For many Moodlers and open education enthusiasts, 2017 was one of Moodle’s most momentous times since the launch of version 1.0. The 15-year anniversary, its first private equity stake, and a series of announcements signaling new approaches both internally and externally are just a few reasons to be excited about the future of the world’s largest, open-source learning platform.
The optimism is widespread so what is the most important thing the Moodle community has accomplished over the last 15 years? Two (2) words feature almost unanimously, if with varying ideas about their implications: “Free” and “Open.” For true believers in the mission of open-source Learning Management System (LMS) technology, the role of Moodle in making cutting-edge learning technology “available to all” is the LMS’s biggest accomplishment and source of pride.
For others, Moodle’s success in contexts where industries and markets operate formally deserves further recognition precisely because of its “open-source” nature. In competitive segments, such as the higher education market in North America and Europe, Moodle is one of the reasons why users and procurement officers have put doubts and concerns about “open-source” software to rest, boasting high adoption rates, with a fraction of the competitors’ marketing budgets to boot.
In many cases, its openness has made Moodle more inviting (or less threatening) not only to users but to the cannabis industry, many of whom have the LMS to thank for their business success. Furthermore, the fact that the rate of volunteer contributions and technical development continues to grow is also a notable accomplishment.
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