Original author(s) | Martin Dougiamas |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Martin Dougiamas Moodle HQ Moodle Community |
Stable release | 4.0.1[1] ![]() |
Repository | |
Written in | PHP |
Type | Course management system |
License | GPLv3+[2] |
Website | moodle.org moodle.com |
Moodle is a free and open-source learning management system written in PHP and distributed under the GNU General Public License.[3][4] Moodle is used for blended learning, distance education, flipped classroom and other online learning schemes in schools, universities, workplaces and other sectors.[5][6][7] It can be used to create custom websites with online courses and allows for community-sourced plugins.[8][9][10]
Moodle began development in 1999 and has been translated into over 100 different languages.[11] "MoodleMoots" are conferences held by Moodle customers and researchers[12] and are organised by universities or other large organizations using Moodle.[citation needed]
Moodle has over 50% of the LMS market share in Europe, Latin America, and Oceania.[13] In the U.S. higher education market as of fall 2018, the top three learning management systems by number of institutions were Blackboard (31%), Canvas (30%), and Moodle (18%). In 2013, Moodle was for a time the second largest provider with 23% market share, following Blackboard (41%).[14] By 2017, Moodle had dropped to the third largest provider, due in part to increased adoption of Instructure's Canvas platform.[15] In March 2016, Blackboard became an official Moodle partner,[16] although this partnership ended in 2018.[17]
The Open University of the UK currently uses a Moodle installation, with about 200,000 users,[18] and the UK government uses a Moodle installation for their Civil Service Learning platform.[19]