Category: Learning Management System

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service Case Study

Post author By user
Post date February 6, 2023

Provision of a key training platform

Delivered for Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service

AT A GLANCE

Delivery of a Moodle learning management system
Hosting of an eLearning content creation tool

THE CLIENT

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, is the local authority fire service serving the English unitary authorities of Buckinghamshire and the City of Milton Keynes. It operates 19 stations and serves a population of more than 800,000 in the South of England.

THE CHALLENGE

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service issued an invitation to tender for a platform to build and host eLearning courses, as well as provide reporting on these courses.

Staff members at all levels of the fire service need to complete various courses to undertake their roles. The system also needed to track user progress in order to complete personal development plans, ensuring that staff meet fire service standards.

The system had to match complex organisational structures and provide an eLearning content creation tool.

OUR APPROACH

SkillSet won the tender with a solution based on the Moodle open-source learning management system (LMS).

We worked to an ADDIE (Analyse, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) methodology. Each stage was signed off before progressing to the next, to ensure that the project met the fire service’s requirements.

Analyse – SkillSet verified the project requirements, defined system roles and permissions, and mapped out the initial course hierarchy.

Design – The fire service had a clear vision for the site’s visual design and functionality. We worked in partnership with them to ensure the branding of the learning management system blended seamlessly with their existing websites. Learning report contents and integration requirements were documented.

Develop – The Moodle platform was built using the output from the Analyse and Design stages. The whole system was tested by a small number of the fire service’s staff, using example courses on the staging system. Once approved, the solution was migrated to the production environment for final testing and sign-off.

Implement – SkillSet also implemented an open-source eLearning content creation tool called Adapt. It is a free and easy-to-use authoring tool, which creates fully responsive, multi-device, HTML5 eLearning content. This provides the fire service’s staff with a user-friendly platform to create and publish their eLearning content.

Evaluate – SkillSet continues to monitor the system for any potential issues. We also provide help in creating reports and management information.

SkillSet uses AWS Cloudwatch monitoring tools for all the hosted system components. This alerts us if there are any issues with running services, memory/CPU/disk usage, or errors encountered on the servers.

THE RESULTS

SkillSet continues to maintain and support the Moodle learning management system for the fire service. We have made several updates to the system, most recently we implemented a custom notification plugin. This allows the system to send email notifications to users at defined intervals, for example when a user enrolls onto a course, or upon completion of a course.

OUR PARTNER’S FEEDBACK

“The learning management system SkillSet has delivered for the service has provided our staff with an excellent platform to obtain training information, complete mandatory eLearning packages, and maintain their operational competencies.

A significant part of the project for us was ensuring the LMS had the functionality for operational employees to record their training competencies as well as housing the practical standards they’re set against. SkillSet has helped us to create a user-friendly experience that allows our staff to view their training standards and sign them off in the same system. The time savings this has created has allowed our crews to focus their time and attention to the practical and theoretical application of the training standards to ensure they’re maintaining their competence.”

Elias Williams, People System & Learning Design Officer

Tags Learning Management System

Case Study eLearning Learning Management System

PEPPERMINT TECHNOLOGY Case Study

Post author By user
Post date November 14, 2022

Development of Product eLearning and Moodle Learning Management System

Delivered for PEPPERMINT TECHNOLOGY

AT A GLANCE

Training needs analysis.
Role-based online training solution.
Working with subject matter experts to create learning content.

THE CLIENT

Peppermint Technology is a software company supplying cloud-based, award-winning software to legal organisations. They provide law firms with a modular choice of easy-to-use, innovative, and modern legal applications – including client engagement (CRM), matter management, case management, and work management.

Peppermint’s CX365 software brings together all the applications, transactions, collaboration, and content tools required to operate a high-performing legal business.

THE CHALLENGE

Peppermint issued an RFI, looking for an accomplished eLearning vendor to assist them in the provision of a new training platform – Minerva. The aim of the Minerva platform is to provide training on Peppermint’s CX365 software to clients, colleagues and third-party partners.

Sarah Kemp, Head of Product Enablement at Peppermint Technology, states:

“Learning more about Peppermint products, particularly best practice use (using the features and functionality in the way in which they were designed to be used), can maximise adoption, supporting the delivery of higher quality business and client outcomes, at the same time providing users with the best user experience and maximising the value returned by investments made in Peppermint products and users’ valuable time using them.”

You can read the full press release in which Sarah announces the launch of the Minerva platform on the Peppermint website.

