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{{About Moodle}}
Moodle is a free, online Learning Management system enabling educators to create their own private website filled with dynamic courses that extend learning, any time, anywhere. Whether you're a teacher, student or administrator, Moodle can meet your needs. Come and take a look!
Moodle is an active and evolving product. This page lists only some of Moodle's many features.  We encourage you to click on links to learn more.


== Overall design ==
==Are you a teacher?==
Moodle's overall design:
*  Promotes a social constructionist pedagogy (collaboration, activities, critical reflection, etc)
* Suitable for 100% online classes as well as supplementing face-to-face learning
* Simple, lightweight, efficient, compatible, low-tech browser interface
* Easy to install on almost any platform that supports PHP. Requires only one database (and can share it).
* Full database abstraction supports all major brands of database (except for initial table definition)
* Course listing shows descriptions for every course on the server, including accessibility to guests.
* Courses can be categorised and searched - one Moodle site can support thousands of courses
* Emphasis on strong security throughout. Forms are all checked, data validated, cookies encrypted etc
* Most text entry areas (resources, forum postings etc) can be edited using an embedded WYSIWYG HTML editor


== Site management ==
''In Moodle you can...''


*Site is managed by an [[Administrator|administrator]] user
*Drag your favourite teaching resources straight onto the page:
*Site is defined during setup. Defaults can be edited during setup or globally accepted
*Search for and embed [[Working with media|multimedia]]
*Site can be modified by a robust [[Site administration block]].
*Award [[Badges|badges]]
* Plug-in [[Themes|"themes"]] allow the administrator to customize the site colors, fonts, layout etc to suit local needs
*Direct your students' learning path:
* Plug-in [[:Category:Contributed code|activity modules]] can be added to existing Moodle installations
* Plug-in language packs allow full localization to any language. These can be [[Language editing|edited]] using a built-in web-based editor. Currently there are language packs for over [http://download.moodle.org/lang/ 70 languages].
* The code is clearly-written PHP under a GPL license - easy to modify to suit your needs


== User management ==
{|
===Overview===
| [[File:dragdropresources.png|thumb|Drag and drop]]
* Goals are to reduce admin involvement to a minimum, while retaining high security
| [[File:Embedmedia.png|thumb|Embed media]]
* Supports a range of user [[Authentication|authentication]] mechanisms through plug-in authentication modules, allowing easy integration with existing systems.
| [[File:studentbadgeview.png|thumb|Motivate with badges]]
** [[Email-based self-registration|Standard email method]]: students can create their own login accounts. Email addresses are verified by confirmation.
| [[File:controlpath.png|thumb|Control the learning path]]
** [[LDAP authentication|LDAP]] method: account logins can be checked against an LDAP server. Admin can specify which fields to use.
|}
** For example, [[IMAP authentication|IMAP]], [[POP3 server|POP3]], [[NNTP authentication|NNTP]]: account logins are checked against a mail or news server. SSL/TLS certificates are supported.
*Get your students working and learning together in [[Forum|forums]], [[Wiki|wikis]], [[Glossary|glossaries]] and more:
* Students are encouraged to build an online [[Edit profile]] including photos, description. Email addresses can be protected from display if required.
*Assess and feedback with self-grading [[Quiz|quizzes]]:
**Every user can specify their own timezone, and every date in Moodle is translated to that timezone (e.g. posting dates, assignment due dates etc)
** Every user can choose the language used for the Moodle interface (English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese etc)


===Enrolment===
{|
*After a user has been authenticated by the site or allowed in as a guest, they are [[Enrolment|enrolled]] in courses.
| [[File:forumlearningstyles.png|thumb|Argue it out in a forum]]
* Teachers can add an "[[enrolment_key|enrolment key]]" to their courses to only allow certain students to enter. They can give out this key face-to-face or via personal email etc
| [[File:quizdemo.png|thumb|Test knowledge and confidence]]
* Teachers can [[Students#Manual_enrol|enrol students manually]] if desired
|}
* Teachers can [[Students#Manual_unenrol|unenrol students manually]] if desired, otherwise they are automatically unenrolled after a certain period of inactivity (set by the admin)
*Set them individual, group or anonymously graded [[Assignment module|assignments]]:
*There are many [[Enrolment_plugins]]
*Provide opportunities for them to peer and self assess in [[Workshops|Workshops]]
**Includes: LADP, IMS, Paypal, [[MNet|Moodle Network]] to name a few
**Any [[External_database|External database]] that has least two fields can be used as an external authentication source
**[[Flat file]] or [[CSV]] files can automatically authenticate and enroll students in specific courses
* Each person requires only one account for the Moodle site - each account can have access to different courses, or resources and activities
* [[Metacourses|Meta courses]] get their enrollment information from 1 or more other courses.


