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This document is your starting point for learning about our plans for upcoming releases of MoodleSee our [[Releases]] page for details about current and past releases.
The Moodle Project is designed to have a positive effect on the world by supporting and empowering the educators who are teaching students in all sectors, in all countries.   


==Major areas of development==
To do this, our team at Moodle HQ examines the problems around education and creates solutions in the forms of products that fit our values of education, openness, respect, integrity and innovation.


Here are the broad themes of development for Moodle, which are heavily influenced by requests from our user communityA lot of projects are going on in all these areas.
This page is your starting point for learning about our plans for upcoming releases of Moodle.  Below you will find information on the features that are currently in progress and those being planned for future releases.


===Platform===
* '''Usability''' - organisation and navigation of courses, activities and other features
* '''Plugins infrastructure''' - improving environment for development and management of Moodle plugins
* '''Support infrastructure''' - improving central support documentation and services for users of Moodle


===Access===
==Inputs to the roadmap==
* '''Accessibility''' - social inclusion for people with all kinds of disabilities
Proposals for improvements and new features are sourced from a variety of different inputs. Feedback from the community is very important and you can reach us by creating new issues on [http://tracker.moodle.org tracker], joining the [https://moodleassociation.org/ Moodle User Association] to vote on a new project for each release, discussing your ideas on the [https://moodle.org/forums forums], and meeting us in person at one of our [https://moodlemoot.org/ MoodleMoots]!
* '''Small touchscreens''' - making Moodle work well on phones and tablets
* '''Offline'''  - our Moodle Mobile app provides offline capabilities for Moodle.


===Management===
Moodle also has an extensive network of [https://moodle.com/partners Moodle Partners]. Moodle Partners are service providers that are certified by Moodle HQ to provide high quality Moodle services for schools, institutions and organisations. We work closely with our partners to determine the needs of Moodle Users and improve the platform.
* '''Outcomes and competencies''' - better tracking of what people know
* '''Learning plans''' - better tracking of what people need to know
* '''Workflow''' - guiding learning processes between different people
* '''Rollover''' - handling end-of-year processes for recycling and archiving courses


===Feedback===
==Moodle 3.6: current major work==
* '''Logging''' - Improved access to events data
We are working on the following projects for the 3.6 roadmap:
* '''Analytics''' - Automated analysis of learning data to find trends and events that help teachers, learners and admins
# [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-62870 Improvements to the Dashboard and Course Overview page]. In particular the ability to handle large numbers of courses and activities.  Planned improvements include new blocks with easy access to the most recently visited courses and activities, ability to favourite and hide courses, ability to load more courses onto one page and providing a separate timeline block.
* '''Reporting''' - Easy customised reports that combine data from various areas in Moodle
# [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-57272 Introduction of group messaging]. One-to-one messaging is already possible in Moodle and this will introduce the ability to enable group messaging for a course or any other group formed by the teacher.  In line with our focus on protecting privacy, users will be given greater control over who is able to message them.
* '''Notifications'''- Real-time messaging to mobile devices of events determined by analytics and reports
# [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-62331 Additional privacy features].  Several improvements are planned to further enhance privacy and controls for users and their data.  This continues on from the privacy features implemented in Moodle 3.5 for the European data privacy regulations: [https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection_en GDPR]. The enhancements will include a more human friendly readable format of the data export, ability to perform an erasure request on previously (prior to Moodle 3.5) deleted users, improved control over the purpose and retention period for different types of activity modules, and more!
# [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-62599 Support for LTI 1.3]. Following on from the LTI Advantage support that was introduced in Moodle 3.5 we are now introducing support for LTI 1.3.  One of the key improvements in LTI 1.3 is enhanced security to protect user information with the introduction of OAuth2 authentication and JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for message signing.
# '''Improvements to Quiz analytical tools'''. This is a project selected by the Moodle User Association (MUA) to simplify the way response statistics for random question pools are displayed. Further information can be found on the [https://moodleassociation.org/mod/page/view.php?id=548 MUA page] and in the [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MUA-33 tracker].
# [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-27520 Adding file and media support for assignment feedback]. This will allow teachers to upload files and media when providing students with feedback on their work.
# '''Accessibility improvements'''. Inclusiveness for people with disabilities is the driver for this project and current work in this area is focused on improving accessibility of the [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-62476 Boost theme] and [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-62475 Forum].


