Internet access via mobile devices is on the increase, with mobile internet use projected to overtake desktop usage by 2014. Mobile internet use is especially prevalent amongst younger people, so it is essential that online learning platforms are designed with the mobile-user experience in mind.

A recent Webanywhere project for UCFB illustrates how learning platforms can be tailored for mobile access, producing a flexible, scalable solution optimised for mobile devices.


UCFB's requirements


UCFB wanted a flexible, mobile-friendly learning platform that would be accessible anytime, anywhere.


The platform would need to host courses where tasks could be set and returned online. It would also be required to act as an online repository of learning materials and resources (e.g., hosting the online library services of Bucks New University), along with embedded video, documents, quizzes, etc., and signpost external links. UCFB also recognised the learning platform acting as an information hub for the institution, used to promote events, provide news, highlight contact information, and detail student-support services. It would also allow students to connect to their library account.


Finally, the system required a social element, allowing student communication and collaboration with course-specific forums and live chat.


The Webanywhere solution


Webanywhere's Workplace Learning division created a bespoke Moodle 2.0 learning platform for UCFB, offering all the functionality required and more, optimised for mobile access. Webanywhere offered the value for money, the expertise, and the support package to make UCFB's transition to eLearning quick, easy, and cost effective. The company already had a proven track record in the football industry, having created a Moodle platform for the Tottenham Hotspur FC Foundation.


The new system was built and implemented within two months, ready for student induction in September 2012.


The Moodle platform is open source, which means UCFB does not have to factor in yearly or per-user licensing fees as the platform grows both nationally and internationally, which is very much the aspiration. Moodle is a scalable platform using cloud hosting managed by the firm Rackspace, giving UCFB the ability to expand the platform without worrying about escalating hardware costs.


MY UCFB now acts as an online extension of the classroom, unlocking the potential of eLearning for students and tutors alike. The partnership with Webanywhere also included the creation of video training content, accessible through the platform for a truly multimedia academic provision. The next phase for MY UCFB is to support the distance-learning experience, extending the reach of the institution to markets globally.


Conor Gilligan, Head of the Workplace Learning Division at Webanywhere, said, "We are really excited about the football business market, and the UCFB project is something we are very proud of. Partnering with UCFB has allowed us to really stretch our capability in this area and also showcases our ability to deliver mobile learning, a big priority for users in the coming years and a major focus for Webanywhere."