===Roles ===
{|
* [[Roles]] combine specific permissions for specific types of participants. A user can be [[Assign roles|assigned]] a different role for each [[Context|contexts]], such as a specific course.
| [[File:coleridgeworkshop.png|thumb|Powerful Peer assessment]]
* The [[Administrator|administrator (admin)]] user account controls the creation of courses and creates teachers by assigning users to courses and giving them a role in that context
| [[File:Englishrubric.png|thumb|Rubric]]
* New roles can be [[Manage roles|created, copied from existing roles and edited]].  Some standard roles include:
|}
** [[Course creator]] can create courses, teach in them, and assign others to teacher roles.
** [[Teachers]] are a role in a specific course.
[[Managing a Moodle course|''Find out more...'']]
** Non-editing teacher roles are available for adjuncts, and part-time tutors.
** [[Students]] can participate and view activities but not create them
** [[Guest]]s are view only users.


== Course management ==
==Are you a student?==  
===Overview===
*  Typically, a teacher has full control over all [[Course settings|settings]] for a course.
**This can include assigning other teachers [[Roles|roles]] with less privileges
* Choice of [[Course formats]] settings such as by week, by topic or a discussion-focused social format
* Individual [[Course_settings#Force_theme]] and layout can be created for any course.
* Flexible array of course [[Activities|activities]] - Forums, Quizzes, Glossaries, Resources, Choices, Surveys, Assignments, Chats, Workshops
* [[Groups]] - teacher(s) and students can be placed in one or more groups
* Recent changes to the course since the last login can be displayed on the course home page - helps give sense of community
* Most text entry areas (resources, forum postings etc) can be edited using an embedded WYSIWYG [[HTML editor]]
* All [[Grades|grades]] for Forums, Quizzes and Assignments can be viewed on one page (and downloaded as a spreadsheet file) in a [[Gradebook]].
* Full user logging and tracking - [[Reports|activity reports]] for each student are available with graphs and details about each module (last access, number of times read) as well as a detailed "story" of each students involvement including postings etc on one page.
* Mail integration - copies of forum posts, teacher feedback etc can be mailed in HTML or plain text.  Users can set a preference for daily emails in their profile.
* Custom [[Scales|scales]] - teachers can define their own scales to be used for grading forums and assignments
* Courses can be packaged as a single zip file using the [[Backup]] function. These can be restored on any Moodle server.
* Specific course activities and resources can be [[Import course data|imported]] from another existing course


=== Assignment Module ===
''In Moodle you can...''


* [[Assignment module|Assignments]] can be specified with a due date and a maximum grade.
*Manage your files however and wherever you like:
* Students can upload their assignments (any file format) to the server - they are date-stamped.
*[[Tracking progress|Track your progress]] in your course:
* Late assignments are allowed, but the amount of lateness is shown clearly to the teacher
*Create your own personal dashboard:
* For each particular assignment, the whole class can be assessed (grade and comment) on one page in one form.
* Teacher feedback is appended to the assignment page for each student, and notification is mailed out.
* The teacher can choose to allow resubmission of assignments after grading (for regrading)
* Allowing resubmissions can allow the teacher to progress monitor student projects/assignments as they evolve.
* Advanced assignments can allow multiple files to be uploaded. This could keep together preplanning maps, outlines, research papers and presentations. (Not for beginners)


=== Chat module ===
{|
| [[File:PrivateFilesF.png|thumb|Manage your files]]
| [[File:studentprogresstracking.png|thumb|Check your progress]]
| [[File:myhomebg.png|thumb|Customise your space]]
|}


* The [[Chat module]] allows smooth, synchronous text interaction
[[Moodle site - basic structure| ''Find out more...'']]
**They can be limited to group members or roles, or be for anyone in the course
* Includes profile pictures in the chat window
* Supports URLs, smilies, embedded HTML, images etc
* All sessions are logged for later viewing, and these can also be made available to students


=== Choice module ===
==Are you an administrator?==  
* The [[Choice module]] is like a single question poll. Can either be used to vote on something, or to get feedback from every student
* Teacher sees intuitive table view of who chose what
* Students can optionally be allowed to see an up-to-date graph of results