===Content (OER)===
==Moodle 3.7: planning in progress==
* '''moodle.net''' - our central repository for shared Moodle courses and other Moodle data
Planning for Moodle 3.7 and beyond is in progress, so stay tuned!
* '''Template courses''' - crowd-sourced development of shared Moodle courses using Creative Commons


==Moodle 3.5==
Here are some items we are currently working on for Moodle 3.7:


After Moodle 2.0 we switched to time-based releases rather than feature-based releases (see our [[Process|development process]])Because of this, the details below are an indication of current priorities only, and are subject to change according to how long things actually take to finishAnything not ready by the following dates will generally be pushed to the next major release.
# In line with our goal to ensure Moodle is feature competitive we are currently undertaking a review of the '''open educational standards''', such as the [https://www.imsglobal.org/specifications.html IMS Interoperability Standards]. Support for LTI 1.3 will be included in Moodle 3.6 and we are in the process of reviewing and prioritising standards for subsequent Moodle releases.
# '''Themes''': with the introduction of Bootstrap 4 final for Moodle 3.5 we will now focus on further improving the Boost theme.  As discussed on the [https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=373899#p1510580 forum] we will retain Bootstrapbase and the Clean theme for Moodle 3.6, but will remove them for Moodle 3.7. Supporting multiple frameworks and themes increases our development and testing efforts as all new features require development and testing across the different themesIn turn this means that less time is available to work on new features, bugs, and other user-facing functionality. In the long term this is not sustainable and also not beneficialThis will allow us to focus our efforts on improving the core theme and ultimately serving our users better. A new ‘Classic’ theme, based on Bootstrap 4 final, will be introduced that is more in-line with the Clean theme, retaining the 2 and 3 column grid layout, and the classic navigation block.


===Current major work===
==Moodle releases==
See our [[Releases]] page for information about past releases.
After Moodle 2.0 we switched to time-based releases rather than feature-based releases (see our [https://docs.moodle.org/dev/Process development process]). Because of this, the details above on future releases are an indication of current priorities only, and are targeted to be released in the upcoming releases. Anything not ready by the next release date will generally be pushed to the following major release.


We are focused on the following projects for the 3.5 roadmap:
==General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)==


# Implementing functionality in Moodle to assist sites with compliance to the new European data privacy regulations: [https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection_en GDPR].  This is our top priority at the moment, more on this below!  Some of these changes involve a new API for plugins to request what personal data they store.  We are still fine-tuning this, but we will make the details available as soon as possible.  Plugins will have to implement this API as part of the GDPR compliance changes.
The EU data protection regulation came into effect on 25 May 2018 and all organisations in the EU, as well as those outside the EU that store data of EU citizens, have to comply.  Moodle 3.5 introduced features that assist these organisations to become GDPR compliant.  These features focus on functionality to:
# Expanding the functionality for tagging questions in the question bank.  This is a project selected by the Moodle User Association (MUA).  Further information can be found on the [https://moodleassociation.org/mod/page/view.php?id=465 MUA page] and in the [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-61083 tracker]. This work isn’t anticipated to impact quiz or question related plugins for those who are using the provided APIs, but there will be some minor modifications to the database tables.
# Usability improvements.  We’re continuing our work on improving the Moodle user experience based on the in-depth background research, stakeholder analysis and design work from our UX team.  The focus is on introducing Bootstrap v4 stable in Moodle 3.5 to lay the groundwork for exciting improvements going forward.  Some of the initial UX improvements will likely focus on the dashboard. We will try to make the transition from Bootstrap v4 alpha to v4 stable as smooth as possible, but if you have code that depends on particular v4 alpha classes you may need to make some changes.
# Improvements to the [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-36941 messaging back-end implementation] to allow for future expansion of the messaging functionality in Moodle.  This involves some changes to the message database tables and message events, so if you have a messaging related plugin you may have to update your code. We’re also working on including the new [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-60416 LTI Advantage] extensions.
# Upgrading the Moodle Mobile App to the Ionic 3 framework, some usability improvements and introducing features for GDPR compliance.
 
====General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)====
 
The new EU data protection regulation comes into effect on 25 May 2018 and effectively all organisations in the EU, as well as those outside the EU that store data of EU citizens, will have to comply.  Moodle is implementing changes that will assist these organisations to become EU compliant.  These changes focus on functionality to:


* [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-61275 Provide additional privacy information during user sign up, as well as more extensive recording and logging of user consents]   
* [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-61275 Provide additional privacy information during user sign up, as well as more extensive recording and logging of user consents]   

Revision as of 02:10, 28 August 2018

The Moodle Project is designed to have a positive effect on the world by supporting and empowering the educators who are teaching students in all sectors, in all countries.

