Modernising a University Learning Platform: From Legacy LMS to Adaptive Digital Campus

Why the Legacy Platform Was Failing

The problem wasn’t just outdated software. It was a broken learning experience. Blackboard had been in place since 2008.

Over time:

• Student expectations evolved (mobile-first, on-demand content)
• The LMS did not

Student Experience Issues

• No real-time notifications
• Poor mobile usability
• Content buried in static folders
• No intelligent searchThe platform behaved like a file repository, not a learning system

Faculty Workarounds

To compensate, staff used:

• Microsoft Teams
• Email
• Physical handouts

Result: Fragmented learning environmentStudents navigating 4–5 systems per course

Operational Impact

• Student satisfaction: 23%
• Mobile usage: 8%
• Faculty time: 40% spent on LMS admin

System Design Approach

This was not an LMS upgrade. It was a transition to a digital campus platform.

Goals:

• unify learning experience
• reduce faculty workload
• enable data-driven student support

Platform Architecture

1. Modern LMS Core

• Built on Moodle 4.x (customised)
• Integrated with Azure AD (SSO)
• Delivered as a Progressive Web App (PWA)

Key outcomes:

• consistent experience across desktop + mobile
• no dependency on app store downloads

2. Lecture Capture & AI Search

Integration with Panopto enabled:

• AI-generated transcripts (12 languages)
• automatic chapter markers
• full-text search across lectures

Example:
Search: “Keynesian multiplier” → jumps directly to exact lecture segment

3. Student Analytics & Risk Detection

We built an early-warning system based on:

• login frequency
• content engagement
• assessment submission patterns

Risk Model Output

• weekly risk score per student
• automatic alerts to personal tutors

SLA: tutor outreach within 3 working days

4. Content Authoring System

• H5P-based interactive content builder
• standardised templates for modules

Result:
content preparation time:4 hours → 90 minutes per module

Learning Experience Transformation

Before:

• static content
• fragmented tools
• reactive student support

After:

• searchable learning content
• unified platform
• proactive academic intervention

Change Management Strategy

Technology alone does not drive adoption. We ran a 12-week parallel change programme:

• training for 340 academic staff
• hands-on workshops
• guided migration of course content
• live support during rollout

Result:

• staff confidence before student launch
• minimal disruption at go-live

Performance Outcomes

Student Experience

• Satisfaction: 23% → 71%

Mobile Adoption

• 8% → 68% (within one semester)

Learning Engagement

• Lecture recording usage: 4× increase

Student Support

• At-risk intervention rate: 3× increase

Faculty Productivity

• Content preparation time reduced by ~60%

Operational Impact

Before:

• disconnected systems
• low engagement
• reactive student support

After:

• unified digital campus
• high engagement across devices
• proactive academic intervention

Why This Worked

1. Mobile-first designMatched how students actually consume content
2. Searchable learning contentTurned lectures into accessible knowledge assets
3. Integrated analyticsEnabled early intervention, not late reaction
4. Faculty workflow optimisationReduced admin burden → increased teaching focus
5. Strong change managementEnsured adoption across academic staff

The Key Insight

Digital learning is not about content availability. It is about:

• accessibility
• discoverability
• timely intervention

Final Outcome

Meridian moved from:

• Legacy LMS → Adaptive learning platform
• Fragmented tools → Unified digital ecosystem
• Reactive teaching → Data-driven support

Result: A scalable digital campus that improves:

• student engagement
• academic outcomes
• operational efficiency

Building the Future of Digital Learning?

Intagleo designs modern learning platforms for universities and education providers, combining UX, AI, and data to improve outcomes at scale.

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