=== Forum Module ===
''In Moodle you can...''
* Different types of [[Forum module|forums]] are available, such as teacher-only, course news, open-to-all, and one-thread-per-user.
* There are several options for emailing forum posts to members of the course.
* All postings have the authors photo attached.
* Discussions can be viewed nested, flat or threaded, oldest or newest first.
* Robust subscription methods for each forum
**Individual forums can be subscribed to by each person
**Teacher can force subscription for all members of the course, either initially or permanently.
* Groups features allow options for more entry and viewing limitations for students.
* The teacher can choose not to allow replies to their posts (announcements.
* Discussion threads can be moved between forums  or split by the teacher.
* Attachments can be made to posts and shown as part of message.
* Forum ratings can be used, these can be restricted to a range of dates.


===Glossary Module===
*[[Authentication |Authenticate]] and [[Enrolments |enrol]] your users in over 50 ways:
*The [[Glossary module]] is one of the modules that best illustrates the way that Moodle can fundamentally improve upon the experience of a traditional classroom
*Create an attractive, mobile-friendly learning environment with [[Themes |themes ]] which can integrate with your website:
*When students contribute to a course in a public place like the glossary, their ideas are given weight and attention and often result in a greater pride or ownership of the assignment
*Enhance your Moodle with [https://moodle.org/plugins/index.php add-ons]] that you can update from inside your site:
*Allows participants to create and maintain a list of definitions, like a dictionary
*Sign up to Community Hubs such as [http://moodle.net/ Moodle.net]to share free courses:
*Student entries can be previewed by instructors before publishing
*Entries can be searched or browsed using alphabet, category, date, and author
*A glossary of terms can be easily referenced by students
*Almost any module of Moodle can be set to hyperlink - automatically - to any word or phrase that is stored in or added to the glossary
*Glossary items can be grouped in categories
*Participants can comment on glossary entries
*Entries can be rated using teacher-defined scales
*Glossaries can be easily exported and imported via xml
*Glossaries can be fully searched
*Glossaries can be viewed with different display formats


=== Lesson Module ===
{|
*A [[Lesson module|lesson]] is a single activity where a series of pages are presented to the student.
| [[File:ThemesMtOrange.png|thumb|Theme your Moodle]]
*Pages can allow students to make choices by their answers to questions or by selecting a button with a description.  A student choice is also a link to another lesson page.
| [[File:AddonValidation.png|thumb|Update from within Moodle]]
**This allows for a simple slide show type of presentation, with questions.
| [[File:newmoodle.net.png|thumb|Share and download courses for free]]
**It allows for a branching, adaptive presentation based upon a student's specific choice.
|}
**Navigation through the lesson can be straight forward or complex, logical or random.
*[[Jumps]] are associated with each choice that link to other lesson pages.
**Jumps can be to a specific page or to a random page or a page not seen by the student.
*Choices that are answers to questions and can be scored and given individual feed back.
**Question pages include Multiple choice, Multi-answer, T/F, numeric, short answer and essay.
*[[Adding/editing a lesson|Lesson settings]] offer the teacher many options such as:
**Different scoring and grading potentials
**Lessons can build upon each other through conditional dependencies upon one another
**Student attempts, time limits, minimum score and retakes can be set
**Students may see progress bars, running score, reinforcement to student questions
**Password, start and end times, and other restrictions can be placed on students.
*Pages can be created one at a time or [[Import questions|imported]].


=== Quiz Module ===
[[Managing a Moodle site|''Find out more...'']]
* Teachers can define a [[Question bank|database of questions]] where they can add these questions to a course quiz or have the questions shared over the Moodle site.
** Questions can be stored in [[Question categories|categories]] for easy access, and these groups of questions can be "published" to make them accessible to any quiz on the site.
* [[Quiz module|Quizzes]] are automatically graded, and can be re-graded if questions are modified
* There are many [[Adding/editing a quiz|quiz settings options]], such as:
** Quizzes can have a limited time window outside of which they are not available
** At the teacher's option, quizzes can be attempted multiple times, and can show feedback and/or correct answers
** Quiz questions and quiz answers can be shuffled (randomised) to reduce cheating
** Quizzes can be attempted multiple times, if desired
** Attempts can be cumulative, if desired, and finished over several sessions
* Questions allow HTML formatting, images and has a [[HTML editor|friendly tool bar]].
* Questions can be [[Import questions|imported]] or [[Export questions|exported]] in many file formats.
* There are more than 10 question types, each with different scoring methods, such as:
** Multiple-choice questions supporting single or multiple answers
** Short Answer questions (words or phrases)
** True-False questions
** Matching questions
** Random questions
** Numerical questions (with allowable ranges)
** Embedded-answer questions (cloze style) with answers within passages of text
** [[Questions linking to files|Embedded descriptive text and graphics]] is possible in questions


