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Moodle HQ added Ans as a Certified Integration Partner

Moodle HQ has announced the addition of Ans as a certified integration partner. Ans is a pioneering web-based assessment platform which offers educators a seamless solution for creating, grading, and managing assignments, aligning perfectly with Moodle’s commitment to enhancing teaching and learning practices.

Ans is a web-assessment platform designed to cater to the needs of both students and educators. Offering seamless assessment solutions, Ans allows users to evaluate students through both traditional paper-based methods and digital platforms.

Whether educators prefer to assess students on paper or digitally, Ans provides the tools necessary to design, grade, and publish results online efficiently. By automating grading processes, Ans streamlines assessment tasks, allowing educators to save valuable time and focus their efforts on teaching.

Kerim Haccou, Co-founder & Director of Ans, said:

We are proud to join the Moodle Certified Integration Partner program. Ans wants to make assessing satisfying for every educator around the world. Together with Moodle, we aim to enhance the quality and accessibility of global education.

Ans offers a range of accessibility features, ensuring that every student, regardless of their abilities, can fully participate in the assessment process. Ans offers a diverse range of question types, catering to various assessment needs, whether for handwritten, digital, or hybrid assignments.

With all the exciting features offered by Ans assessment platform, it is not clear for me why anyone will move to an external assessment platform when Moodle has got such a robust quiz engine. Moodle Quiz can be used for offline quizzes as well as other exams without any major hassle.

What are your views about Ans being added as a certified integration for Moodle LMS. Please share with us in the comments section below.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.

Moodle HQ makes Kaptiva as Premium Certified Partner in Brazil

Moodle HQ has added Kaptiva as the Premium Certified partner in Brazil. Since joining the Moodle Certified Partner network in 2020, Kaptiva has shown their dedication to delivering exceptional service, technical expertise, and high-quality Moodle learning solutions.

As a Moodle Premium Certified partner, Kaptiva will now offer Moodle Workplace as a SaaS solution hosted directly in Brazil, further empowering their clients with unparalleled learning opportunities.

Irandy CRUZ, CEO of Kaptiva Soluções Educacionais, said:

Acquiring Moodle Premium Certified Partner status represents not only a recognition of Kaptiva’s commitment to quality but also an opportunity to further strengthen our partnership with Moodle and promote innovation in digital education. We are excited to offer Moodle Workplace and are committed to helping institutions achieve their learning and development goals.

Kaptiva has established itself as a leader in online learning, delivering exceptional experiences through innovative technology, great support, and unwavering dedication.

Kaptiva’s commitment to providing exceptional customer service and technical expertise is evident in their impressive list of clients, including TV GLOBO, Escola de Governo e Gestão (School of Government), and SESC – Serviço Social do Comércio (Social Service of Commerce). Their expertise extends beyond technical training, encompassing the development of soft skills and the alignment of teams with their clients’ strategic goals.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.

Accenture to Acquire Udacity to Develop an AI-Focused Learning Platform

Accenture, a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations, has agreed to acquire Udacity, a digital education pioneer with extensive experience in developing and delivering proprietary technology courses that combine the flexibility of online learning with the benefits of human instruction. However, the terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The announcement is part of the company’s strategy to invest $1 billion over three years to improve upskilling opportunities for its clients.

Udacity is recognized for its cutting-edge learning approach that emphasizes acquiring practitioner-level technical skills. The acquisition will bring to Accenture Udacity’s capabilities in integrating proprietary content, expert services and scalable learning technology while bridging the gap between online education and workplace relevance. After the acquisition, over 230 employees of Udacity will join Accenture’s team, as per an official statement.

The company also launched LearnVantage, an upskilling platform that aims to provide Accenture’s clients with comprehensive technology learning and training services that will assist them in reskilling and upskilling their employees in technology, data, and AI to reinvent their organizations and increase business value.