To do this, our team at Moodle HQ examines the problems around education and creates solutions in the forms of products that fit our values of education, openness, respect, integrity and innovation.

This page is your starting point for learning about our plans for upcoming releases of Moodle. Below you will find information on the features that are currently in progress and those being planned for future releases.


Inputs to the roadmap

Proposals for improvements and new features are sourced from a variety of different inputs. Feedback from the community is very important and you can reach us by creating new issues on tracker, joining the Moodle User Association to vote on a new project for each release, discussing your ideas on the forums, and meeting us in person at one of our MoodleMoots!

Moodle also has an extensive network of Moodle Partners. Moodle Partners are service providers that are certified by Moodle HQ to provide high quality Moodle services for schools, institutions and organisations. We work closely with our partners to determine the needs of Moodle Users and improve the platform.

Moodle 3.6: current major work

We are working on the following projects for the 3.6 roadmap:

  1. Improvements to the Dashboard and Course Overview page. In particular the ability to handle large numbers of courses and activities. Planned improvements include new blocks with easy access to the most recently visited courses and activities, ability to favourite and hide courses, ability to load more courses onto one page and providing a separate timeline block.
  2. Introduction of group messaging. One-to-one messaging is already possible in Moodle and this will introduce the ability to enable group messaging for a course or any other group formed by the teacher. In line with our focus on protecting privacy, users will be given greater control over who is able to message them.
  3. Additional privacy features. Several improvements are planned to further enhance privacy and controls for users and their data. This continues on from the privacy features implemented in Moodle 3.5 for the European data privacy regulations: GDPR. The enhancements will include a more human friendly readable format of the data export, ability to perform an erasure request on previously (prior to Moodle 3.5) deleted users, improved control over the purpose and retention period for different types of activity modules, and more!
  4. Support for LTI 1.3. Following on from the LTI Advantage support that was introduced in Moodle 3.5 we are now introducing support for LTI 1.3. One of the key improvements in LTI 1.3 is enhanced security to protect user information with the introduction of OAuth2 authentication and JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for message signing.
  5. Improvements to Quiz analytical tools. This is a project selected by the Moodle User Association (MUA) to simplify the way response statistics for random question pools are displayed. Further information can be found on the MUA page and in the tracker.
  6. Adding file and media support for assignment feedback. This will allow teachers to upload files and media when providing students with feedback on their work.
  7. Accessibility improvements. Inclusiveness for people with disabilities is the driver for this project and current work in this area is focused on improving accessibility of the Boost theme and Forum.

Moodle 3.7: planning in progress

Planning for Moodle 3.7 and beyond is in progress, so stay tuned!

Here are some items we are currently working on for Moodle 3.7:

  1. In line with our goal to ensure Moodle is feature competitive we are currently undertaking a review of the open educational standards, such as the IMS Interoperability Standards. Support for LTI 1.3 will be included in Moodle 3.6 and we are in the process of reviewing and prioritising standards for subsequent Moodle releases.
  2. Themes: with the introduction of Bootstrap 4 final for Moodle 3.5 we will now focus on further improving the Boost theme. As discussed on the forum we will retain Bootstrapbase and the Clean theme for Moodle 3.6, but will remove them for Moodle 3.7. Supporting multiple frameworks and themes increases our development and testing efforts as all new features require development and testing across the different themes. In turn this means that less time is available to work on new features, bugs, and other user-facing functionality. In the long term this is not sustainable and also not beneficial. This will allow us to focus our efforts on improving the core theme and ultimately serving our users better. A new ‘Classic’ theme, based on Bootstrap 4 final, will be introduced that is more in-line with the Clean theme, retaining the 2 and 3 column grid layout, and the classic navigation block.

Moodle releases

See our Releases page for information about past releases. After Moodle 2.0 we switched to time-based releases rather than feature-based releases (see our development process). Because of this, the details above on future releases are an indication of current priorities only, and are targeted to be released in the upcoming releases. Anything not ready by the next release date will generally be pushed to the following major release.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The EU data protection regulation came into effect on 25 May 2018 and all organisations in the EU, as well as those outside the EU that store data of EU citizens, have to comply. Moodle 3.5 introduced features that assist these organisations to become GDPR compliant. These features focus on functionality to:

See also

  • Releases - versions of Moodle that have already been released