Education Bespoke Web and Software Development

Education bespoke web and software development

The education industry in the UK is booming, it encompasses institutions that provide all levels of education from primary to higher and beyond as well as a significant number of organisations who offer products and services to these institutions. Arguably, one of the oldest industries in existence, it goes without saying that outdated, complex and inefficient processes are prevalent across the board. Bespoke web and software development continues to address these challenges, transforming the industry for the better.

The role of bespoke software in education

Bespoke software can play a significant role in the education sector, regardless of whether you're an institution or a supplier. It can be used to facilitate positive learning experiences for schools, colleges and universities alike, automate manual and time consuming administrative tasks in the back office and allow students to engage in collaborative learning online. Common software systems prevalent across the education industry include:

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Learning management systems can be designed to offer online learning, content delivery and student progress tracking. Key features may include personalised learning paths, multimedia content support, integrated assessments and detailed analytics to monitor and enhance student performance.

Admissions and enrollment systems

Admissions & enrollment software can be developed to automate the application, review and enrollment processes which can in turn, simplify and streamline admissions and make the whole enrollment experience more pleasant for all involved. Key features may include online application forms, document submission and automated applicant tracking and notifications.

Communication portals

These systems save a lot of paper and can be designed to enhance communication between educators, parents and students. Key features might include secure two way messaging, announcements, access to progress reports, learner history and access to learner schedules (no more pretending it's a non uniform day when it isn't!).

Assessment and grading systems

Assessment & grading software allows staff to create, distribute and evaluate assignments and exams. Key features could include automated grading (with the help of a reliable and powerful AI tool), integrated feedback tools where students and staff can provide feedback and/or comments and performance analytics and reports.

Student Information Systems (SIS)

These popular systems exist to digitally manage records such as enrollment, attendance, grades and demographics. They are usually developed to provide a platform for centralised data management and are often used as the 'core' data feed for a number of other systems.

Library and resource management systems

Libraries are sadly not as popular as they once were but this isn't the case in the Education system. Software can be created that allows libraries to manage the tracking of borrowers, returns and availability of educational materials. Key features may include digital catalogues, reservation systems and automated overdue reminders.

Understanding educational needs

We have detailed some of the most common types of software systems that can be found across the educational sector, now lets take a look at how to identify the needs of your specific organisation and how to turn it into an effective software solution:

1) Stakeholder engagement

Every good software solution starts with stakeholder engagement. This is the stage where the development team meets with everyone involved - teachers, students, parents or others - to understand what the software actually needs to deliver.

That might mean solving specific challenges, reducing manual data entry (which there is a LOT of) or creating a single place where everyone can access resources. 

2) Operational analysis

Next comes an analysis of the current environment which involves reviewing workflows, processes and existing systems to identify issues, inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.

Alongside this, it's a good time to map out any additional processes or workflows the new software will need to support.

3) Integration with existing systems

In addition to the above, any existing systems the new software needs to integrate with should be highlighted and this applies whether they are bespoke or off-the-shelf.

4) Incorporate future plans

Where possible, any future plans you might have should be incorporated into the operational mapping to ensure the software is built in a way that can accommodate them. For example, if you're an educational institution and know you will be taking over additional campuses, offering new courses or would like to make the application forms available to individuals who speak other languages - the software can be designed to ensure this is possible in the future.

5) Regulatory and compliance requirements

The education industry is heavily regulated on a number of different levels. For example, if you have a business that writes educational qualifications, you'd need to make sure they meet the standards set by the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). The beauty of going bespoke is that such things can be accounted for in the software. In this case, there could be a mandatory checklist for all courses created that need to be physically ticked off to confirm each standard has been met.

6) Accessibility and inclusivity

Accessibility and inclusivity should be built into everything an educational institution does. Failing to do so not only risks excluding people but also means missing valuable opportunities to engage with and support a wider audience.