Speaking on the deal, Kishore Durg, Global Lead of Accenture LearnVantage, said:

The rise of generative AI represents one of the most transformative changes in how work gets done and is driving a growing need for enterprises to train and upskill people in cloud, data and AI as they build their digital core and reinvent their enterprises. Adding Udacity to Accenture LearnVantage will enable us to bring Accenture’s deep capabilities as a world-class learning organization to clients at scale, helping them build their people’s skills to achieve more excellent business value.

Since its inception in 2011, Udacity has transitioned from a consumer-focused platform to a talent transformation platform that creates customer value through career development in AI and technology. The platform has served over 21 million registered learners in 195 countries. It provides localized course offerings in multiple languages such as English, Arabic, Korean, and Spanish due to its highly esteemed network of more than 1,400 experts and a vast library of exclusive content co-created with industry leaders. Udacity has set itself apart in a highly competitive sector by combining high-quality content and ‘person in the loop’ learning with an outcome-oriented strategy.

Kai Roemmelt, CEO of Udacity, added:

As we join forces with Accenture, we are thrilled to embark on this next chapter of our journey. Together, we are dedicated to delivering impactful and cutting-edge tech education that enables individuals and organizations to unlock their potential. This, combined with Accenture’s world-class expertise and global footprint, will allow us to reach even more learners and amplify our impact, empowering millions to thrive in the digital economy.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.

Get ready for the Moodle 4.4 version – Packed with new exciting features

Moodle HQ team is working hard on the next major version of the Moodle LMS in past few weeks. The next major Moodle version  i.e. Moodle 4.4 is scheduled to be released in April 2024. As always, the new major Moodle version will be packed with new exciting features which we will see in this post.

The Quality Assurance testing for Moodle 4.4 will commence soon from March 18, 2024. During the QA testing phase, the Moodle version will be tested rigorously by real world users to figure out the problems in the new features, if any.

The Moodle 4.4 version will have the following major new features:

  • Fresh new activity icons
  • Ordering question type – The project contributed by Moodle users Association will be included in Moodle core in 4.4 version. It is one of the most popular question type which was voted by MUA members to be included in Moodle LMS.
  • Enhanced course page visuals
  • SMS two-factor authentication
  • Improvements to TinyMCE image handling
  • Initial group support in communication providers
  • Further improvements to Question bank – Continuing the improvements of Question bank, there will be further enhancements done in the Question bank.
  • Enhanced LTI integration in Moodle ecosystem
  • Enhancing the functionality and ease of use of Moodle Assignments.

There will be around 470+ QA tests which will be taken by the Moodle community members in the QA testing.

What are the new features in Moodle 4.4 which makes you excited? Please let us know in the comments section below.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.

HCL Group Buys Majority Stake in Educational Initiatives for $20M

Educational Initiatives, a pioneer in pedagogy and technology, has announced that the HCL Group has invested INR 166 crore ($20 million) to buy a minority stake in the company. The acquisition is part of a secondary stake sale in which HCL Group acquired an interest from indigenous private equity firm Gaja Capital.

Educational Initiatives, founded in 2001, is a leading B2B education software firm that offers research-backed exams and personalized adaptive learning solutions to assist schools in improving learning results on a large scale. The platform has over 1 million paying customers for its two offerings: Assessments (Ei ASSET and Ei CARES) and Personalised Adaptive Learning (Ei Mindspark), and it operates in India, the UAE, South Africa, and Singapore.

It is at the vanguard of education, with 23 years of pedagogical research, examining 5 billion data points to understand student learning patterns better. Ei has created a suite of assessment and adaptive learning solutions for students and instructors, drawing on cutting-edge research and technology. These new technologies have significantly improved learning results across subjects.

Speaking on the deal, Chief Executive Officer of Educational Initiatives said:

We have demonstrated our ability to improve learning outcomes and empower school teachers to achieve their intent of every child learning well regardless of their parent income. I’m excited to welcome HCL Group as investors who share our vision of leveraging the best pedagogy & technology to improve learning outcomes for millions of students in India and worldwide.

Ei boasts a market-leading position in India and the UAE. The company is looking to expand into South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia and is exploring business collaborations with organizations that share Ei’s aim. The company also developed services such as Ei ASSET Arabic to meet the local demands of these nations. It seeks to acquire EdTech product firms that enhance learning outcomes in their regions.

