What types of plugins does Moodle have?

2023.05.16

Moodle

Know-how

Moodle Implementation Support and Operation Services

1. What are Moodle plugins?
2. Types of Moodle plugins
3. Plugins featured on the official Moodle website
4. Benefits and precautions of using plugins in Moodle
5. Summary
5-1 About Human Science Co., Ltd.
5-2 Implementation design
5-3 Operational support

1. What are Moodle plugins?

Moodle is one of the learning management systems (LMS) developed by the community. According to Moodle HQ's statistics as of April 2023, it is used in over 160,000 sites, with over 360 million users in 242 countries and regions. The Moodle community aims to improve the quality of learning worldwide using open source technology and the power of the internet.

In European and Japanese universities, it is the number one share, not only in the education field but also widely adopted by global companies, government agencies, and other organizations around the world. Why is it used so widely around the world? One of its major features is the abundance of plugins that have been added to its rich standard features. Plugins are simply "extensions" that add functionality to Moodle, similar to the various convenient features provided as plugins in web browsers. Currently, there are over 2,000 open source plugins in the Moodle plugin directory (https://moodle.org/plugins/). These include themes to change the site design, features to create gamified tasks for students, as well as extensions for improving accessibility and making authentication more secure.

Plugins cannot be run on their own as a general rule. The main software is required. In this case, Moodle will be the main software. Other terms such as "add-on" or "addin" may be used, but Moodle consistently uses the word "plugin". In Moodle, developers from all over the world have developed and provided many useful plugins to make Moodle more convenient. In this blog, we will introduce these useful plugins.

2. Types of Moodle plugins

Moodle offers many plugins to extend its functionality. Below are the main types of plugins available for Moodle.

・Block Plugin
Adds blocks to be displayed at the top or left side of the Moodle screen. For example, you can display user information, course lists, calendars, HTML blocks, etc.

・Activity Plugin
Provides additional functionality to the core feature of Moodle, activities. Examples include forums, quizzes, assignments, wikis, and modules.

・Resource Plugin
Used to add content to Moodle. Examples include text pages, files, URLs, folders, and books.

・Theme Plugin
You can change the appearance of Moodle to your preferred design. For example, you can change the color scheme, font, layout, etc.

・Language Plugin
You can change the interface of Moodle to a different language. There are over 100 language packs available.

・Authentication Plugin
You can add authentication methods for users. For example, there are LDAP, Shibboleth, CAS, Google OAuth, etc.

・Report Plugin
A tool for visualizing Moodle data. For example, there are user activity logs, assignment submission logs, and activity participation logs.

・Virus Protection Plugin
Using Moodle's third-party virus scanning tool, users can scan uploaded files for viruses. Examples include Clam Antivirus (abbreviated as ClamAV).

・Portfolio Plugin
Users can connect to external portfolio services as a destination for saving Moodle content. For example, there is an open source e-portfolio called Mahara.

Moodle plugins can be downloaded from the official Moodle website (https://moodle.org/plugins/). There are also third-party plugins available from the community.

3. Plugins featured on the official Moodle website

The Moodle official website features a wide range of plugins. To find the desired one, the filter function for purpose and plugin type is very convenient. You can also search by text. Each plugin also displays the number of downloads and the number of favorites with a favorite button. Here are some of our favorite plugins.

・Favorite Plugins
https://moodle.org/plugins/report/index.php?report=favourites&p=0&l=50&s=favourited&d=DESC

1st Place: Adaptable (Favorites: 668)
https://moodle.org/plugins/theme_adaptable
Adaptable is a popular screen theme used on over 20,000 sites. It has a wide range of customization options and is compatible with responsive design. It is a 2-column screen theme.

2nd Place: Level Up XP - Gamification (Favorites: 572)
With Level Up XP, learning can be gamified, making it more enjoyable for learners to participate and complete courses. By adding game elements, an increase in course completion can also be expected. Learners can earn points for their actions, visualize their progress, compete with other users on a leaderboard, and unlock content that suits them. This helps maintain motivation for learning and allows learners to complete courses with a high level of achievement.

3rd Place: Moove (Favorites: 560)
Moove is one of the themes for the screen. Its purpose is to make the online learning environment simpler and more user-friendly. It has an optimized and intuitive layout, focusing on learning activities and content. A cleaner and more unified platform is provided, with consistent text, background, and font, making for a more user-friendly and enjoyable learning experience.

