Friends, the Learning Design team over here at Moodle HQ (we’re the ones that help clients set up their sites, build courses, and learn how Moodle works) is absolutely BUZZING about what’s new in Moodle LMS 5.1.
Now, every release of Moodle LMS comes with a long list of new features and enhancements. But sometimes, there are changes that really excite us. These enhancements are not necessarily flashy, or even big, but as soon as we see them, we know they will make a huge difference for teaching and learning in Moodle. Here’s what we’re talking about in Moodle LMS 5.1:
1. The Activities overview page is all grown up
When the Activities overview page first appeared in LMS 5.0, we were thrilled to have a place to go to easily see all course activities — and their due dates, etc. — all in one place. When the Activities overview page debuted, only the Assignment activity was fully supported (teachers could easily see what they needed to grade, and learners could easily see what they needed to do).
But in LMS 5.1, this gets even better. Now the Activities overview page works across all the major activities — forums, quizzes, H5P, wikis, lessons, glossaries, even BigBlueButton sessions.
Why this matters: Instead of being just a tidy list, this page now acts like a real command centre. Teachers can see what needs grading or follow-up without digging around. Learners see their progress laid out clearly: what’s done, what’s next. That’s a big deal for reducing confusion.
2. The Activity chooser gets a makeover
If you’ve ever built a Moodle course, you know the Activity chooser: that colorful list of tools with names you either already know or… don’t. In 5.1, it’s gotten a glow-up.
Now activities and resources are grouped by purpose — assessment, collaboration, communication, resources, interactive content. And, bonus: the addition of an “Add” button means fewer “oops, I clicked the wrong thing” when you’re choosing an activity.
Here’s the Activity chooser before LMS 5.1:
And here’s the Activity chooser after LMS 5.1:
Why this matters: This change nudges us to lead our course design with teaching purpose, not tool choice. That’s instructional design 101. Instead of scanning a list of tools, you’re thinking, “I want collaboration here” or “what are my options for assessment?”
3. MUCH easier AI controls for educators
AI is everywhere right now, but how it’s used in a course should always come down to the teacher. In LMS 5.1, Moodle gives teachers a simple switch: you can turn AI on or off at the course level, and even refine it by activity. And for admins, there’s now support for an additional AI provider, DeepSeek, which just means more options.
Before – 😵💫 the dreaded Permissions page 😵💫:
Now – 😍 AI settings at the course level 😍:
Now – 😍 AI settings at the activity level 😍:
Why this matters: Using AI for teaching and learning is not about pushing AI into every nook and cranny. It’s about trust. Teachers get to decide where AI fits their goals, learners know it’s being used thoughtfully, and institutions can align provider choices with their policies.
Okay I’m just going to go ahead and quote myself here, I’m so excited about this one —
Why these updates hit home
We’re loving these changes in LMS 5.1 because they truly are built by educators, for educators. They’re thoughtful tweaks that make everyday Moodle life simpler, clearer, and more purposeful. As Learning Designers, we spend a lot of time (basically all day, actually) thinking about teaching and learning, and we love seeing features that get us out of the weeds and back to focusing on the human side of education.
