both online and in-class modalities
• The LMS was integrated with the school’s existing student information system (SIS) and other educational tools, such as the Learning Analytics

• A project team was assembled with representatives from different departments including IT, teachers, administrators and students to manage the implementation process.
• A detailed project plan was developed, outlining the various phases of the implementation, including system configuration, data migration, testing, and training.
• A thorough assessment of the school’s existing technology infrastructure and resources was conducted to ensure compatibility and scalability with the new LMS.
• Data migration from existing systems and other educational tools, to the new Moodle instalaltion was carried out with the help of scripts and data mapping procedures.
• E-Commerce functionality was handled by WooComerce and it was integrated using Edwiser Bridge Plugin.
• The LMS was configured and customized to meet the school’s specific needs and requirements, this included creating a custom theme and integrating with other tools.
• User acceptance testing was conducted to ensure that the system met the needs of all stakeholders, including students, teachers and administrators.
• Training for staff and teachers were provided on how to use the LMS and its various features, including creating and managing courses, assignments, and grade book was done internally by the client.
• Technical support and a helpdesk were set up to assist Castells Immerscom during the implementation process and after.
• Throughout the implementation process, regular communication and status updates were provided to all stakeholders to keep them informed of progress and to address any issues as they arose.
• The school continued to evaluate and improve the system based on feedback from the users.
• Potential challenges such as data security, technical difficulties and user adoption were proactively addressed throughout the implementation process.

• The LMS enabled the school to continue teaching seamlessly and without interruption during COVID-19 lockdowns, as all course materials, assignments, and communication were centralized and accessible online
• The LMS’s remote access and collaboration features allowed for continuity of instruction, even when students and teachers were unable to be in the classroom physically
• The LMS’s built-in communication tools, such as forums and messaging, facilitated communication and collaboration among students and teachers during online learning
• The LMS’s tracking and reporting features enabled teachers to monitor student engagement and participation in online learning and to provide timely feedback
• The LMS’s e-commerce and payment gateway functionality enabled the school to manage fees and other monetary transactions remotely
  Data from the LMS, such as course completion rates, was used to track student progress during online learning and to identify those who may need additional support.
• The school’s IT department also provided regular technical support to help students and teachers adjust to online learning during the pandemic
• The school’s administration also provided guidance and support to families and students to help them adapt to the new way of learning during the lockdowns
• The LMS enabled the school to keep the attendance rate high and dropout rate low, which helped in maintaining the continuity of learning process.

• The implementation of the Moodle-based LMS at Castells Immerscom was successful in meeting the school’s needs for a central platform for delivering course materials and facilitating communication between students and instructors
• The LMS helped in tracking student progress, engagement and attendance which in turn improved the student learning outcomes
• The LMS helped in providing a seamless and consistent learning experience across both online and in-class modalities
• The LMS helped the school to continue teaching seamlessly and without interruption during COVID-19 lockdowns, and helped in maintaining the continuity of learning process
• The LMS helped in improving the administration and organization of the school in relation to hybrid teaching
• The LMS helped in providing accessibility and flexibility in learning for students in both in-class and online modality.
• The school’s IT department, teachers, students and administrators found the LMS easy to use, highly beneficial and improved their overall satisfaction with the learning experience.
• The school’s IT department also performed regular checkups on the system performance, security and system updates to keep it running smoothly and efficiently.
• The school’s administration found that the LMS helped in managing the school operation more efficiently and effectively
• The school recommends that future LMS implementations should include regular monitoring and improvement, effective training and support for staff, teachers and students, and a comprehensive data migration and integration plan.
• The school also recommends that future implementations consider regular user feedback, user testing and a comprehensive evaluation plan to measure the impact of LMS.