With Moodle configurations, you can make your Moodle Site as functional and attractive as you want – no heavy technical backend work required!
Moodle and customisation go hand in hand. Moodle’s open source nature means the code is completely free and accessible, so you can customise your site at the code level, as much as you want.
One of the most common misconceptions of Moodle is that you need to have the technical know-how or be a developer to make it functional or attractive, but that is far from the case.
Configuration, rather than customisation, can help you to easily create a visually customised and highly functional Moodle site for your organisation if your technical skills are not at the advanced level.
Moodle’s extensive out-of-the-box capabilities and settings mean that you don’t have to be a Moodle expert to get the most out of Moodle and, with some easy configurations, you can build an unique Moodle site to help you reach your learning goals.
“Plug & Play” instead of code changes
The advantages of Moodle’s open-source code base extend beyond the high level of customisation that comes with easy access to the code. One of the additional benefits of Moodle is the large number of modules, plugins, and integrations that are compatible with Moodle.
You can configure Moodle through a plug-and-play model to incorporate additional tools or a wide variety of content types that integrate with the LMS. With over 1,700 add-ons freely available in the plugin directory, you can find the solution to meet your unique needs more easily.
So, if the core Moodle product doesn’t have the exact functionality you are looking for, there is almost always a third-party plugin or module that can help you satisfy your requirements, avoiding custom code projects that can be costly or lead to issues with upgrades down the road.
Here are some of the most common plugins and quick fixes you can make yourself to upgrade your Moodle site:
Theme
Give your Moodle site your own look and feel with Moodle themes: choose a layout that works for you, add your own branding… no two Moodle sites have to look the same!
Video Recording, Streaming, & Storage
Panopto is a Moodle plugin that allows instructors to record and embed lectures and instructional videos directly into Moodle.
PoodLL is another set of plugins that enhances the audio and video recording functionality available in Moodle and can help to enhance Moodle activities.
Video Conferencing
BigBlueButton is an open source web conferencing system that supports real-time sharing of slides (including a white board), audio, video, chat, breakout rooms and more that is available as a plugin to Moodle.
Another option is Zoom, a cloud-based video conferencing solution that can be integrated with Moodle using the Zoom meeting plugin or via an LTI.
Gamification
Gamifying your courses can help you keep your learners motivated and engaged during their learning journey. From literally turning your quiz into a video game where answers to questions come down as spaceships for learners to hit the correct one, to rewarding your students with coins or items to collect – there’s many options to bring gamification into Moodle courses.
The options to extend your Moodle’s functionality are many. You can start by checking out Moodle’s Certified Integrations for add-ons that work seamlessly with Moodle, and also the community’s favorite plugins for more inspiration on how you can transform your Moodle.
Take all configurations with you
It is also worth noting that with Moodle you own your site data, meaning that the configurations, integrations, all your course content – everything – is yours to do with as you please, which is important when you think of future-proofing your learning platform.
With open-source Moodle, you have a number of options when it comes to how you host your site. You can self-host your Moodle instance or work with a Certified Moodle Partner or a number of vendors. Because Moodle is open source and all users own their data, it also makes it easy to change how you host your site if needed.
The benefit of this is that if you are ever dissatisfied with your current instance, need more support, or are just looking for a change, you can bring your Moodle site with you. You don’t have to worry about starting from scratch or losing any of the hard work you’ve already put into configuring your site.
Leverage the expertise of Moodle Partners
Like we’ve said, you don’t have to be a technical expert to create and set up your Moodle in a way that works for your organisation. In saying that, if you need extra help with configuration or with certain aspects key to keeping your Moodle site running smoothly (taking care of hosting, maintenance, updates…), we have a network of Certified Moodle Partners that can help.
Beyond customisation, our Certified Partner network is there to support you with a range of Moodle services to help you meet your learning goals. Working with a Certified Moodle Partner ensures your Moodle is configured to meet your needs and budget, while taking the heavy lifting off your shoulders, so you have more time to focus on what you do best.
As Moodle is an open source solution, there are many companies that provide Moodle-based online learning solutions. However, only Certified Moodle Partners have our seal of approval and a guarantee for excellent solutions and services, and ensure you are actively contributing back to our open-source Moodle project.
How to get started
If you’re ready to begin with Moodle LMS, learn how to get started on our website, and chat with other Moodlers in our community forums.
Our worldwide network of Certified Moodle Partners can also help you with customised LMS hosting, maintenance and training.
