Moodle facts for kids
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| Original author(s) | Martin Dougiamas |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Martin Dougiamas Moodle HQ Moodle Community |
| Initial release | 20 August 2002 |
| Stable release |
4.4.1
 / Error: first parameter is missing. |
| Written in | PHP |
| Type | Course management system |
| License | GPLv3+ |
Moodle (pronounced MOO-dəl) is a special computer program that helps people learn online. It's like a virtual classroom or a learning website. It's free and open-source, which means anyone can use it and even help make it better.
Moodle is built using a computer language called PHP. It's used for many types of online learning, like when you mix classroom learning with online activities (blended learning), or when you learn completely from a distance. Schools, universities, and even workplaces use Moodle to create their own online courses. It also lets people add extra tools and features, called plugins, to make learning even more fun and interactive.
Contents
What is Moodle?
Moodle was first created by a person named Martin Dougiamas. He wanted to help teachers and students make online courses that were easy to use and encouraged everyone to work together. The very first version of Moodle came out on August 20, 2002. Since then, it has been updated and improved all the time.
The main team behind Moodle is called Moodle HQ. This is an Australian company that gets support from many Moodle Partner companies around the world. These partners help fund Moodle's development. Also, many people from the open-source community help improve Moodle for free.
Moodle is a learning platform that helps move regular classroom learning online. It has many features that are now common in online learning systems. These include a calendar to keep track of assignments and a gradebook to see your scores.
You can make Moodle look and work exactly how you want! There are many plugins, which are like small apps, that you can add. You can also change how it looks with different themes. Moodle works well on phones and tablets, and there's even a special Moodle app. You can find this app on Google Play, the App Store for iOS, and other places.
How Moodle Works with Other Learning Tools
Moodle is designed to work well with other online learning tools and standards. This means it can often connect with different types of learning content.
- SCORM: This is a set of rules for how online learning content should talk to a learning system. Moodle works with SCORM 1.2. This helps make sure that online courses made by different people can still work on Moodle.
- AICC: This is another standard that helps Moodle use learning materials created outside of Moodle.
- IMS Common Cartridge: You can bring in whole course packages made with this standard into Moodle. You can also export Moodle's "Book" activities using this format.
- LTI: This lets Moodle connect with other learning apps and services that are hosted online. Moodle can use these tools, and with an extra plugin, it can also share its own content with other platforms.
Getting and Using Moodle
You can download Moodle and set it up on a special computer called a Web server. It works with many common databases, which are like organized storage for information. There are also easy ways to install Moodle, like pre-made versions for Microsoft Windows and Mac computers.
Many companies that are official Moodle Partners offer services like hosting Moodle for you. They can also provide training, help you customize Moodle, and even create learning content. These partners pay a fee to Moodle HQ, which helps support the continued development of Moodle.
Moodle's Compatibility
Moodle can run on many different computer systems without needing changes. This includes Unix, Linux, Windows, and MacOS. As long as a system supports PHP (the programming language Moodle is written in) and a database, Moodle will work.
Moodle also has features that let you bring in quizzes or even entire courses from other learning systems, like Blackboard. This makes it easier for schools to switch to Moodle if they want to.
Some companies have bought other companies that used Moodle's software. However, Moodle will always stay an open-source project. This means it will remain free for everyone to use and improve.
The Story Behind Moodle
How Moodle Started
Martin Dougiamas, who created Moodle, has degrees in both computer science and education. He started Moodle as part of his Ph.D. research. He wanted to see how free and open-source software could help people learn together online. He believed in an idea called "social constructionism," where learners build knowledge by working with others.
Moodle's Learning Style
Moodle's main idea is based on a learning approach called constructivism and social constructionism. This means that learning is not just about teachers giving information. Instead, it's about learners actively building their own understanding. It also means that students can contribute to the learning experience, not just teachers. Moodle creates a space where learning communities can form and grow.
What Does "Moodle" Mean?
The name Moodle is actually an acronym. It stands for modular object-oriented dynamic learning environment. When it first started, the "M" also stood for "Martin's," after Martin Dougiamas. But the name was also chosen because the word "moodle" can mean to tinker, to gain insight, or to be creative. It also helped that the website name was available!
Moodle's Growth and Development
Moodle has been growing and changing since 1999, with its current design starting in 2001. It has been translated into over 100 different languages, so people all over the world can use it. Schools and organizations can set up as many Moodle servers as they need without paying extra fees.
Moodle Conferences
The MoodleMoot is a special conference where people who use Moodle can meet. They learn about Moodle, share how they use it, talk about new ideas in learning technology, and suggest ways to improve Moodle in the future. MoodleMoots happen all over the world. They are organized by universities, Moodle Partners, or the Moodle HQ team. In 2020, many of these conferences moved online.
Who Uses Moodle?
Moodle is very popular in Europe, Latin America, and Oceania. More than half of the online learning systems used in these regions are Moodle.
In the U.S., Moodle is one of the top choices for colleges and universities. In 2021, it was the second most used learning system, right after Canvas. Many large organizations use Moodle, like the Open University in the UK, which has 200,000 users. The UK government also uses Moodle for its Civil Service Learning platform, helping half a million employees learn new skills.
See also
In Spanish: Moodle para niños
- Educational technology
- Student Information System
- Learning management system
- Online learning community
- List of learning management systems
- List of free and open-source software packages