4th Place: Interactive Content - H5P (Favorites: 507)
With H5P (HTML5 Package), you can create and add rich content for free. You can create various types of interactive content such as videos, quizzes, collages, and timelines. One of the major advantages of using H5P is the access to a diverse range of interactive content.
Another major advantage of H5P is the ability to easily share and reuse content. To reuse content, simply download the H5P you want to edit and make changes. For example, you can translate it into a new language or adapt it to a new situation.

5th place: Custom certificate (Favorites: 422)
With this plugin, you can dynamically create fully customized certificates through a web browser. You can also use a web browser to generate PDF certificates.

Up until here, it was from the top 1st to 5th place. After this, we will introduce recommended plugins, including those requested by customers.

20th place: Zoom meeting
https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_zoom
Zoom is a video and web conferencing platform where authorized users can host online meetings and webinars. This can be used on Moodle as well. In addition to creating video calls and meetings, it also allows for easy synchronization, backup, and restoration. By utilizing this, not only can you communicate with students, but you can also conduct video instruction online.

36th place: Import/Export of Microsoft Word files (question format) (Favorites: 172)
https://moodle.org/plugins/qformat_wordtable
You can import questions (including images and equations) from Word files (.docx format) into Moodle, or export questions from Moodle to Word files.

42nd place: Offline Quiz (Favorites: 163)
https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_offlinequiz
Supports multiple choice questions using paper and pencil. First, add multiple choice questions to Moodle's quiz. Use the plugin from the question list to create a PDF (DOCX) question sheet and answer form. Print the question sheet and answer sheet and distribute them to students, who will mark the correct answers on the answer sheet. The teacher scans the completed answer form and uploads the result image to Offline Quiz. The scanned answer form is automatically evaluated and graded by the plugin. If necessary, the teacher can correct any errors that may have occurred due to student mistakes or poor scanning quality. The results of the answers can be automatically evaluated and graded.

Rank 172: PDF Data Annotation (Favorites: 69)
https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_pdfannotator
You can directly insert questions, comments, etc. into learning materials in PDF format. The questions and comments can be viewed and answered by all students and teachers, making it easier to quickly and specifically improve PDF learning materials such as lecture slides and scripts.

・Microsoft 365 Plugin
https://moodle.org/plugins/browse.php?list=set&id=72

There are many plugins available for integrating with Microsoft 365.
- Microsoft 365 Integration
- OpenID Connect
- Teams Meeting
- Microsoft OneNote

This is Human Science's original plugin.

・Video Player Plugin (HS Video)
https://hs-learning.jp/service/lms/moodle/plugin/
This plugin records the viewing status of videos as evaluations. It is recommended for those who want to record the viewing status of videos as evaluations. You can do the following:
- Record the viewing status of videos as evaluations.
- Record the percentage of viewing up to 100% as an evaluation.
- Start playback from the position where viewing was last stopped.
- By setting, it is possible to limit fast-forwarding and rewinding only to the point where playback has been done.

There is a tool called a generator for developing plugins.
・Moodle plugin skeleton generator
It is said that even people who are not familiar with programming can easily create Moodle extensions using this tool. By simply selecting the necessary functions, the program template will be automatically created.
https://moodle.org/plugins/tool_pluginskel

4. Benefits and Precautions of Using Plugins in Moodle

Here, we will introduce the overall benefits and precautions when using plugins.

・Benefits
By using plugins, you can access various features that are not available in Moodle's standard functions, such as new activities, new reports, authentication integration, and external system integration. You can obtain these features almost for free.

By integrating with academic systems, HR systems, and portfolios, you can further streamline the operation of the learning management system. Many universities use academic systems to manage students and course registration. By linking this information to Moodle, there is no longer a need to manage it separately. The same applies to HR systems in corporate settings.

・Notes
You need to check if the plugin is compatible with the version of Moodle you are about to introduce or have already introduced. Especially when Moodle has a major version upgrade, it is often the case that the plugin is not catching up. In fact, there have been cases where a theme had to be changed because it was not compatible with the upgraded Moodle version.

It is recommended to test the functionality in advance using a test environment, even if the version is supported and expected to work properly. It is also important to check the information from the developer even after starting to use the plugin, as it may be updated for vulnerability or bug fixes.

You may wonder, "Is this plugin really reliable?" In that case, you can refer to information such as how long it has been since the plugin was last released, how many Moodle sites have installed it, and how many times it has been downloaded. Additionally, in the Comment section at the bottom, you may find comments from actual users and other developers, which can also be helpful to check out in a "word-of-mouth" manner.