OUR APPROACH

SkillSet provided Peppermint with a lead training consultant. They immersed themselves in the culture, strategy, and mindset of Peppermint for the life cycle of the project. The first step our consultant took was to perform a training needs analysis (TNA) on behalf of Peppermint. The TNA was then used to structure seven modules, covering 208 learning objectives.

We recommended a role-based, online training solution, where learning resources could be accessed by multiple users simultaneously. This enables training to be self-directed, allowing different users to access their individual learning paths.

SkillSet developed the Minerva solution using Moodle. This allows content to be provided in multiple languages, according to user preferences. Each module contains learning objects (such as simulations, videos, PDF guides, and content overviews) and resources such as links and assessments.

Our consultant worked with subject matter experts to scope learning materials and procure the necessary information to create the content for the training platform. Content was developed as a series of modules, with each progressing individually through the stages of the ADDIE methodology (analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation).

In the analysis stage, the existing material was reviewed to assess whether each learning module should follow the same path or whether a different structure was required. We determined key learning points, checked if all of the material was still current, and all of the information was appropriate.

In the design phase, we ensured the visual design of Peppermint’s content matched their existing branding. This provided consistency across the eLearning, with a recognisable and engaging interface, which was easy to use. SkillSet worked with the subject matter experts to create storyboards for the learning content.

The development stage required SkillSet’s developers to take each storyboard and turn it into an eLearning module. We added animation, graphics, interactions, and questions, all appropriate to the audience. These visual enhancements give each learner an engaging experience throughout the module they are working on.

During the implementation stage SkillSet worked with Peppermint to pilot the training with a small group of test users in a soft launch before making the material generally available.

In the final phase, we checked that objectives were met, discussed how well the project was executed, and agreed what lessons could be learnt.

THE RESULTS

The Minerva training platform launched to external users in November 2022. SkillSet continues to provide hosting and support to Peppermint. In SkillSet’s 2022 customer satisfaction survey, Peppermint noted that we fulfilled all of their requirements and provided expert advice, helping the company to make better decisions regarding this project.

OUR PARTNER’S FEEDBACK

“The commitment shown by SkillSet to getting the project over the line, even when it turned out to be more complex than anticipated, was really appreciated and reinforced the reasons why we chose SkillSet as a long -term partner for this work. I really felt like there was a commitment that went beyond customer/supplier.”

CHRIS DORAN, DIRECTOR OF SOFTWARE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

Tags Learning Management System, Peppermint

Case Study Learning Management System

London Fire Brigade Case Study

Post author By user
Post date August 22, 2022

Assessment Management Tool

Delivered for LONDON FIRE BRIGADE

AT A GLANCE

Moodle platform
Single sign-on
Assessments for different user groups

THE CLIENT

London Fire Brigade (LFB) is one of the largest firefighting and rescue organisations in the world. LFB currently employs around 5,700 staff, including 4,500 operational firefighters.

THE CHALLENGE

LFB issued an invitation to tender, seeking the implementation of an online assessment management tool, to replace its existing training platform.

The replacement platform had to provide assessments for the following user groups:

Operational and control staff, to assess their knowledge following a learning intervention.
Candidates being assessed for promotion.
Candidates being assessed as potential recruits.
All staff, receiving online training.
Recruitment staff, trainers and managers, to administer assessments, set questions and review reports.

SkillSet proposed a solution based on the Moodle open-source learning management system to meet these requirements and were subsequently successful in winning the contract.

OUR APPROACH

SkillSet starts all projects with a kick-off meeting. We confirmed project objectives, discussed and amended the plan, and, agreed on potential risks and issues. This gave us a solid foundation to build upon.

We designed and developed a state-of-the-art learning management system, providing LFB with accurate records of staff training. We used LFB branding and style guides to ensure that the system blended seamlessly with their existing website.

SkillSet’s detailed knowledge of Moodle allowed us to satisfy most of the client’s requirements through configuration alone. We defined permission groups, which LFB administrators could then allocate staff to.

A wide variety of question types were used in the online assessments, including:

Multiple choice.
True/ false.
Essay style.
Fill in the blanks.
File uploads.

We also integrated the new system with LFB’s existing platforms. Each user has a unique identifier to enable results from the assessments to be imported directly into LFB’s other training systems. Active Directory was also integrated to provide users with single-sign-on access.

