As a COBIS Supporting Member we were delighted to have the opportunity to work directly with COBIS recently on a new project to develop two key online services:
- A learning management system to deliver COBIS Learning Programmes including CPML and CPSL
- A compliance and accreditation platform for member schools – the “Digital Workbook”
COBIS supplied a detailed specification for the digital platform, but equally importantly the team were seeking a provider who could form an effective working relationship with them, providing advice and support beyond the software aspect of the project.
We spoke with CEO Colin Bell about the initial decision to appoint Titus Learning:
“Titus impressed us with a pro-active approach to their pitch, travelling down to London at short notice to meet the COBIS Team in person. It helped that Titus were already COBIS Supporting Members and that we had worked with them in the past. This meant that we were aware of their staff’s committed work ethic and ability to adapt to suit our needs for this unique project.”
Working closely with the COBIS team, led by Peter Simpson, we designed a custom Moodle solution which would incorporate and integrate the two key elements, alongside an implementation plan to ensure the COBIS team would be guided at each stage of the process, and properly supported post-launch.
Key considerations in ensuring the new platform was a success included:
- Single Moodle system integrating both services
- Compatible with mobile, tablet and desktop devices
- Elastic hosting for scalability and performance
- Bespoke theme design to maximise usability
The new platform was designed from a user-centric perspective, with a clean and clear interface. We developed a fully responsive theme to guarantee usability across a range of devices, and followed COBIS brand guidelines to ensure a consistent appearance with the organisation’s existing web properties.
For hosting, we used Amazon Web Services, to ensure capacity for the projected user group at launch, as well as allowing easy scalability for future growth. Using cloud hosting in this way ensured costs were kept low initially, with capacity expanding as needed – ideal for the gradual rollout which COBIS had planned for.
Reflecting on the project, COBIS CEO Colin Bell commented:
“Titus Learning were by far the best choice for COBIS in our search for a partner to develop a Digital Workbook (DWB) for our new Patron’s Accreditation and Compliance scheme. The package offered by Titus most definitely matched our main requirement – a cost-effective and easy-to-use LMS that harnesses digital technology to support school improvement.”
With the project now in the initial rollout stage, we look forward to feedback from COBIS members.
Speaking regarding the project launch, COBIS Chairman Trevor Rowell said:
“The LMS built by Titus Learning is a very important part of the COBIS Patron’s Accreditation and Compliance scheme. It allows COBIS to stand out from other accreditation programmes by providing a seamless digital experience for schools working towards a global British mark of quality.
As longstanding COBIS Supporting Members, Titus understood our needs and goals and have played a major role in the successful launch of The Patron’s Accreditation and Compliance.”
To learn more about the work we’ve done with Moodle, or to find out how we could help your school or organisation improve engagement, communication and learning outcomes, book a short online demo with one of our team.