=== Resource Module ===
[[es:Características de Moodle 2.5]]
* [[Resources]] can display of many types of media content files by a single link on the course page,  such as:
** Word, Powerpoint, Flash, Video formats, Audio formats
** Internal web pages (HTML formatted) can be created with [[HTML editor]] tool
** Internal text pages (no formatting)
**Files can be stored locally or the link point to remote locations
* [[Files]] can be uploaded and managed (zipped, unzipped, renamed, moved) in the course
** Folders can be created and managed in the course and  students given a link to the folder.
* External content on the web can be linked to or seamlessly included within the course interface.
** External web applications can be linked to with data passed to them
 
=== Survey Module ===
 
* Built-in [[Survey module|surveys]] (COLLES, ATTLS) have been proven as instruments for analysing online classes
* Online survey reports always available, including many graphs. Data is downloadable as an Excel spreadsheet or CSV text file.
* Survey interface prevents partly-finished surveys.
* Feedback is provided to the student of their results compared to the class averages
 
=== Wiki Module===
*[[Wiki module]] is a series of web pages that anyone can add to or edit
*It enables document pages to be authored collectively
*Supports groups
*There are many [[Wiki administration|teacher based editing tools]].
 
=== Workshop Module ===
* [[Workshop module]] allows peer assessement of documents, and the teacher can manage and grade the assessment.
* Supports a wide range of possible grading scales
* Teacher can provide sample documents for students to practice grading
* Being redone for Moodle 2.0
 
==Support==
Moodle has better actual user support than most higher priced course management software programs.  Support comes in a variety of robust forms to meet the varied needs of a larger user base.
 
*Moodle documentation.  You are reading one of many pages
**Starting links for [[Teacher_documentation|Teachers]], [[Administrator documentation|Administrator]] and [[Development:Developer documentation|Developers]]
**[[Moodle Docs|Pages]] that can connect to your Moodle site for help
*Many active [http://moodle.org/course/ forums and courses] to provide help, tips and friendly encouragement
**Over 70 [http://moodle.org/course/view.php?id=5 user forums] in English
**Even more in other languages
**A [http://moodle.org/course/view.php?id=55 social forum] for not necessarily Moodle related threads
*Special user group Moodle courses, with forums, demonstrations and FAQs
*Tracker for bugs, issues and new features requests
*Demonstration courses - in many languages showing different looks and presentation methods with a standard Moodle.
*Books - we have our [[Using Moodle book|favorites]] and there are [[Moodle manuals|many books]] on and about Moodle
*[[Moodle partners]] can also provide you with focused help for your site or project
 
 
 
[[es:Características]]
[[fr:Fonctionnalités]]
[[pt:Características do Moodle]]
[[de:Funktionalität]]
[[ru:Возможности]]

Latest revision as of 02:30, 6 February 2014

Moodle is a free, online Learning Management system enabling educators to create their own private website filled with dynamic courses that extend learning, any time, anywhere. Whether you're a teacher, student or administrator, Moodle can meet your needs. Come and take a look!

Are you a teacher?

In Moodle you can...

  • Drag your favourite teaching resources straight onto the page:
  • Search for and embed multimedia
  • Award badges
  • Direct your students' learning path:
Drag and drop
Embed media
Motivate with badges
Control the learning path
Argue it out in a forum
Test knowledge and confidence
  • Set them individual, group or anonymously graded assignments:
  • Provide opportunities for them to peer and self assess in Workshops
Powerful Peer assessment
Rubric

Find out more...

Are you a student?

In Moodle you can...

  • Manage your files however and wherever you like:
  • Track your progress in your course:
  • Create your own personal dashboard:
Manage your files
Check your progress
Customise your space

Find out more...

Are you an administrator?

In Moodle you can...

  • Authenticate and enrol your users in over 50 ways:
  • Create an attractive, mobile-friendly learning environment with themes which can integrate with your website:
  • Enhance your Moodle with add-ons] that you can update from inside your site:
  • Sign up to Community Hubs such as Moodle.netto share free courses:


Theme your Moodle
Update from within Moodle
Share and download courses for free

Find out more...