LFB mandated that the system should be hosted in the UK to comply with GDPR legislation. SkillSet chose an Amazon Web Services (AWS) UK data centre for this. SkillSet is proud to be a Consulting Partner with AWS. This alliance allows us to provide our customers with guidance on security, resilience, performance, and back-up, ensuring that their cloud environment meets their requirements exactly.

Once the platform was built and accepted by LFB, a formal handover, including training for LFB staff, was conducted. SkillSet continues to provide hosting and support to LFB.

OUR PARTNER’S FEEDBACK

“SkillSet delivered a product which matched our specification on time and on budget, which included hooking into our existing environment, allowing single sign-on via the Azure platform.

For us, the project was about enabling a facility for staff (or potential staff) to undertake online assessments in relation to recruitment. It allows people to access the assessments as a candidate and therefore not be immediately identifiable.

In addition, it allows us to easily send out staff surveys and more importantly, level 2 knowledge checks following a learning intervention. These are logged against individuals within the organisation, enabling an additional check that staff are performing at an agreed level.”

JASON SIMS, Business Systems Improvement Manager

Tags Learning Management System

Case Study eLearning Learning Management System

YGAM and Betknowmore UK Case Study

Post author By user
Post date August 22, 2022

Support and maintenance of a multi-tenanted Moodle learning management system

Delivered for YGAM and Betknowmore UK

AT A GLANCE

Maintenance and support of an existing Iomad / Moodle site
Re-building safer gambling eLearning content

THE CLIENT

The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) is an award-winning charity with a social purpose to inform, educate, and safeguard young people against gambling harm.

YGAM provides free training and resources for teachers, youth workers, practitioners, universities, faith leaders, and health professionals on the topics of gaming and gambling.

Betknowmore UK (BKM) are also a UK charity, helping people take back control of their life from gambling. BKM Evolve is a wholly owned subsidiary of Betknowmore UK and offers bespoke gambling harm training and consultancy.

THE CHALLENGE

YGAM and BKM had an existing learning management system. This had been developed using a multi-tenanted version of Moodle called Iomad. The platform provides the ability to separately deliver courses to multiple organisations.

YGAM and BKM looked to source an LMS provider to deliver maintenance, support and future development for their Safer Gambling training platform.

OUR APPROACH

As the Safer Gambling training platform was already a fully working LMS, SkillSet created a configuration document, including version and key functionality information, to ensure the site was fully specified, including its bespoke code.

SkillSet developed a staging site (a replica of the production site) to be used for testing developments and changes before transitioning the production site to SkillSet’s infrastructure. This was hosted in an Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centre in the UK.

SkillSet is proud to be a Consulting Partner with AWS. This allows us to provide our customers with guidance on security, resilience, performance, and back-up, ensuring that YGAM’s cloud environment met their requirements exactly.

The Safer Gambling training consisted of 10 eLearning modules hosted on the existing LMS. However, these were not mobile-friendly, and some of the progress buttons were not functioning correctly.

SkillSet rebuilt the eLearning modules to resolve these issues. We moved the videos to a third-party host to improve the user experience. We also replaced exercises with mobile-compatible interactions and updated the voiceover using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. AI voiceover is a modern way to provide voiceovers, which can then be economically updated whenever needed.

The new platform communicates with YGAM’s Salesforce system, sharing information on learners, licenses, and course completions. SkillSet extended the API to notify administrators of failures, and failed records can be resent either as single records or in bulk. This ensures YGAM are aware of all issues and can easily update missing data.

THE RESULTS

SkillSet have developed a supportive partnership with the Safer Gambling training team. We have weekly calls and the team have full access to SkillSet’s support and expertise.

We continue to add new functionality to the platform, including self-service certificates and content updates. SkillSet has also advised YGAM and BKM on planning and introducing changes to the system.

Learners can now access high-quality eLearning courses, which are compatible with their mobile phones.

All of this helps YGAM and BKM to continue with their mission to educate and safeguard young people against gambling harm.

OUR PARTNER’S FEEDBACK

“We chose to work with SkillSet because of their expertise in the LMS sector and their ability and understanding of IOMAD plugins. We have no regrets on making this decision and have found SkillSet to be a great supportive team.”

IAN SHANAHAN, Director of Business Development & Fundraising, YGAM.

“The team at SkillSet have helped to streamline our digital service delivery and have always been there to offer support and guidance.”

BEN DAVIES, Head of Safer Gambling and Partnerships, Betknowmore UK.

Tags Learning Management System