Cost effectiveness and future proofing

Regardless of whether you're an educational institution or a supplier to the industry, custom software can be cost effective because it's built around your specific requirements and yours alone. Unlike off-the-shelf alternatives, bespoke solutions remove the need for unnecessary features and functionality and instead, offer only what you do need and nothing that you don't.

Custom systems can enhance your productivity, save time and resources through automation and streamline your workflows and processes, leading to long term cost savings and often, the software paying for itself. 

In addition, they can be built to accommodate your future ambitions, negating the need for costly replacements or additions further down the line and their integration capabilities with existing systems can further maximise ROI by extending your current investments rather than outright replacing them - win, win!

Strategies for future proofing bespoke software

Make it scalable - We've touched on it already but it’s important to factor future expectations into any new software. This might include supporting a growing user base, processing larger volumes of data as your organisation expands or making it easy to add new courses to cater to a more diverse set of students.

Embrace modern tech - By building with and/or incorporating modern technologies such as cloud computing, VR and AI, your software is more likely to stay relevant and engaging whilst also being better prepared to adapt to future developments in those areas and let's be honest, we know they're coming.

Make it user focused - By making your software user friendly, you create a positive learning experience. When you also act on user feedback, people are more likely to adopt and continue using your software.

Keep it updated & secure - It’s essential to schedule regular software updates to address security vulnerabilities, incorporate user feedback and keep on top of technological advancements. In a heavily regulated industry, both security and system performance are too important to risk.

Developing tailored applications for education: Ensuring quality user experience and engagement

Whether it’s a mobile app, desktop software, web platform or cross platform solution, developing applications for educational organisations can benefit students, staff and your business as a whole regardless of where in the industry it sits. Here are just a few of the possibilities applications can bring to the world of education:

For learners

A personalised learning experience

Everyone learns differently - some of us through listening, some through hands on practice and some by visual observation. Through bespoke applications, you can offer multiple learning methods, letting students choose what works best for them. AI and analytics can also track student behavior, delivering personalised content and learning paths that match their strengths and preferences.

Flexible access

Covid had a devastating impact on all of us - students included. With people being all but banished to their homes for significant periods of time, technology and more specifically, educational applications provided a way for students to still be able to attend classes and learn, providing they had a suitable device to be able to access them. Covid aside, education apps provide a way for learners to be able to access resources, communicate with peers and staff and even complete assignments from anywhere, at any time.

Better accessibility & inclusivity

For students with additional needs, applications can provide useful features such as text to speech tools and visual learning aids. For students who may speak different languages, bespoke applications can be built with tools that translate text to other languages in real time. 

For staff

Streamlined & efficient admin

What list of bespoke software benefits would be complete without streamlining processes and automating workflows? Attendance and absences can be tracked without touching a single sheet of paper, lessons scheduled automatically based on calendar availability and enrolments managed digitally. In short - it makes life a lot easier for your staff and students.

Inclusive compliance

As we have already touched on, the education industry is heavily regulated and if you're part of an institution, there are standards you not only have to follow, but prove you have followed. Software applications can be developed to incorporate the specific rules and regulations that are applicable to you and provide an easy way for you to track and monitor progress. 

How can we help?

So there you have it, the education sector is vast, complex and often admin heavy. Enrollment processes, remaining compliant and ensuring all learners are accommodated can be time consuming and inefficient with mistakes being made on the regular - but it doesn't have to be this way. At Cool Code Company, we have a successful track record of working with the education industry and providing fit for purpose solutions that save both time and costs. Whether you're looking for a mobile app, a web based solution or a custom elearning system - we can help you transform the way you work for the better, for good.

Where's the proof?

We're glad you asked! Take a look at how we helped Independent Locker Solutions - the largest provider of lockers to rent in secondary school in the UK - ditch the worry of whether their system would be overloaded on release of the lockers to being confident every time. We completed a thorough architectural restructure of their booking system which improved performance significantly with the added bonus of a £30,000 P/A cost saving on hosting fees alone.