Here is an attempt to let the beginner know what Moodle is about, how to use it and myths about the Moodle.

1. Introduction & industry perspective
Presented by:
Mangesh Wagh
Cofounder, Director
Signy IT Solutions Pvt Ltd, Pune
Dt: 22-Feb-2014

2. A brief about Signy IT Solutions
• Web apps & mobile apps development
• Opensource platforms
• Elearning
• Education domain
• Tech: PHP, MySQL
• Platforms: Moodle, Prestashop, SugarCRM, WordPress and
more
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3. Objectives
• Introduction to Moodle’s abilities…. not just Moodle
• Industry perspective
• Underlining myths and respective truths about Moodle
• Sharing experience and ideas
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4. A quick introduction to Moodle
• Virtual learning environment
• Learning management system
• Online course management system
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5. In a ‘definition’ way 
• A learning platform designed to provide educators,
administrators and learners with a single robust, secure and
integrated system to create personalized learning
environments.
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6. Dwelling on long-form
• Modular
• Object Oriented
• Dynamic
• Learning Environment
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7. Opensource & free
• Opensource
• Free
• Opensource & free
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8. One of the best browser based
applications!
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9. Technical background
• PHP
• MySQL
• Apache
• Can be deployed on LAMP or WAMP
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10. Deployment options
It is built as a browser based application and hence can be
deployed as any of below:
• Internet application
• Intranet application
• Single PC application
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11. • Deployment architecture & hosting
• Deriving and implementing the optimum configuration
• Training
• Support
• Customization
• Consulting on how to make the most of Moodle
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Why industry looks at Moodle as business – part I

12. Moodle stats
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Registered sites 68,352
Countries 235
Courses 7,054,520
Users 67,703,642
Teachers 1,155,563
Enrollments 85,481,139
Forum posts 117,883,780
Resources 62,847,732
Quiz questions 168,585,683

13. Moodle stats
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Country Registrations
United States 11,652
Spain 5,739
Brazil 4,661
United Kingdom 3,785
Mexico 2,839
Germany 2,445
Colombia 1,918
Italy 1,771
Portugal 1,628
Australia 1,615

