| About Moodle
Moodle is a mature, commercially-supported Open Source Learning Management System freely available via the Open Source General Public License (GPL). Moodle stands for "Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment" and is now used as an enterprise-level, mission critical application by many higher education institutions around the world, including more than one third of the Universities in Australia. Moodle has been designed to help educators create effective online communities (moodle.org)
Watch the Moodle project video - a one minute overview of what Moodle is.
Flexibility, reliability and control for institutions
Moodle is flexible in that it can be customised to meet the core learning requirements of an institution as well as be deployed to meet a range of other institutional requirements without impact on license fees. The Open Source development model enables timely maintenance of software bugs and empowers institutions to take control of their key eLearning environment and technology support models.
Any remaining risks associated with Open Source software are further reduced by partnership with an official Moodle Partner such as NetSpot to provide support and increased capacity with services backed by a Service Level Agreement.
Since Moodle was first released in 2002 it has grown to be the world's most popular Open Source eLearning environment with over 43 million users in more than 200 countries. With a user community of academics, technologists, managers and commercial partners approaching one million on the moodle.org community website, Moodle has redefined the traditional model for technology in education.
Moodle is an Open Source Learning Management System with a rich set of features, including:
- Resources & Content
- Usability
- Evaluation, Measurement & Assessment
- Collaboration & Communication Activities
- Interoperability & External Systems
- Administration & Configuration
Resources & Content
Moodle provides a range of intuitive tools that make content easy to create and simple to
present including standard web pages, SCORM packages and native playback of video.
One of the primary goals of any eLearning environment is to be able to deliver information to learners quickly, easily and reliably. Regardless of the format, content should be simple to load and seamless to view, as well as being robust enough to work with virtually any computer connected to the internet.
Moodle provides a range of intuitive tools that make content easy to create and simple to present in a variety of ways. With Moodle, educators can:
- Upload documents and links
- Create web pages
- Import SCORM packages
- Embed video and flash animation
- Insert online pictures and video
Delivering content is easy as no special coding or programming skills are required, making the creation of engaging courses within reach of novice users.
Moodle resources can easily be supplemented with a wide range of content created in specialist tools, or imported from Web 2.0 repositories such as YouTube and Flickr to satisfy even the most advanced user.
Usability
One day's instruction is generally sufficient for even the most tentative beginner to create a sound online learning course, enhanced by themes and delivered via over 70 language packs.
One of the most common features educators and learners notice during their first experience of Moodle is how simple it is to use.
Moodle provides a simple, consistent interface allowing users of all skill levels to get started quickly, whether creating courses, or participating as a learner. One day's instruction is generally sufficient for even the most tentative beginner to be able to create a sound online learning course.
Usability goes far beyond ease of course creation, with Moodle providing a range of other usability features such as homepage customisation, accessibility compliance, configurable blocks and over 70 language packs.
Evaluation, Measurement & Assessment
From traditional assignment drop boxes and quizzes through to progressive assessment tools, all are integrated into an automated and mature gradebook.
Reliability, variety, efficiency and simplicity are just some of the terms that come to mind when the topic of educational assessment is put on the table. Moodle places importance on all of these in its comprehensive suite of assessment tools.
From traditional assignment drop boxes and quizzes to progressive assessment tools supporting constructionist learning models, Moodle provides a range of options to assess the knowledge and performance of learners and educators.
Moodle includes a mature Gradebook, with almost all assessment tools
loading results automatically into the Gradebook without the need for
manual processing. It includes other features such as moderated grades
and a number of built-in Gradebook reports.
Collaboration & Communication Activities
Out-of-the-box tools such as forums, quizzes and Wikis and standardised integrations with other tools such as Microsoft Live@EDU and Google Apps.
In an increasingly connected world, the model for learning has shifted from being textbook and exam-based to a scenario where collaboration and communication between learners and educators is pivotal to the learning process.
Moodle provides a range of out-of-the-box tools to support this shift in learning style, including:
- Chat Rooms
- Discussion Forums
- Blogs
- Mobile Client
- Wikis
- Messaging (both instant and via email)
- Calendaring
Additionally, Moodle supports simple, standardised integrations with other tools such as Microsoft Live@EDU, Google Apps, the Wimba Collaboration Suite and Elluminate to deliver a dynamic, learner-centric platform that meets
the expectations of the 21st-century learner.
Moodle is built around constructionist learning principles. The formal and
informal learning processes made possible by learners working together,
interacting, debating and socialising highlights that these tools are a critical
aspect of the Moodle learning environment.
Interoperability & External Systems
With over 20 APIs with support for hundreds of third party applications including EQUELLA and Wimba, Moodle has been made for a new world of online content and applications.
The 'M' in Moodle stands for modular and whilst Moodle can be used as a stand-alone system with many 'core' functions, it has in fact been designed to integrate with external systems to enhance the functions and content available to learners
and educators.
With many educators exploring a range of online tools and resources, it is comforting to know that Moodle has been made for this new world of online content and applications.
Third-party functionality or content may be integrated into Moodle using more than 20 Application Programming Interfaces (API) or custom built integrations, with examples including Enrolment Management, Repository and Portfolio APIs.
Moodle supports a range of integrations, from highly administrative integrations for authentication and learner management through to learning-focused integrations for functionality, such as the Wimba Collaboration Suite, content collections like Flickr and Web 2.0 applications like Google Apps.
Administration & Configuration
Functions which support stand alone installations as well as deployment models which make Moodle part of the information ecosystem of a large organisation.
While the effectiveness of learning delivery is the benchmark for a Learning Management System, the ability to efficiently administer the environment is critical to the long-term success of any piece of software.
From being set up as a self-contained environment (which can be managed as its own entity) to being integrated with a range of enterprise systems (becoming part of the information ecosystem of a large organisation), Moodle's strength in
administration lies in its flexibility.
Examples include:
- Integration plugins for LDAP, CAS, RADIUS, Shibboleth, PAM, POP3 and IMAP
- Customisable roles
- Component, course and system back-up options
- Participation, usage and performance reporting
- Feature enabling at course-level.
Grounded in Pedagogy
Moodle's pedagogical philosophy is founded on the principles of constructionism, flexibility and individual engagement. Focused on learning, it supports a range of learning and teaching styles, from the simplest 'download a pdf and upload
an assignment' course, to one which utilises collaborative learning and interactivity through Web 2.0 tools such as blogging, podcasting, wikis and the ability to 'mash up' content from other information sources (such as RSS feeds or embed code from external websites) and present this information within the learning context.
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