For information on installing plugins, please refer to the Moodle official website.
https://docs.moodle.org/401/en/Installing_plugins

5. Summary

In addition to its standard features, Moodle has been found to be more effectively utilized as an educational platform by utilizing plugins. However, to fully utilize Moodle, it is best to seek the help of official Moodle partners.

In Japan, there are several official partners of Moodle, but this time we would like to introduce Human Science Co., Ltd., which has a wealth of experience.

5-1. What is Human Science?

Human Science is an official partner of Moodle. In 2017, we received certification from the Australian headquarters of Moodle and became an official partner. Only companies with expertise and achievements in building and developing Moodle are certified. Certified companies exist all over the world, but there are only a few in Japan.
We utilize our expertise and track record as the number one provider in Japan (over 700 projects and more than 80 cases for companies, schools, and organizations) to offer a total solution for the implementation and operation support of Moodle.

Next, we will explain the services provided by Human Science Co., Ltd. in stages.

5-2. Introduction Design

＜Hearing and Proposing the Client's Situation＞
We will provide Moodle configuration support to realize the educational flow that the client wants to implement.
Moodle has a wealth of features, so we will make it easy for learners to use by assuming how to use them. By configuring Moodle, you can show or hide functions.

・Requirements Definition
We will listen to what the customer wants to achieve when introducing e-learning and finalize the specifications.
・e-Learning Operation Process Construction Support
e-Learning operations involve various tasks such as course registration, user communication, delivery, and effectiveness measurement. We assist in building the workflow to ensure successful implementation and operation.
・Building a demo site
We will launch a demo site and have our customers confirm the actual movement of Moodle while tuning the settings and functions.

＜Moodle Construction＞
Install Moodle and make it available for use.
We also provide construction to the cloud, such as AWS and Azure, in addition to on-premises (self-owned, self-operated).
We also perform replacements from existing systems to Moodle while in use.

・Hardware specification selection
Determined by the number of users and usage.
・Middleware Installation
Install open source middleware such as apache (Nginx), php (php-fpm), and postgresql.
・Moodle Installation
・Moodle Settings
Configure Moodle based on usage assumptions.
・Customization, Plugin Development
We perform customization and plugin development for functions that are difficult to achieve with Moodle's standard features.

In addition, we also offer a cloud service called e-CoreLea.
You can use an environment with Moodle already installed and configured, so there is no need for you to prepare, build, install, or set up servers, networks, etc.
We also have plans that include video distribution and course materials. Please contact us for more details.

> Moodle Cloud Service (e-CoreLea)

5-3. Operational Support

Usage Seminar
We will hold a seminar on how to use Moodle.
The lecture will be conducted in a web conference system (such as Zoom) and is expected to last about 5 hours per day. The explanation will cover preparation, user registration, course registration, creating quizzes, downloading grades, and creating surveys.

Operation Manual
We will create a tutorial manual on how to use Moodle.
> Moodle Introduction, Seminar, and Manual

Regular Maintenance (Version Upgrade)
Moodle has many versions available.
Human Science Co., Ltd. supports version upgrades.
> Moodle Version Upgrade

Contact Support
We provide support services for Moodle via phone and email.
Moodle is open source and free, but maintenance and operation are the responsibility of the user.
The main services include the following:

・Support via phone and email for inquiries regarding Moodle operations
・Deliver a monthly report summarizing the contents of inquiries as a monthly report
・Investigation of Moodle bugs (fixes will be done separately)

※Support for operating and managing Moodle, as well as regular maintenance such as server environment updates and new information on new features will be provided.

> Moodle Maintenance and Operation
> Frequently Asked Questions about Moodle Implementation and Operation Support

From the above, it can be understood that Human Science Co., Ltd. provides support for the implementation and operation of Moodle. For those who want to know more details, you can obtain materials from the link below.

> Introduction to Moodle Implementation Support Service | Case Studies and Useful Materials Download | Over 2,693 Achievements from Human Science (hs-learning.jp)

At Human Science Co., Ltd., we offer various services to help our clients introduce and operate e-learning.
If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact us.

> eLearning Material Production
> eLearning Material Translation
> In-house Material Production Support
> Articulate Storyline, Studio Implementation and Creation Support Service
> Microlearning Implementation Support
> Flash to HTML5 Migration and Conversion
> Moodle and Totara Learn (Open Source LMS) Implementation and Operation Support