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2012-04-04T02:29:33Z

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{{Infobox software
| name = Moodle
| title = Moodle
| logo = [[Image:Moodle_logo.jpg‎|180px‎‎]]
| screenshot = 
| caption =
| collapsible =
| author = Martin Dougiamas
| developer = Martin Dougiamas and the [http://moodle.org/dev/contributions.php Moodle development community]
| released = {{Start date|2002|08|20}}<ref name="Moodle1.0">{{cite web |url=http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=31 |title=Moodle 1.0 |publisher=Moodle Trust |date=20 August 2002 |accessdate=3 April 2012}}</ref>
| discontinued =
| frequently updated = yes
| programming language = PHP
| operating system = Cross-platform
| platform =
| size =
| language =
| status =
| genre = Content management system<br />Course management system
| license = GNU General Public License v3
| website = [http://moodle.org/ Moodle.org]
}}

'''Moodle''' (an initialism for ''modular object-oriented dynamic learning environment'') is a free open-source e-learning software platform, also known as a course management system, learning management system, or virtual learning environment. Not having to pay license fees or to limit growth, an institution that adopts Moodle can add as many Moodle servers as needed.

The Moodle project comprises several distinct but related elements, namely:

* the software
* Moodle Pty Ltd. (also known as Moodle Headquarters or the Moodle Trust, based in Perth, Western Australia), an Australian company which performs the majority of the development of the core Moodle platform
* the Moodle Community, an open network of over one million registered users who interact through the Moodle community website to share ideas, code, information, and free support
* the Moodle Partners network, which forms the commercial arm of the Moodle environment and provides the bulk of the funding to Moodle Pty Ltd through the payment of royalties

==Product history==

Moodle was originally developed by Martin Dougiamas to help educators create online courses with a focus on interaction and collaborative construction of content. The name for the project was decided in January 1999, with several prototypes emerging by late 2000.<ref name="origins">{{cite web |url=http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=4567 |title=Question on Moodle date of birth |author=Delgado, David |publisher=Moodle Trust |date=15 January 2004 |accessdate=3 April 2012}}</ref> A new code base was created from scratch in early 2001, followed by a public alpha by the end of the year.<ref name="origins" /> Beta versions and release candidates were worked on until Version 1.0 of Moodle was released on August 20, 2002.<ref name="Moodle1.0" /><ref name="origins" />

In November 2005, the Open University of the UK announced it would adopt a Moodle-based infrastructure as "a comprehensive online student learning environment for the 21st century,"<ref>{{cite web |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20051124235825/http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/3460 |url=http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/3460 |title=Open University going Moodle |publisher=Knowledge Asset Management Limited |archivedate=24 November 2005 |date=8 November 2005 |accessdate=3 April 2012}}</ref> eventually flouting one of the largest Moodle implementations, representing over 600,000 students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.h-online.com/open/features/Moodle-The-free-e-learning-platform-966609.html |title=Moodle: The free learning platform |author=Seetzen, Robert |publisher=The H |date=16 April 2010 |accessdate=3 April 2012}}</ref>

By July 2011 it had a user base of over 53,000 registered and verified sites, serving over 44 million users in 4.5 million courses.<ref>{{cite web |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110724032641/http://moodle.org/stats/ |url=http://moodle.org/stats |title=Moodle Statistics |publisher=Moodle Trust |archivedate=24 July 2011 |accessdate=3 April 2012}}</ref>

==Features==

A full list of features of Moodle, with explanation for each feature, can be found on the [http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/Category:New_features Moodle wiki].

==Hardware/software requirements==

"A Moodle installation will require planning," states the Moodle website. As a Moodle installation requires several components, please consult the [http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/Installing_Moodle installation page] on the wiki.

==Videos, screenshots, and other media==

Screenshots for Moodle are sprinkled throughout the [http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/Main_page Moodle documentation].

A wealth of Moodle-related videos can found at [http://moodlecommons.org/course/view.php?id=7 MoodleCommons.org].

Access the online demo [http://demo.moodle.net/ here].

==Entities using Moodle==

Examples of entities using Moodle include:

BioPharma Institute; Colorado Agriculture Education; Inclusion Research Institute; Landmark College Institute for Research and Training; Oxford Open Learning; Raabe College of Pharmacy; UW Center For Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Practice, and Research; University of Brewing; University of Texas at San Antonio; University of Victoria; University of Wisconsin Department of Mathematics

A full directory of Moodle users can be found at the [http://moodle.org/sites Moodle website].

==Further reading==

* {{cite web |url=http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/Main_page |title=Documentation for Moodle |publisher=Moodle Trust}}
* {{cite web |url=http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=55 |title=Recommended Moodle Books |publisher=Moodle Trust}}

==External links==

* [https://github.com/moodle/moodle Moodle] on GitHub
* [http://moodle.com/ Moodle] commercial site
* [http://moodlecommons.org/ Moodle courses] on MoodleCommons

==References==
<references />


[[Category:Content management software (open source)]]
[[Category:Education software (open source)]]

Moodle - Revision history

Shawndouglas: Created page.