Client Background and Mission

STEM Fuse, established in 2009, is a well-known provider of digital curriculum for K–12 education.They specialize in STEM, computer science, and CTE curriculum solutions. With their impactful and affordable offerings, they have expanded their presence in over 1500 schools across the USA, revolutionizing STEM education. To offer effective and budget-friendly curriculum solutions for schools, teachers, and students.

Needs and Challenges

1. Complex Architecture: The original LMS structure was intricate, impacting user experience and efficiency.
2. Content Integration: Ensuring third-party content from platforms like Google Docs, Articulate, H5P, and Construct was accessible securely and solely on the LMS was pivotal.
3. User Interaction: Empowering teachers with a real-time overview of student activities and enabling efficient feedback mechanisms.
4. Migration Scale: With vast user and school data, the migration process was inherently bulky, requiring meticulous mapping and integration.
5. Progress Tracking: Implementing a system where students could monitor their progress and resume learning, adapting to curriculum changes.
6. Responsiveness and Scalability: Catering to the growing number of mobile users was essential.
7. Custom User Dashboard: Providing a personalized dashboard experience according to user profiles and subscriptions.
8. Single Sign-On: Implementing a secure and efficient login system using Google and Clever.

These are exactly the challenges STEM Fuse overcame with our help. Let us help you modernize your LMS or enterprise platform just like we did for STEM Fuse.

Check Our Solutions

Now, let's examine how we tackled the issue!

OpenSense Labs Approach

STEM Fuse’s Learning Management System (LMS) initially operated on Drupal 7, leveraging its capabilities for complex functionalities and interactive learning features. Recognizing the need for improved scalability, performance, and user experience, we first migrated the platform to Drupal 8, streamlining its architecture and laying the foundation for modern enhancements. As part of the platform’s ongoing evolution, we have since upgraded it to Drupal 10, ensuring long-term stability, security, and optimal performance.

Strategy

When we initially partnered with STEM Fuse, this was the core strategy we followed to modernize their LMS:

• Revamp the LMS with Drupal 8 to simplify the structure.
• Ensure secure integration of third-party content and eliminate duplication.
• Enhance interactivity and enable real-time feedback and progress tracking.
• Design tailored dashboards based on user roles.
• Implement a scalable and mobile-friendly platform architecture.

Implementation Details

Design

• Refreshed the site's aesthetics by updating illustrations.
• Introduced tag-based conditions to display relevant information on dashboard blocks for teachers and students.

Development

1. Content Native Integration: Through the Google API, content from platforms like Construct and Articulate was converted into Drupal-friendly formats. Dynamic iframe embeds ensure that content visibility was restricted to subscribed users.
2. Migration Strategy: Used CSV exports from different Drupal 7 views and carefully aligned them with the Drupal 8 content framework.
3. Progress Monitoring: Created user-focused entities to monitor progress, updating automatically as curriculum content changed.
4. Contextual Dashboard: Introduced tag-based conditions to display relevant information based on user roles and subscriptions.
5. Single Sign-On: Implemented a secure login system using Google and Clever.

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Clean, Intuitive, User-Friendly 

• Successfully migrated to Drupal 8 with refreshed design and improved responsiveness.
• Eliminated content duplication and streamlined content distribution.
• Offers robust user roles, assignment management, reporting, and interactive assessment tools.
• Enabled contextual and personalized dashboard experiences.

The Impact

• Transition from Drupal 7 to 8 led to a more organized site architecture.
• Design overhaul and improved mobile responsiveness.
• LMS became scalable and efficient in handling growing users.
• Streamlined and secure content distribution and access.
• Enabled richer user interactions for both students and teachers.

Results at a Glance

• Successful migration to Drupal 8
• Improved architecture and refreshed design
• Interactive dashboards with real-time updates
• Content visibility restricted to subscribed users
• Role-based access and permission structures
• User progress tracking with curriculum adaptability
• Single Sign-On using Google and Clever

Continued Partnership and Improvements

As part of our continued engagement with the STEM Fuse project, OpenSense Labs delivers ongoing support and maintenance services to ensure long-term platform stability and security. This includes regular Drupal core and contributed module upgrades, enabling the timely implementation of critical security patches, bug fixes, and performance optimizations.

The project currently functions under a dedicated support and maintenance SLA model, where issues raised by users across various roles are addressed through a structured ticketing and resolution workflow to ensure uninterrupted LMS operations.

In addition, we have initiated progressive enhancement efforts by upgrading the most heavily trafficked pages using React, with a focus on improving frontend performance, reducing load times, and minimizing potential downtime or latency issues. This ensures a seamless and responsive experience for all end-users.