14. Moodle stats
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15. MOODLE FEATURES
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16. 1st lets open our mind! 
When we used for the 1st time:
• Computer wasn’t easy
• Word, excel, powerpoint weren’t easy
• Email wasn’t easy
• Internet banking wasn’t easy
• Booking tickets and buying online wasn’t easy
Nothing was easy when we did that for the first time!
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17. Moodle features - I
• Site management
• User management, user policy management and
authentication
• Role management and permissions
• Course management – course definition, course design,
enrolment and more. This is the key part of your Learning
Management System.
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18. Moodle features - II
• Grades management and assessment engine
• Appearance management – UI, themes, design elements,
branding
• Other utilities like blog, calendar and more
• Reporting module
• Security management
• Server management and backup management
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19. RESOURCES & ACTIVITIES
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20. Resources
• File
• Folder
• Book
• Page
• Label
• URL
• Content package
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21. Activities
• Quiz
• Assignments
• Chat
• Choice
• Database
• External tool
• Feedback
• Forum
• Glossary
• Lesson
• SCORM
• Survey
• Wiki
• Workshop
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22. GENERAL FEATURES
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23. Modern, easy to use interface
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24. Personalized dashboard
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25. Collaborative tools
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26. All in one calendar
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27. Easy file management
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28. Intuitive text editor
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29. Notifications
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30. Progress tracking
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31. ADMINISTRATIVE FEATURES
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32. Customizable design
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33. Secure authentication & enrolment methods
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34. Multilingual ability
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35. User role management
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36. SCORM compliant
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37. High interoperability
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38. Simple add-ons and plugin management
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39. Regular security updates
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40. Detailed reporting and logs
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41. COURSE DEVELOPMENT AND
MANAGEMENT FEATURES
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42. Direct learning paths
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43. Encourage collaboration
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44. Embed external resources
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45. Multimedia Integration
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46. Group management
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47. Peer and self assessment
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48. Integrated Badges
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49. Outcomes
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50. Security and privacy
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51. Features to be noted
• Conditional access
• Completion tracking
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52. BENEFITS OF MOODLE
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53. Benefits of using Moodle - I
Comprehensive & cost-effective
• Moodle engine is built with a comprehensive set of elearning
features. One doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel by incurring
high costs on custom development.
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54. Benefits of using Moodle - II
Quick turn-around time
• Your elearning portal can be ready in a few days. Considering
long custom development cycles, this can be looked at as the
biggest benefit.
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55. Benefits of using Moodle - III
Truly opensource
• Moodle is a truly opensource platform – source code is
available, no licensing costs, no commercial product versions
(commercial product versions generally translates into sub-
optimal free versions).
• Always up-to-date
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56. Benefits of using Moodle - IV
Non-technical persons can administer
• No need of skilled technical resources for managing Moodle
site.
• One time implementation, configuration and training enables
non-technical users manage a Moodle site without hassle.
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57. Benefits of using Moodle - V
Comprehensive by default, strengthened by plug-ins
• Default features and functionality of Moodle are capable
enough to stand as a quality elearning portal.
• Apart from those default features there are a number of plug-
ins available which can be integrated with Moodle to make
the portal even more comprehensive – plug-ins can be of
small utility nature or serious functionality.
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58. Benefits of using Moodle - VI
Customizable
• Moodle code can be customized to match the business
processes.
• New features can be developed and integrated either as plug-
ins or by customizing the core code.
• Small blocks can be developed to enhance user engagement
and add useful functionality or enhance visual appeal.
• Look and feel can also be customized.
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59. GENERAL COMPARISON WITH
OTHER LMS PRODUCTS/TOOLS
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60. How Moodle compares with other LMS products - I
• It is an open source learning platform, which is utilized by
millions of people worldwide.
• This open source nature allows anybody to tinker with its
code or add new things.
• Users can share changes with the Moodle community for
others to use for free.
• All this leads to the extension and reformation of the
software.
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61. How Moodle compares with other LMS products - II
• It makes use of simple technologies, as a result of which its
developers are easy to find.
• It is built on some of the most reliable technologies, such as
PHP, MySQL, Apache.
– Like Facebook, Google, ebay
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62. How Moodle compares with other LMS products - III
• It has a fully cooperative development model which offers
constant scope for improvement by allowing many high
quality contributions to acquire new modules, features and
enhancements.
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63. How Moodle compares with other LMS products - IV
• It makes use of the more advanced programming approach,
the object-oriented programming which makes its
functionality all the more efficient and allows users to
proceed at their own pace, as well as customize it according
to their needs.
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64. How Moodle compares with other LMS products - V
• It focuses on making the learning and teaching
experience constructivist.
• This process encourages the involvement of learners in the
learning process, rather than letting them receive knowledge
passively.
• The learning environment becomes more democratic with
