Faculty of Engineering eLearning System (FEeLS)
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Faculty of Engineering eLearning System (FEeLS)
Introduction
The Faculty of Engineering eLearning System (FEeLS) has evolved into the digital backbone of teaching, learning, and communication within the Faculty of Engineering. What began as a modest learning management system has now become an indispensable platform supporting blended teaching, academic coordination, evaluation, assessment, and institutional accreditation, quality assurance and communication across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
As the Faculty e-learning administrator, I have witnessed FEeLS grow alongside the Faculty’s academic and technological ambitions, continuously adapting to pedagogical needs, accreditation requirements, and emerging digital learning practices.
Humble Beginnings (2007)
FEeLS was initiated in 2007 under the guidance of Dr. Janaka Wijayakulasooryia, then Director of the Computing Centre. At its inception, the system was hosted on a local server within the Computing Centre and accessible via the CC domain. This early setup reflected both technological constraints and a forward-thinking vision for integrating e-learning into engineering education.
The platform was launched using Moodle 1.8.2, when learning management systems were primarily used for content sharing and basic online activities. Even in those early years, FEeLS laid the foundation for structured online course spaces, resource distribution, and initial online assessments.
Evolution with Moodle
Over the years, FEeLS has continuously evolved alongside Moodle’s development. From Moodle 1.8.2 to the current Moodle 4.5, the system has undergone multiple major upgrades, each introducing improved usability, security, accessibility, and pedagogical capabilities.
Today, FEeLS supports: - Fully structured blended and online courses - Interactive learning activities - Secure online assessments and quizzes - Assignment submission and feedback workflows - Learning analytics and progress tracking - Mobile-friendly access for students and staff
This evolution reflects a sustained commitment to keeping the platform modern, reliable, and aligned with international best practices in digital education.
FEeLS as the Backbone of Blended Teaching
FEeLS has now become the central pillar of blended teaching in the Faculty of Engineering. It seamlessly integrates face-to-face instruction with online components, enabling: - Pre-lecture preparation using digital resources - Post-lecture reinforcement through activities and discussions - Continuous assessment and feedback - Self-paced learning opportunities - Collaborative learning with peer review - Programming practice and assessment - Data collection and more.
The system plays a particularly vital role in foundation programmes, practical-based courses, and large-enrolment modules, where consistency, scalability, and accessibility are essential.
A Central Communication Hub
Beyond teaching and learning, FEeLS functions as a faculty-wide communication hub. It supports: - Official course announcements - Faculty and departmental notices - Timetable updates and academic schedules - Student support information - Coordination with visiting lecturers and external examiners
This centralised communication ensures that students and staff receive timely, consistent, and traceable information, reducing fragmentation across multiple platforms.
Archival Strategy and Accreditation Support
To support accreditation, reviews, and historical reference, FEeLS maintains multiple archived sites:
These archived platforms preserve course materials, assessments, student engagement records, and reports from previous academic cycles. They play a vital role in quality assurance processes, curriculum reviews, and external evaluations.
Looking Ahead
From a locally hosted Moodle instance in 2007 to a robust Moodle 4.5-based digital ecosystem, FEeLS has transformed the way the Faculty of Engineering teaches, learns, and communicates. As digital pedagogy continues to evolve, FEeLS will remain at the heart of innovation, supporting interactive learning, data-informed teaching, and inclusive access to education.
What began as an experiment has now become an essential academic infrastructure. FEeLS is no longer just a system; it is the digital backbone of the Faculty of Engineering.