Gopal Jain, Managing Partner of Gaja Capital, commented on the acquisition:

Ei is a rare example of resilience, high growth, pedagogy and technology coming together in their vision of solving one of the biggest problems of our age – helping every child learn with understanding.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.

Moodle Teachers – Restriction Course Activities for Students Based On Section Completion

Moodle LMS is the world’s most popular open source learning management system in the world with more than 400 million users around the world. The vast collection of Moodle plugins allows it to be customized for all learning requirements. In this post we will see how you can restrict the course section based on the previous sections completed by the students.

The Restriction by Section Completion plugins allows you to restrict the course sections based on the previous sections marked as completed. You can also restrict any activity or resources in your Moodle course depending on the previous sections marked as completed.

You can download the Restriction by Section Completion plugin from the official plugins repository here. Once installed the plugin don’t need any configuration and can be used immediately in the course.

Moodle Teachers - Restriction Course Activities for Students Based On Section Completion
Moodle Teachers – Restriction Course Activities for Students Based On Section Completion

As a teacher you can add the section completion under availability restrictions to activities / resources / sections in your Moodle course.

What are the other useful Moodle plugins you are using? Please share with us in the comments section below.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.

Join MoodleMoot Philippines 2024 from May 22-24, 2024 in Manila

Moodle community is ever growing since last 20+ years with more than 400 million registered users around the globe. There are Moodle community events in each country to connect the Moodle users and network  with each other. The MoodleMoot Philippines 2024 is an edtech event which will take place from May 22-24, 2024 in Manila.

The MoodleMoot Philippines 2024 is organized by the Moodle partner Nephila Web technologies. The edtech event will stimulate growth in Moodle community, as everyone share experiences, discuss new trends, collaborate in solving technical problems, and initiate partnerships.

The theme for this years MoodleMoot Philippines 2024 is “AI in Moodle: Transformative Teaching Technologies”. The keynote speakers for this year conference are Jun Pataleta and Matt Porritt from Moodle HQ.

The event will take place at Century Park Hotel, Manila. You can register your seat for the MoodleMoot Philippines 2024 through this page. For more details about the edtech conference, please check out the official website here.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.

VR Training Platform MOONHUB Raises $1.4M to Broaden Its Reach Into New Markets

MOONHUB, the virtual reality interactive training platform, has announced a $1.4 million (£1.1 million) investment headed by Danish venture capital firm Unconventional Ventures. The company aims to use this funding round to develop new products and expand into new markets.

MOONHUB, founded in 2016 by CEO Dami Hastrup and co-founders Vinh Ly and Hannah Sutcliffe, is transforming learning and development with its CPD-accredited immersive VR learning experiences and unique Spot and Jot technology. The firm strives to empower and better equip its trainees while providing cost-effective solutions to its partners. Just Eat, BNP Paribas, Amazon, Zurich, Warner Brothers, and homecare provider Anglian Care are all partnering with the London-based company to serve their global workforces.

Speaking on the fundraising, Founder & CEO of MOONHUB, Dami Hastrup, said:

2024 is a transformational moment for MOONHUB. In the past few years, we’ve worked towards this moment to become the recognized leader in immersive training, working with global brands that want to support their teams’ development through exciting new technologies. Following this investment, we’re supercharging our growth as a business to further establish ourselves across various sectors, from insurance to security and social care, with our ELARA product.

VR technology streamlines remote training, offering flexibility and accessibility to employees across diverse locations. This adaptable approach ensures efficient and effective training delivery, irrespective of geographical barriers, further contributing to a seamless learning experience. The platform’s courses expedite training completion in 25 per cent of the time required by conventional methods. VR technology has been found to increase learning retention to 75 per cent compared to just 10 per cent for more traditional classroom training programmes and minimizes skill fade by 52 per cent.

