This presentation was delivered at #edtech13 at University College Cork Ireland. It covers the new features of Moodle 2.5

1. Some of the improvements since Moodle 2.4

2. » Open Badges
» Managing Add-ons
» Theme changes
» Moodle Forms
» User Interface
» Enrolments
» Performance
» Activities
» Activities
» Blocks
» Repositories
» Admin

3. “if a resumé or CV is a bunch of claims, Open Badges
are a bunch of evidence”
» Award graphical badges based on criteria
˃ Finishing a course, completing your profile, completing an activity in a
course, ad-hoc assignment by teacher
» Learner can download or export badge
˃ Badge Backpack
» Badge holds metadata for verification
» Learner can display badges elsewhere
See http://www.somerandomthoughts.com/blog/2013/05/06/open-badges-and-
moodle/

4. » Easier to manage add-ons
» Upload a new add-on or search in plugin directory
» Automated checking of the add-on code
» Web based process for installation of add-on
» Automated notification of add-on update
» Web based process for update of add-on (2.4)
» Notes
˃ Requires permissions on server to be set to allow this
˃ All add-on deployment should follow a good testing policy
See http://www.somerandomthoughts.com/blog/2013/05/07/managing-add-
ons-in-moodle-2-5/

5. » New responsive Bootstrap theme added
» Works with all screen sizes
» On-going work on this area
See http://www.somerandomthoughts.com/blog/2013/05/08/moodle-2-5-
and-the-bootstrap-based-theme-clean/

6. » Improved usability
» Sections of long forms collapsed
» Can expand them when needed
» Required fields shown at top
See http://www.somerandomthoughts.com/blog/2013/05/08/demonstrating-
the-improvement-in-forms-in-moodle-2-5/

7. » Settings block renamed Administration
» Reports moved from Navigation block to
Administration Block
» Drag and drop of blocks across all pages
» Drag and drop improvements
˃ Drag n Drop media file to create label on course page
˃ Drag n drop text to create label on course page
» Jump to section navigation for 'One section per
page' setting in course formats
See http://www.somerandomthoughts.com/blog/2013/05/08/moodle-2-5-
user-interface-improvements/

8. » Cleaned up interface for manage enrolment
plugins
» Can search list of users
» Improved Paypal support for
˃ Currencies
˃ Expiration of enrolments
˃ Course restore
» Flatfile enrolment fixes

9. » A new Performance report
» Improved caching
˃ Repositories
˃ Config caching in MUC
˃ Plugin information
» Improved YUI performance

10. » Database - URL field can open in new window
» Folder resource
˃ display contents on course page
˃ Display sub folders collapsed or expanded
» Assignment
˃ Interface improvements
» Forums
˃ Can show word count of posts
» Workshop
˃ “Save and Show next” for submissions

11. » Quiz
˃ Option to auto-save during attempts
˃ Essay questions can have template
˃ Better grading for Cloze questions

12. » Random Glossary Block
˃ Can use global glossary not just course glossary
˃ Alphabetical order option too

13. » Improved Caching
» Google docs renamed Google Drive
˃ Folders are now displayed
» Equella
˃ Option to access Equella site when using Equella repository

14. » Scheduled maintenance mode
» Upload users accepts date-time format custom
profile field
» Categories edit page is separated from view and
does not depend any more on global editing
mode
» Excel and ODS export improvement
» Behat integration

15. Gavin Henrick
E: gavin@lts.ie
T: @ghenrick
B: www.somerandomthoughts.com
S: http://www.slideshare.net/ghenrick/
L: http://ie.linkedin.com/in/gavinhenrick
W: http://www.lts.ie