| Moodle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Original author | Martin Dougiamas |
| Developers | Martin Dougiamas Moodle HQ Moodle Community |
| Initial release | 20 August 2002; 23 years ago (2002-08-20) |
| Stable release | |
| Written in | PHP |
| Operating system | Unix, Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, MacOS and any other systems that support PHP and a database, including web host providers. An app is also available for end-users. |
| Type | Course management system |
| License | GPLv3+[2] |
| Website | moodle.org moodle.com |
| Repository | |
Moodle (/ˈmuːdəl/MOO-dəl) is afree and open-sourcelearning management system written inPHP and distributed under theGNU General Public License.[3][4] Moodle is used forblended learning,distance education,flipped classroom and other online learning projects in schools, universities, workplaces and other sectors.[5][6][7]
Moodle is used to create customwebsites with online courses and allows for community-sourced plugins.[8][9][10]
Moodle was originally developed by Martin Dougiamas to help educators and scholars create online courses and focus on interaction and collaborative construction of content. The first version of Moodle was released on 20 August 2002 (23 years ago) (2002-08-20), and it continues to be actively developed.[11]
The Moodle Project is led and coordinated by Moodle HQ, anAustralian company, that is financially supported by a network of eighty Moodle Partner service companies worldwide. Development is also assisted by theopen-source community.[12]
Moodle is a learning platform used to augment and move existing learning environments online.[13] As anE-learning tool, Moodle developed several features[14] now considered standard for learning management systems, such as acalendar and gradebook.[15]
Plugins, customgraphical themes, mobile responsive web design, and a Moodlemobile app are available to customize each individual's experience on the platform. Moodle's mobile app is available onGoogle Play, theApp Store for iOS, and theWindows Phone Store, but not on theF-Droid AndroidFLOSS repository.[16][17]
Moodle has adopted the following e-learning standards:
Users can download and install Moodle on aWeb server, such as theApache HTTP Server, and a number of database management systems, such asMySQL, are supported. Pre-built combinations of Moodle with a Web server anddatabase are available forMicrosoft Windows andMac. Other automated installation approaches exist, such as installing aDebian package, deploying a ready-to-useTurnKey Moodle appliance, using theBitnami installer, or using a "one-click install" service such as Installatron.
Certified Moodle Partners provide other Moodle services, including hosting, training, customization and content development.[19] This network of providers supports the development of the Moodle project through royalties.[20][citation needed]
Moodle runs without modification onUnix,Linux,FreeBSD,Windows,MacOS and any other systems that supportPHP and a database, including web host providers.
Moodle also has import features for use with other specific systems, such as importing quizzes or entire courses fromBlackboard or WebCT.
In March 2012 Blackboard acquired two companies based on Moodle's software including Baltimore-basedMoodlerooms Inc. and NetSpot of Adelaide, Australia.[21] In August 2015, Blackboard acquired Colombia-based Nivel7. TheRed Hat site, Opensource.com, reported that Moodle will always be anopen-source project, with clear delineation between Blackboard and Moodle.[22]
Martin Dougiamas, who has graduate degrees incomputer science andeducation, wrote the first version of Moodle. Dougiamas started aPh.D. to examine "the use ofopen source software to support asocial constructionistepistemology of teaching and learning within Internet-based communities of reflective inquiry." Although how exactly social constructivism makes Moodle different from other eLearning platforms is difficult to show, it has been cited as an important factor by Moodle adopters.[23][24] Other Moodle adopters, such as theOpen University in the UK, have pointed out that Learning Management Systems can equally be seen as "relatively pedagogy-neutral".[25]
The stated philosophy of Moodle includes aconstructivist andsocial constructionist approach to education, emphasizing that learners (and not just teachers) can contribute to the educational experience.[26] Using thesepedagogical principles, Moodle provides an environment for learning communities.[27]
The acronymMoodle officially stands formodular object-oriented dynamic learning environment. When the project was first started, the "m" instead stood for "Martin's", after original developer Martin Dougiamas. Besides being an acronym, the name was also chosen because of the dictionary definition of Moodle, with connotations such as "tinkering", "insight", and "creativity",[28] as well as to correspond to an available domain name.[29]
Moodle has continued to evolve since 1999 (since 2001 with the current architecture). It has been translated into over 100 different languages and is accessible in many countries worldwide.[30] Institutions can add as many Moodle servers as needed without having to pay license fees.
The MoodleMoot is a conference for Moodle community members to learn about Moodle, share experiences of the learning platform, discuss research in related educational technologies and contribute ideas to future Moodle development.[31] Held around the world, MoodleMoots are organised by universities or other large organizations using Moodle, Moodle Partners, Moodle associations or Moodle HQ. 2020 saw the #Moot move to a virtual conference.
Moodle has over 50% market share in Europe, Latin America, and Oceania.[32]
In the U.S. higher education market as of fall 2021, the top three learning management systems (LMS) by number of institutions wereCanvas (30%), Moodle (21%), and Blackboard (20%).[33] In 2013, Moodle was for a time the second largest provider with 23%market share, followingBlackboard (41%).[34] However, by 2017, Moodle had dropped to the third largest provider, due in part to increased adoption ofInstructure's semi-open source[35] Canvas platform.[36] In March 2016, Blackboard became an official Moodle partner,[37] although this partnership ended in 2018.[38]
In the UK, theOpen University currently uses a Moodle installation for their 200,000 users[39] while the government uses a Moodle installation for the Civil Service Learning platform serving half a million employees.[40]
Classroom management software | |
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| Current | |
| Discontinued | |
| International | |
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| National | |