interactive and student-centered activities.
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65. How Moodle compares with other LMS products - VI
• It is convenient for educational institutions and organizations
for learning and course management.
• It can be quickly deployed in your organization, without the
requirement of any extra efforts.
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66. How Moodle compares with other LMS products - VII
• It is highly cost-effective, since it has a low risk startup and a
low initial investment.
• It provides you with fast and reliable updates of information.
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67. How Moodle compares with other LMS products - IX
• It provides you with regular support, all the time you use it.
Its support feature is active twenty four hours a day, seven
days a week and addresses to its developers, members and
users.
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68. Quick recap of key points about Moodle
• Proven and trusted worldwide
• Designed to support both
teaching and learning
• Easy to use
• Free with no licensing fees
• Always up-to-date
• Moodle in your language
• All-in-one learning platform
• Highly flexible and fully
customizable
• Scalable to any size
• Robust, secure and private
• Use anytime, anywhere, on
any device
• Extensive resources available
• Backed by a strong community
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69. Why industry looks at Moodle as business – part II
• Customization
– To fit in organizational processes
– Visual preferences
• Integrating with other tools, applications
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70. What colleges can do with Moodle
• Distance learning courses
• Complimentary or supplementary learning aid
• Online exam portal
• Run co-curricular courses or even extra-curricular
• Campus placement preparation tool
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71. Interesting examples
• Study material as homework before classroom session
• Official place for important circulars, notices
• Internal communication; no emails
• Internship projects submissions and assessments
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72. How industry uses Moodle
• Recruitment tests
• Induction programs
• Knowledge forums
• Internal LMS – skill building and assessments
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73. Usage patterns
Obvious ones
• Study material & notes
• Preparation tests, mock tests
• Assignments
• Forums
Non obvious ones
• Projects
• Workshops
• Quizzing through games
• Glossary
• Database
• Feedback (survey)
• Poll
• SCORM
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74. MYTHS ABOUT MOODLE
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75. Myth
• Once Moodle is stable, it will be put under license. If it were
any good, they’d already be charging for it.
• Moodle is free and therefore can't really be as good as
something produced by a large company which earns millions
in license fees every year.
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76. Myth
• You need to be an expert and tech savvy to use Moodle
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77. Myth
• Moodle needs a full time, php developer on your staff- or at
least a lot of technical support to run it in house.
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78. Myth
• Moodle won’t be compatible with our other systems/software
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79. Myth
• Moodle just doesn’t have the commercial experience we’re
looking for; not professional
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80. Myth
• You can’t just use Moodle out of the box – the basic Moodle
install just isn’t that sophisticated
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81. Myth
• There’s no documentation, training or technical support
available – you’re on your own.
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82. Myth
• The TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is actually higher for
Moodle than it would be with a wholly commercial platform.
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83. Myth
• Moodle is just no good for an institution as large as mine.
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84. Myth
• Moodle is just not designed to cope with my specific group of
learners or customers.
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85. Myth
• We have all our stuff on *******, it’s just not worth the
hassle of switching to Moodle.
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86. Myth
• With Moodle, you need to be on computers all the time.
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87. Myth
• Students will love Moodle because it is online and in 'their
world‘. And also,
• Students will not enjoy the interaction that a class
environment provides.
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88. Myth
• Moodle won't scale
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89. Myth
• Moodle is difficult / time consuming to install / administer /
use.
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90. Myth
• Moodle is a security risk.
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91. Myth
• Moodle won't interface with an MIS.
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92. Myth
• Proper support is not available with open source software.
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93. Myth
• It puts the teaching profession at risk.
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94. Myth
• There is no way to measure true learning.
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95. Myth
• eLearning is for people who are too lazy to go the traditional
route.
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96. Myth
• There’s no way to judge the quality of the eLearning program.
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97. Myth
• There's nobody to blame if it all goes wrong. 
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98. WHY WOULD MOODLE
IMPLEMENTATION FAIL: EXPERIENCES
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99. What is expected from teachers, colleges
• Willingness to administer and explore
• Dropping process adamancy
• Dropping insecurity about content & methodology
• Keep Moodle away from internal politics
• Readiness to give a long stint to Moodle
• Readiness to understand that Moodle is just a tool; people
need to make things happen
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100. What is expected from consultants & technology
companies
• Proper guidance and recommendations on hosting
architecture
• Clear work out on enabling & disabling features
• Focus on how creatively colleges can use Moodle
• Most important: help colleges understand full potential of
Moodle and then help them utilize it phase wise
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101. How to make Moodle interesting - I
• Using it regularly and to its potential; this itself is really
interesting
• Make use of forums, glossary, database, wiki
– Glossary as final revision tool
– Database as formulae storage
– Wiki as concept explanation place
• Make use of badges
• Games
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102. How to make Moodle interesting - II
• See if you can buy multimedia content; if not get it made for
you
– Check whether you can get interns from media or design field
• Make students participate
– Let them run some courses of their interest
• Experimentation and continuous evaluation of what works
what doesn’t
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103. A minute on opensource & free tools
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104. Sincere thanks!
Mangesh Wagh
Signy IT Solutions Pvt Ltd, Pune
www.signyit.com
Email: mangesh@signyit.com
Mob: +91 9561096003
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