Nora Bavey, Founder and General Partner of Unconventional Ventures, commented:

Investing in MOONHUB was a clear choice for us as impact investors, driven by the urgent need to close the skills gap and recognize its significant social impact. The potential impact of VR technology on the global economy solidifies our belief in MOONHUB’s role as a transformative force in the training industry, especially in sectors like healthcare. By democratizing access to high-quality education and bridging geographical barriers, MOONHUB contributes to greater inclusion and opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds, empowers workers with new skills and enhances their employability.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.

Moodle Users Association – Preliminary Voting now open for January-July 2024 cycle

Preliminary voting has begun for the Moodle users Association’s January-July 2024 Project Development Cycle. The Project Proposals submitted by the community members till now will be voted by the MUA members and the top voted projects will be chosen to be integrated into Moodle LMS.

The January-July 2024 Project Development Cycle of MUA preliminary voting round will be open until March 15 at 11:55 PM UTC. Voting on project proposals is a key MUA member activity. Let your voice be heard! Individual members can cast 100 votes. Only the lead participants of Gold, Silver, and Bronze members can cast votes for their organization. If you have already voted, you can change your votes at any time until the deadline.

In the current development cycle there are total 8 project proposals, which are:

  • Workshop: bulk download submissions – bulk download all workshop submissions
  • Grade book: Courses in “Overview reports” are not shown in a logical order -When a student views its “Overview reports” under grades the list of courses is not displayed in alphabetical order. Instead it looks like it is displayed after the creation time of the courses. It would be great if the students (and teachers) could have the choice to display the list of courses sorted alphabetically (A->Z and/or Z->A) or by the course creation date.
  • TinyMCE: Introduce configurable toolbar – Admin shall be able to define which should be in the TinyMCE editor Toolbar.
  • Improvement of the functionality of the enrolment method “Course meta link” – Admin shall be able to define the course meta link with parameters (e.g. roles, groups) of the parent course to define more precisely the users to be copied to the child course.
  • Add Support for Moodle Filters to Custom Menus – Moodle filters to be applied the custom navigation menus (Such As using the filtercodes plugin to make thing available to groups of users)
  • Improve availability of activities and resources overview pages in Boost theme –
  • Assign manually graded quiz questions to specific grader – Managing the grading of a quiz with multiple graders and manually graded questions is currently not possible. In assignments we already can assign specific attempts to specific markers/graders. In quizzes this functionality is missing.
  • Course Enrolment Cap – Current course enrollments are set at the enrollment method level. This means that if you have two separate enrollment methods, there is no way to manage a course enrollment cap. This modification would allow you to set enrollment caps at the course level and choose which enrollment methods should be part of the cap.

Which project proposals you find most interesting? Please let us know in the comments section below.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.

Create Teachers life easier by letting them create HTML content easily in Moodle

Moodle LMS is one of the most popular open source learning management system in the world with more than 400 million users around the world. However, many Moodle teachers often face problem while creating content without the lack of basic HTML knowledge. While Moodle LMS comes with TinyMCE editor as default text editor but still basic HTML knowledge is required for properly formatting the course text.

Recently I can across a new useful Moodle plugin – Tiny HTML Blocks. The plugin allows you to create HTML blocks as Moodle administrator which can be used by the teachers easily while using the text editor. They will not need any HTML knowledge to use the HTML blocks.

You can download the Tiny HTML Blocks Moodle plugin from the official plugins repository here. After installing you can navigate to Site Admin > Plugins > Predefine HTML Blocks for TinyMCE page. On this page, you can create different HTML blocks containing different css formatting styles. You can add any number of blocks by adding different style elements on this page and click Save changes.

When a teacher visits any page with TinyMCE Editor, they will get a new menu item under Insert menu. When the teacher clicks on the HTML blocks, it will show all the css styles created by the admin.

Overall, I tested out the plugin on my local dev Moodle site and it seems to be pretty helpful for teachers especially when they are struggling with HTML knowledge. What are the other useful plugins which you are using on your Moodle site? Please share with us in the comments section below.

For regular updates about Moodle, eLearning and edtech industry, please visit us regularly at https://lmsdaily.com. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or Subscribe our YouTube Channel.