07 October 2020

With more than 11,000 students, Bournemouth & Poole College (BPC) is the largest provider of further education and apprenticeships in the region. Its core focus is on work skills, so that students are well placed for their chosen careers.

The college uses a free and open source learning management system called Moodle. Following student feedback, the college decided to modernise its Moodle digital learning environment (DLE) with more engaging features for both staff and students.

Although its main website carried the latest news and events students did not visit this website while accessing the DLE.

The college turned to its DLE provider CoSector – University of London to update its Moodle platform to include features such as a new learning resources section and a modern looking front end.

It also needed continued hosting and support so it could continue to be used in a variety of ways. For example, students needed to be able to upload their work from different platforms, make edits and submit it for marking within a particular timeframe. Teachers needed to be able to access work submitted from any location, at a time that suited them.

CoSector managed the migration and upgrades, ensuring all content was secure. BCP says that with all important links in one place means educators and learners can access all the key information in the same place at the same time.

Now data can be accessed at any time regardless of device and the college reports that teachers can now mark and grade student assignments – and insert comments and annotations – far more easily.

Students have simplified access to research materials and campus facilities, such as Box of Broadcasts (BOB), which allows them to watch and record TV programmes suggested by their lecturer. Information from the student union and college events is now available when students access the DLE -- particularly beneficial for career opportunities, as they are notified when recruiters are to visit. 

The college’s technical officer, Keith Ball, reports that the upgrade aided learning during the pandemic. Some students were loaned computers and given SIM card hubs for use in rural areas without internet access.